Today was perfect! It was cool and cloudy so there was no one on the trail. We left from the station road bridge trailhead and headed north. A few paces in, Chuck found a frog. Of course, she had to lick it. She was foaming at the mouth and shaking her head. She’s done this before so I knew she would be fine.
We saw loads of blue heron fishing in the canal. We heard woodpeckers and warblers. We saw big fish writhing and splashing in the shallow water. At a bend in the canal, I spotted a belted kingfisher. We stopped and just stood still for 20 minutes waiting to see if it would land near us. No dice.
But, as we stood, I could hear so many birds in the surrounding trees. I could smell the earth and the grass and the honeysuckle. I could hear the river in the distance. I was thinking that this must be how a sommelier must feel tasting a great wine. The delicate pallet picking out individual flavors and savoring the way they feel in the mouth. They don’t “drink” the wine as much as they experience it. They sip slowly and taste deliberately.
Like a sommelier tasting a wine, I can only really savor the morning if I take my time. I have to stop walking and talking and thinking and just try to stand as still as I can and let the sights and smells and sounds wash over me. It’s cleansing and rejuvenating and one of life’s greatest joys!
Click on any image below to launch the gallery and view all images full size.
