The McCormick Trail

Still with the autumn pictures!!

Don't judge!!.....

(I told you I was behind...I had a busy summer and an even busier fall, people!)

There is a famous trail near us

called

The McCormick Trail...

read about it
HERE

We have been meaning to hike it for two years.

So, late this fall, we had wonderfully warm weather for about a week

so we decided to try and tackle it.

At least part of it...

because as you read above

it is a LONGGGGGG trail

with many options of hiking to several lakes.

My goal for the day

was

not to die.

And to maybe, (and I mean MAYBE)

make it to the first lake, which is about seven miles down the trails.

The beginning of the trail had this little box

that you were supposed to fill out a slip to put in it,

saying how many hikers in your party

and put the date and time you left.

In case they have to send in a team to

find your bodies, I suppose.

That intimidated me a little bit.

So I did what any retired, out of shape woman would do.

I filled it out, putting lots of hearts surrounding my information on the page,

so they'd take pity on me and make an extra effort to find me lost in the woods.

And then of course

I

prayed.

A. LOT.

That I wouldn't break a hip

or have a heart attack out on the wilderness trail.

And then I loaded up with camera equipment

a lunch.

a can of Diet Coke,

water

and

my  husband.

(In that order).

I told you.  Don't judge!

Oh sure.

The BEGINNING

of the trail

looks innocent enough.....

But the trail gave

lots of hints

of

it's potential dangers...

like

HUGE

rocky

bluffs....

But I ignored

THEM.

I chose to concentrate

on

macro opportunities

instead:

Besides....

the trail

began

easy

enough...

Oh.

Dear....

Ummmm...is it time for lunch yet????

I

thought

it best

to

go back to concentrating

on

macro shots again

at this point.....

I loved this log full of button mushrooms.

Kinda reminds me of my face during adolescence:

But

then,

the trail

had

a

river

to

cross!!!:

After

fifteen

minutes

of

begging and pleading from

my husband

and

the carving of a stick cane
to help me keep my balance...

I

did it!

(Without getting wet.)

And I only swore three times
and
cried like a toddler once.

But then...we hiked about another

2 miles

and

hit a huge, wet

marsh

that we couldn't get through without high boots..

It was pure muck.

(I didn't take pictures of it, as I didn't want the continued nightmares).....

So, we stopped, and had a  nice picnic lunch in a sunny clearing.

Remind me to send a personal note of thanks to the President of the Coca Cola company on perfumed stationary, will you?

We well, ONE of us was, you know, the one with fear in her soul  were disappointed not to be able to hike all the way to at least the first lake, though.

We were tired, and fairly wet from the wet, muddy trails before the marsh that stopped us..

so

we packed up and headed back to our car.

I was rejoicing and ready to sacrifice a virgin kind of happy by then to be going home.

Until

I

remembered that I had to

RE-CROSS

THIS!:

My husband said he can't wait until Spring

so

we can try to hike the trail again....

He reminded me that we gotta get waterproof hiking boots.

I reminded him that I'd like to make it to our 40th wedding anniversary....

(I think I saw him holding his hands over his ears and humming...

really LOUD....)

I hate it that he knows me so well-----