Azaleas and other flowers on Marion Mtn Trail

[zippetydude]

It's kinda common in athletic pursuits where you have no chance of actually winning. In a marathon, I'm just past the halfway mark when the winners finish the race. So I can only compete with myself. Same thing with weight lifting, or any kind of activity where it adds interest to measure potential improvement without having to beat someone else. With video games, which is totally non-athletic of course, people always want to beat their high score. Same silliness. Just adds a little twist to something you already like doing.

z

[Sally]

No lemon lilies yet, Ulysses. They usually come a little later. When I was up on the upper Deer Springs Trail about 3 weeks ago the ferns were barely poking out of the ground. The ranger buttons and Queen Anne's lace were up on Sunday, but not blooming yet. Things seem to bloom in succession, which makes it enticing to make it up there at least once a week so that you don't miss anything!

As for PR''s, they are a fun alternative way to get in some mountain time. I will try one for myself when I am "feeling it" (meaning I am more energetic), it isn't hot out, and the scenery is a bit more drab than usual. I must admit, I do no running, it is all I can do to hike briskly. It is unpleasant to me when I come across a runner who gets annoyed at me if I don't get out of their way quickly enough for them. Marilyn and I had a lady runner come towards us near the bottom of Marion Mtn Trail. I joked with her, "Didn't you know this trail is challenging enough without running it?" ...she laughed!

[Sally]

Thanks for the compliments on the photos. You are too kind, Zip! Did you notice the coordinated outfits and day packs Marilyn and I were wearing? Sheesh, it was both funny and embarassing with all the comments we got on the trail. The best, "Gee, did we miss the memo about wearing purple and pink today?!"

[David W]

Good pictures, thanks for sharing!