While I
rarely walk on unfamiliar trails by myself, even on familiar pathways, I
need to keep my wits about me. The edges or shore lines of walking
trails are not always clearly defined. Some trails do have a painted
yellow line to show the shoulder. My cane or walking stick cannot
detect paint on the ground, and in poor light I do not see it. On
rougher trails, the gravel on the path might merge with the gravel over
the edge. I need to concentrate if I am to stay on the trail itself.
My
second problem is staying out of the way when other people are
approaching. Bikers coming from behind are pretty good at ringing their
bike bells, but a silent jogger approaching from the rear can nearly
startle my socks off!
Strangely, the bigger
issue for me is people coming towards me. I suppose that they think I
can see them coming. This is nearly always a false assumption. I see
them only when they are practically beside me, appearing as it were out
of nowhere. That is when I nearly jump out of my skin with a sudden
start.
I will continue to enjoy my daily walks,
but I am grateful to the bikers who use their bike bells and to the
other hikers who call out a cheery greeting as they come closer.
Now
I haven’t mentioned snow covered trails, but that is another story.
Hopefully we will have a little more time yet before winter is here.
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