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When You Walk Through the Trail

(2013-12-15 17:44:14) 下一个

Every summer since we moved to our present home in Santa Fe, my

 husband and I have taken advantage of the Arroyo de Los Chamisos Trail, which

 is close to our neighborhood. Taking long afternoon walks has become our

 favorite activity during the summer time. Interesting creatures, plants, and

 sports enrich the walking, but unpleasant situations sometimes overshadow the

 walking trail.

 

One of the interesting animals is the cottontail rabbit. Summer is a great

 time to see cottontail rabbits, especially on a cool late afternoon, after the sunset.

 There are many cottontail rabbits that inhabit the area, but sometimes they are

 hard to identify because their colors are similar to the ground and their sizes are

 not big. But do not worry, we can see them when they run. Their tiny cottontails

 expose their whereabouts. Occasionally, a mature rabbit will sit with a tiny

 rabbit, nibbling the grass, and sometimes a little one is out on its own. It is

 seldom to see a bunch of cottontail rabbits out.

 

Birds such as sparrows, robins, blue jays, house finches, and noisy crows,

 are another pleasing sight over the walking trail. Crows are not very flattering,

 and Chinese people believe it is a bad luck if crows are yelling at we the first

 thing in the morning. More than a dozen noisy crows will gather in a tree before

 it is dark. It seems that they are having a meeting, and they argue badly over

 some important issues. Occasionally we will see two crows performing a ballet in

 the air. They fly in unison and never bump into each other.

 

We will not miss a black, hard shell beetle in the walking trail. Unlike the

 dung beetles always rolling the dung, these black beetles constantly travel alone

 in silence. It is fun to watch them climbing up and down the field. Sometimes,

 some of them are hit by the bikers and die right on the path.

 

There are many different kinds of cacti, various trees, and chamisos

 growing unrestrained in the walking trail area. The trees provide shade for

 the walkers. The cacti, enduring the heat and dryness, blossom with bright

 beautiful flowers, while the chamisos are kind of an eyesore.

 

Gaia Garden is located right off the trail. This garden grows vegetables and

 flowers. If we are tired from the walking, we can sit on the bench on the trail

 and admire the outstanding sunflowers, various colorful flowers, and the green

 vegetables.

 

If you like playing frisbee, there is a certified Frisbee Golf Course behind

 the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. It is free and open to the public. The

 rules are easy to find because they have been posted by city park employees

 right on the trail.

 

However, the following nasty conditions may complicate our walking. The

 walking trail is open to bikers. Most of the bikers are polite. When they come

 near us, they ring the bell in a nice way or say, “on your left”. However, racing

 bikers will rush in, ring the bell hastily, and all of a sudden, they occupy the trail.

 They are rude and dangerous to the walking people.

 

Many dog owners enjoy walking their dogs on the trail. Dogs are irritating

 if they are not on a leash, especially the big dogs such as German shepherds.

 Actually, most of the dog owners are aware of the rule, and they show respect to

 the other people who use the trail. Few owners let their dogs walk with them

 unleashed. Dog owners always think their dogs are the friendliest dogs in the

 world. But, the unleashed dogs are out of control. They may jump on you or run

 at you, and ruin your mood for walking.

 

The dog poo that is everywhere is annoying. Do not be surprised, if we see

 the dog poo right on the middle of the path. Dogs and their owners should go to

 school and learn the appropriate manner to walk on a public trail

 

Some people do not walk with their dogs; they walk with their mobile

 phones. It is a pity that they are busy talking to people on the phone, they neglect

 the fun and the beauty of the walking trail, and they make themselves another

 unpleasant view.

 

When we take a walk alone, we actually are not alone at all. The

 interesting creatures, the drought-tolerant cacti, the various wildflowers, and the

 trees providing shade are there with us. We bring a flying disc with us if we

 want to brush up our skills, and we enjoy the pleasant experience and have a

 sense of humor when a nasty situation happens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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