Walker

Last week a very strapping and fit friend asked if I wanted to go on a hike with him. I think the look on my face screamed "have you seen me?!" However, I absolutely said yes.

I grew up hiking. My father would take my sister and I hiking at least once a week. We were part of a peregrine falcon rehab program. So we would hike in and spend time watching to make sure things were happening with the falcons in that area. I'm not sure we were as serious about the falcons as we should have been, but it was a really great time for us. We have tons and tons of photographs from our hikes and even more great stories and memories.

While we were visiting home a few months back, I took Mario to our old hiking spot. I realized how much I missed our weekly hikes with dad. It's something I really want to get back to.

So, when I was asked to go on a little hike, I couldn't turn it down. I've been thinking about hiking for a while now and now was the time to start again. Of course I have no idea how out of shape I am. I mean I know I'm pretty stinking out of shape, but I have no idea what my limit is.

That means I have to make a test run, right? Enter Mario leaving work early last night. I had his shoes ready to go. Dinner was prepped, so when we got home it would be all set. I was dressed and ready to go. I wanted to make sure we had enough light for a nice little trek.

We live just minutes from a beautiful park and mountains. We headed up the rolling hills above Hollywood and Los Angeles. It's hard to believe there is such beautiful spots around this city. We had a beautiful view of the city as we walked.

We didn't do the hike we set out to do. The Observatory was having some big do da, so there was no parking anywhere! Plan 2, just pull over at any ol' trailhead you see. Mario decided that since there were a lot of people walking in and out of this trail...that this was the trail for us! We got out of the car, walked over to the trail head and looked up the steepest tail! It wasn't just steep...it was STEEP! But Mario decided we were going for it. I was really happy. I figured we can stop as much as we like, just so long as we get up it.

we made it to the top!

Turns out the steep only lasted for so long. The trail leveled off and ended up following the hills. The weather was perfect. The sun was just setting and we had made it up the hill. We just walked. I was so happy! It really felt like those hikes we used to take. It was a nice quiet sunset walk.

However, soon the sun was getting too low and we were heading back. Yet there were still people hiking in! I wanted to know if there was some bon fire some where...where were they all going in the dark! We only got to go about a mile this time, but Mario loved it so much he wants to go again this weekend.

We headed back to the car just as it got dark. It was a little creepy coming back in the dark. I kept hearing noises behind us.The steep hill was far more treacherous coming back down...but we made it! We climbed in the car feeling good. Then just as we got the car started, Mario suddenly yelled "WILD ANIMALS!!" then turned on the high beams on the headlights. I'm not sure what I was expecting. What I was not expecting was to see a coyote walk into the restrooms. Do coyotes drink out of toilets also?