First Day of Spring

So, I accidentally walked three miles yesterday.

Hang on, let me explain…

Since March 20th was the first day of spring, I decided to go outside and walk around a bit.  I hadn’t been out of my apartment for a few days due to homework (and lack of anywhere to go), so I drove out to a local park that has gorgeous scenery and walking trails.

If I had known that I was going to walk the entire three mile loop, I wouldn’t have brought my purse.  And I would have worn more comfortable workout clothes.  Oh well.  Still had a great time!

I found a new friend while walking through a wooded part of the trail – a little bird painted on a rock.  Around here we have a thing where people paint cool designs on rocks and then hide them all over the city, sort of like a treasure hunt.  These people have their own social media pages (search #tacomarocks, #pnwrocks, etc) You can either leave them or take them with you, and a lot of people re-hide them elsewhere for someone else to find.  I’ve found a few so far, but this one is by far my favorite!

As I walked closer to the water, I kept stopping to look out over the bay.  I have always been drawn to water – oceans, rivers, creeks, ponds, large puddles – and I loved being so close to the water during that walk.

About halfway through walking the loop, I noticed the best thing I had seen on that walk – there was direct access to the water!  I think I actually broke into a run, not stopping until I approached the dunes.  Growing up, I loved going to the ocean, and while I still love the ocean, I am always happy to find alternative ways to be near the water… islands and bays fit the bill quite nicely!

I can’t quite describe the thoughts that went through my head as I ran toward the water.  A strange mixture of joy and contentment, like I was finally where I was supposed to be.  I know it sounds a bit corny, but that’s what I felt.

I don’t know how long I spend exploring that bay – quite a long time, I expect.  There was a cute little girl and her mother nearby, and the little girl was excitedly exploring and turning over the rocks… until she uncovered a large nest of tiny  crabs.  When she saw them crawling toward her, she squealed in terror and tried to jump into her mother’s arms to escape the danger.  Her mother laughed while reassuring the little girl that the crabs weren’t going to hurt her!

It felt good to get out in the sunshine.  I need to do this more often!