bugs and birds

Today Lydia didn't go in until 10:45. One of the benefits of working retail. If she takes the bus, she leaves at 9. She suggested at 8 that we go walking and I drop her off. It wasn't super hot out, nor humid, but shade was a requirement. Upscale stores, even in outlet malls,  don't want sweaty clerks.

I picked the Freemansburg trailhead of the D&L. I was fairly sure it was shady in the morning, and being between the rive and the canal should be cooler. Plus it's close to the Sands (soon to be the Windcreek), so it shouldn't be any trouble getting her to work.

And we were off.

We pulled into the new Freemansburg trail head. Talk about a renovation. The bridge is long because it is assessable. The ramps on either end are at least three twists each. And because of all the rain the canal water was clean. There are actual paved parking spaces. And hold on to your caps—trash AND recycle bins. As well as a fish line bin.

Which way to go? Head past the gaggle of mean geese into Bethlehem Township or back toward Bethlehem. A few years ago the tree butchers did their damage to the trees in the Bethlehem section, ruining both the canal and the shade. That wasn't an option.  We had to go past the geese.

The fishermen on the bridge hated me. I sang horrible songs at the top of my lungs to get the bastards to move. It worked. (It always worked in Girl Scout camp during hunting season. "Don't shoot us, we're only Girl Scouts." as every living thing in the forest ran for their lives!) All we had to do was navigate the shit they left behind.

It was indeed shady, and not super hot. We walked behind the mule barn instead of in front of it, but other than that we stayed on the trail. After the barn the gnats and bugs got really bad. I'm sure it's because of all the wet weather we have been having. I came up with a clever title for the blog post while doing this section, but have forgotten it. It's a shame.

We returned to the car and had a half-hour before she needed to be to work. Plenty of time to clean-up, change and clock in.

Miles/Steps:        2+

Weather:             78, sunny, breezy

Wildlife:              female mallard, gaggle of geese and gosling, swan, blue heron on the canal side and then flying away. As well as the normal assortment of song birds and squirrels that we hear and can't identify every day.

Bathrooms:         none

Photos:               Lydia