Eagle Marsh

Last week, I heard on the radio that there is a group of hikers who hike through Eagle Marsh every Tuesday.  After spending the last few days celebrating the holidays by picking it up and putting it in my mouth (no matter what "it" was) I woke up this morning unable to zip myself up into my favorite jeans.  I decided to join the hikers, even though I would be going all alone and didn't know a single person.

"Dress warm," my oh-so-very-wise daughter said to me when I told her of my plans.  What she should have said was,"Wear wading boots, a rain slicker, and gloves."

I showed up at 9:00 with these boots on my feet:

what my hiking boots looked like

but what I should have had on my feet were these:

what my hiking boots should have looked like

Just standing by my car, waiting for the others to show up, my feet began to get wet and cold.  There was a wet, soft snow falling and although it looked pretty, it was making things very wet and soggy.  I also had on black stretchy pants and a little ballerina skirt under my coat.  When the other hikers arrived, I overheard one of them say, "Is Tinkerbell there really planning to hike in that outfit?"  Eagle Marsh is a wetland preservation and it was wondered aloud if I knew the meaning of "wetland."

As the men were trying to figure out what trails they could hike with me and my "boots" one of them remembered that there was an old pair of wading boots in the barn and so we sloshed over there and I tried them on.  They were three sizes too big for my feet and the insides were wet and cold, but I didn't want to ruin any body's good time so I pronounced them "Great!" and off we went.

There were five of us.  Two Dicks, a Keith, a Bernie, and myself.  Had I not been there, the median age would probably have been about 75.

But I had such a great time!  We hiked for two hours and slogged through some areas where the water came mid-way up my calf.  My boots were squishy with water and my toes were tingly with cold.  The snow dampened my scarf until it was stuck to the sides of my face and my hair was hanging in soggy strands.

We walked through an area of the marsh called The Cathedral because of the hundreds of tall trees and we walked along the railroad tracks that divide Eagle Marsh from Fox Island.

Looking up through The Cathedral

Dick in The Cathedral

along the railroad tracks

It was evident that this was a group of men who walked together regularly and they shared stories and anecdotes with each other as we hiked along.  But they were careful to include me in all the conversation.

Bernie, Dick, and Keith's hat in the background

I was particularly glad for the wading boots when we passed through areas like this!

Dick

Bernie

Dick and Bernie

When we got back to the barn, the guys invited me along for a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, but I already had lunch plans.  Maybe next time though, because I'm definitely going back.  They invited me to join them with another group that hikes on the second and fourth Fridays every month.  I need the physical exercise and it's fun making new friends.  And it feels good to spend the first couple hours of the day connecting with nature.  If any of my local friends want to join me, let me know.