#hike31 - Dinosaur Valley State Park

Date: 8/5/2017 Placed: Dinosaur Valley State Park - Glen Rose, TX

Distance: 5.5 miles

This week I met up with my friend and we drove down to Glen Rose.  Dinosaur Valley is one of those parks that I love revisiting.  There are plenty of trails, they're rarely crowded, and there's a lot of shade.  We arrived around 8 am and there weren't many cars or people anywhere really.  We parked, geared up, gathered extra water, and set out.  The river was very low, almost just a trickle, and getting across was easier than other times.  My friend Nikki explained what Bull Nettle was and why I needed to avoid it as we passed several of them on the way up in elevation from the riverbed.  We were the trailblazers - clearing the spiderwebs at every turn.  The horse flies were terrible, but I don't think I had that many bites overall.  The temps stayed low, the humidity burned off, and the sun was mostly shielded by trees and bushes.  All in all, it was a great way start Saturday and a great way to work off Friday night.

#hike30 - Cedar Ridge Preserve

Date: 7/30/2017 Placed: Cedar Ridge Preserve

Distance: 2.91 miles

I had grand plans to head to Oklahoma this morning to hike but my exhaustion and the appeal of sleep won.  The plan was to wake up at 3:00a and leave by 3:30 to arrive at the trail head about 7.  I bargained, stretched the alarm to 4:00a and still couldn't seem to get motivated.  The next time I looked at a clock it was 10:00a and I was on to plan B - my standby, Cedar Ridge Preserve here in Dallas.  We finally got to the trail around noon, and today wasn't as hot as it has been.  The humidity was mid range and the temperature hovered around 88.  We did Cedar Brake trail and went home.  Chewy the Dog did not hold up well and I felt bad enough.  I could have gone on to circle back around on Fossil Valley or Escarpment, but that poor dog.  All in all, another couple of miles.  Next week, looking at Dinosaur Valley State Park as I'll be down in that area to visit family.  In two weeks I'll be in Oregon, gasp, I know.  In three weeks, I'll be in Utah, double gasp.  I'm honestly feeling so lucky this month.  I'm trying to set up things for next month to include finally going to Oklahoma, maybe the Olympic Peninsula, and maybe Michigan.  Here's to hoping!

Enjoy a few photos from today.

Welcome!

This space is being developed to showcase a year of hiking trips with me, Mike.  I am committing to the challenge of hiking at least once per week for an entire year!  I am choosing to begin in January so I can prepare and have a clean timeline.  In reality, I am starting now by extending my current walking and hiking trips as well as breaking in new shoes! Check back here for weekly updates beginning in January!

Inspiration: 52 Hike Challenge