Trail Building = Good Karma

“Like everyone else here, I like to hike.

So, I decided to help out building a trail. It's just a local park in SE Michigan, but it'll be 7 miles when we're done.

The coolest thing is that it's in a woods within a half mile of where I grew up and where my family has lived since the 1920s.

I know for a fact that my mom and uncle used to collect butterflies and salamanders in these woods. Now hikers and bikers will be able to see the trilliums in the spring.

So, Saturday night, in a steady rain, I was hacking away at the trail route. It felt like the Amazon in there. But the steadily growing trail system will be great.

The best thing, though, was spending time in a place my mom used to love. She passed away a few years ago - a challenging, but not sad event. We promised that she'd be there when the sun set or the rain fell.

The parents, grandparents and great-grandparents of the trees, flowers and butterflies on this trail kept my mom company. Now their offspring show me the beauty of the world. I know it's sappy, but I couldn't pick a better way to celebrate Mother's Day weekend. This forest is family.”

“That's beautiful, hoss. Your mom would be proud.”

“Thats very cool RL.

Very sweet!

8)”

“Hey thats cool RL . . . just watch out for the poison ivy when clearing those trails. I learned that the hard way at a very young age.”

“Hey but you like tang and poison ivy SB!!!!!!!

8)

And if you drink tang you can't get the itch from the ivy!”

“you'll have to demonstrate that for me!”

“But you LOVE TANG!!!!!

And it works trust me!

8)”

“I like tang, too...











the poon variety.”

“....Ya that kind is good too!

8)”

“Trail building and maintaince is something ALL of us should do at least once a year. I'll be helping again on the Cumberland Trail in June for 3 days.”

“Wow, RL, that was great. I'm sure your mom appreciates your hard work out there!”

“I bet The Buddha would have built trails.”

“You sure have a way with words, RL.”

“walkindude - what time in June ? If I am still out of work I might want to contribute a little time also.”