Today is a perfect day. It’s Saturday, the start of a long weekend. It rained yesterday so the air today is clear and clean. It’s 65 degrees and sunny. We got up early and got to the the Ira trailhead in the Cuyahoga National Valley around 8am. The trail here is the towpath, so it’s wide and flat. It’s not far to the boardwalk over the marsh, where you can spy wood ducks, herons, geese, beavers, muskrat, snakes, turtles and lots of little tree swallows. It’s a great trail for kids because it’s an easy walk and there is a lot to see.
I knew the trail was likely to be busy later today, but I’d hoped getting out pretty early would give us a little quiet time on the trail. No dice. There were already loads of people running and walking and biking. Despite the traffic, we managed to spend some quality time with a green heron, which was the highlight of the hike.
I tend to get a bit grumpy when the trails are crowded. But, I try to remind myself that it’s good to see people enjoying the parks. It’s great to see families introducing their little ones to hiking. It’s wonderful that one doesn’t have to be a backcountry hiker or explorer to get out and enjoy the wonders of nature. So, no matter your fitness level or experience, I encourage you to get out there!
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