This morning I took my hiking poles and headed for Knight Woods. Bradbury Mountain State Park has laid out a top class mountain bike trail. It’s listed as a black diamond trail for its difficulty. But armed with just my poles and gloves I took the trail head on. The trail is on level turf as it winds and twists through the hardwood forest but it has roots, boulders and ups and downs. I can see why it attracts serious cross-country bikers. However this morning I was out by myself. I focused on the terrain as I walked at a steady pace with the hiking poles going up and down like pistons. Occasionally I glanced up to sweep the forest in hopes of seeing some wildlife because there is no under story. A person could go anywhere without having to deal with underbrush because the ground is only covered by dead leaves, needles and mushrooms, mushrooms of all sizes, shapes and colors.
My eyes were locked on the trail ahead when something exploded six feet off to my left. I jumped so high I thought my head was going to hit the branches of a white pine tree. A fawn that was blending into the dead leaves jumped up and scampered off. I’m glad only the fawn and the trees were present to hear my startled response. It was a nice early morning workout in a beautiful setting. Then after the forest it was a drive to the laundromat. Now that was a real jump… down.
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