Main Trail 9.2 miles
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So, we’ve been wanting to try a longer hike and see how we do with greater distances. We couldn’t have picked a nicer day for it; the weather was perfect. Highland Forest is becoming a main attraction for us. There are so many trails to follow, and it is beautiful. I doubt it will ever get old on us. Along the way, we crossed several streams, and encountered a fair share of hills, as well as some mud here and there. We didn’t run into a lot of people, which, of course, is fine with us. We did meet a group of three mountain bikers, who had started their journey several miles away and were pretty muddy themselves.
We stopped at a lean-to and ate the lunch we’d packed, as well as snacking along the way. We’re getting good at bringing the proper types of food to fuel our exploring. Peanut butter & jelly sandwiches for lunch, and a nutty trail mix & protein bars for snacking provide lots of protein for longer lasting energy. Snickers Marathon Bar, by the way, is my favorite bar for protein. We also bring a fruity trail mix for simple carbs (translation: sugar!), which helps for quicker and shorter bursts of energy. One other thing I do is make sure I have plenty of gum with me, and it has to be a minty flavor. Mint is said to enhance mental function, clarity, and alertness, which I need toward the latter parts of a hike as my muscles and mind begin to fatigue, and my foot placement becomes a little sloppy. Go ahead and laugh, but it definitely helps. Don’t knock it ‘til you’ve tried it!
Naturally, I found a few critters along the way to admire and take pictures of. I’m sure that really comes as a surprise! Probably the coolest find was a large mud puddle by itself that was home to a few frogs and a large number of tadpoles. They’re cute little buggers, although odd if you really think about them.
Another interesting thing we came across was a detour, leading us to avoid an area which was a nesting site for Goshawks. We were quite amused by the wording on the sign, and with our knowledge of birds, didn’t doubt it a bit!
Toward the end of the hike, we also passed by a shelter that had been made by Boy Scouts, and took advantage of the photo opportunity.
This turned out to be a fun, relaxing day, and we fared well. We didn’t get lost, saw lots of cool things, and weren’t exhausted at the end. Oh, yeah, and it didn’t rain. Absolutely perfect!
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