Hiking and musing

Since my last blog post, I have done five more hikes and attended a festival.

That sounds like a lot for someone who seldom goes anywhere. Yet, I am gradually changing that image I have of me as a couch potato. I do sit quite a bit while reading, and I do love reading. Usually I read about 200 pages a day…mostly in the morning. But, I am also beginning to work on some of those other hobbies I have.

So far this year, I have done a camping trip each month since February. This is a bit surprising to me as I had only planned one for February and April…but then, I got invited to do the one in March and loved the group of people so much that I was excited to join many of them in another trip in May.

The upshot is that I am more comfortable with my little trailer than I was throughout the whole long 3.5 week trip last year! I can back it with confidence. And, I am able to hitch up and go with good efficiency and feeling of competence. All that has led to my making the decision for a couple of upgrades.

I got a new set of boxes added to the front for more storage and the spare tire mounted onto the yoke. Now it is at a trailer store for adding on solar capability and for the maintenance of getting the axle and wheel bearings checked. Both of the mods are requiring a bit of an investment. Still I think it will be worth it in the long run.

Another hobby is my camera. I signed up for two photography courses through Udemy in January. And, as usual, I started one and got about 10 minutes into it and then quit. Well, in the succeeding months, I have been taking more pictures and even had a few pointers by actual photographers. I am beginning to find that I like trying to compose a picture through a lens.

So, when one of my camping hikes resulted in pictures over exposed…I re-did that hike and took pictures again of the area. Then I decided that I wanted to know more and, so, back to the photog course I went.

Now I am trying to learn to use the manual mode of my camera rather than the automatic one I have preferred until now. Oh, and I have also downloaded Lightroom, which will allow me to edit my pictures. Now to learn how to use it!

Finally, hiking. I think I have posted about joining 52 Hikes in January. When on my first hike I got lost, it took awhile for me to get back out there. Well, this recent camping trip, I did 5, yes 5, hikes. None were very long…most only a bit over a mile. Still, I looked forward to trying a new trail or combination of trails each day.

I again realized that, for the most part, I am a wanderer. I enjoy taking my camera and looking for ways to capture what I see. And, I like hiking when there is little time pressure…and just seeing where the trail will take me.

I have learned to recognize when I am tiring…when I can go on after a short rest…and when I have had enough. I have learned to take water with me…and at least one hiking pole. I usually have a hiking pack, but I have improvised when it isn’t available.

Thus far, I have completed 17 hikes. That is just 4 off pace from 1 hike per week. And, I have 2 planned for this week, weather cooperating. I am feeling good about myself for the changes I have begun to see in the ability to hike without excessive tiredness. Will I ever be able to do a long hike? Don’t know. Don’t care. I just like wandering along the path and seeing what I can see.