I had every intention of taking part in the local First Day Hike scheduled for 8 A.M. last Sunday morning. The weather was cooperative; stormy New Year’s Eve gave way to a sunny, if chilly, New Year’s Day. I had managed to beat back a minor head cold, and the Big Guy was up early, heading out to Folsom Lake for a small fishing tournament. But somehow I still managed to oversleep, and by the time I arrived at the meeting place, I was 15 minutes late and the group had already set off. Instead, I wandered around for awhile, enjoying the feeling of being outdoors at this time of the morning. Maybe it wasn’t the best way to start the new year, but at least it was typical for me.

Whitewater canal near the Johnny Cash Trail