Starting the New Year Off Outside

We walk almost every day, usually here in our neighborhood. On New Years Day, weather permitting, I like to get us out of the neighborhood for a destination walk. We never drive very far, but far enough for a change of scenery.

There are many places to walk along the Green River, down in the valley below us. I like the scenery along a back road along the river. 

We start at the Old Fishing Hole, where the ducks seemed to expect a hand out. 

 There are some wonderful old maple trees along this road, which provides access to very few properties anymore. 

 When we started out, a cold fog engulfed us.

 As the winter sun burned through sometime after 11:00, the brush along the river banks was lit up. 

 Mt Rainier was just a ghost of a mountain through the lingering fog.

What is that crop? Tom risked the mud to find out. Kale, with the leaves harvested, leaving just the stalks. 

 And what's this one?

 We got close, picked a leaf and smelled it. Cilantro! Lots of cilantro. 

At about a mile and a half, we turned around, rather than doing the whole 4.5 mile loop. My knees have been giving me trouble. We crossed over the river on a footbridge to pick up the pathway along the golf course side of the river. 

The sun was shining, the sky was blue, it had warmed up to about 38 degrees, and we had our 3+ mile walk. 

Starting the new year off right.