My thought process went like this today: I don't have work, it's sunny and above 50 degrees outside, what do I do with myself?!?!?! I wanted to be outside because it was nice but really couldn't nail down what I wanted to do so after researching all the things on the internet, I decided I'd go for a walk on the Bismarck Trail by my current apartment as I'll be moving soon and won't have easy access to it.
It was a spur of the minute decision. I literally grabbed a small gatorade (Green Apple if you are wondering) and left the house with the plan to walk down to my three mile spot, where if I turn around there, the total walk is 3 miles and it ends with one of my favorite spots on the trails near me. I should note that I was dressed in a tee shirt, jeans and my all weather mocs, which are generally comfortable but I was too lazy to get out my tennies. Note to self: plan better when going on walks, like maybe going to the bathroom before you leave and putting on appropriate footwear.
As I'm walking, feeling pretty wonderful about being outside and doing something, listening to some good tunes, drinking my gatorade and then it hits me: I have never found out how to get to the trail that is on the other side of the railroad tracks and it would be fun to explore the other side of the trail system. The plan then switched to walk to the place at the first underpass, where there are rocks that go across the stream that follows the tracks, cross the stream, the tracks and walk a new trail - EXCITING! Fun!
However, it has been getting progressively warmer which has melted the massive amounts of snow that we have received here in Bismarck. I did not account for the stream to be more river-like at the place where I was going to cross, totally covering the rocks I would have been able to easily walk on to cross over. Nevermind, I thought, there will be another place to switch over and it'll be fine. And, hey, if not, I'll just walk to where I was originally planning to go to and call it good. There will be other times.
A new spot to cross to the other trail never presented itself and as I walked on, I was joined on the trail by many more people out for walks and runs. Meanwhile, I had finished my gatorade and was now just hanging on to the empty bottle, slightly awkward. By the time that I had reached my turn around point, I felt quite surrounded by people and didn't really want to be that person who randomly turns around at an arbitrary point and saw a trash can slightly ahead and figured that I'd walk over there and toss my empty bottle and then head back.
This is where being an "Oooooh, shiny" person really doesn't work out for me. I make it to the garbage can which is sitting close to a big sign that says "Road closed", but there really isn't any sign of an actual road that could be considered closed. There is, however, a small, mown path that leads off in the direction that could possibly pick up the trail on the "other side" that I had been feeling like exploring.
As I am looking off into the distance on this closed, non road, I see a guy walking with his dog down it and think - Hey! This could be fun - I might actually find what I'm looking for AND this is an adventure! I'm ignoring a very big sign to go on a non road, what could go wrong?
So, I followed the guy. I'm pretty sure that he was thinking I was stalking him or being creepy or something because at the first possible availability, he chose to leave the non road in the opposite direction of me. Sadly, the mown path I followed did not lead me to the sought after trail. Still, I kept on thinking, still excitedly, I might find a new path and that would be fun!
I wandered through a neighborhood or two and eventually found myself back on the Bismarck Trail, still not finding the place I was actually looking for. But, hey, there was a train:
(Train selfie)
It was just stopped there, apparently parked on the tracks. Weird, I thought, as I kept walking. Slowly, the people on this trail started dwindling away, as I trekked further and further down it. It seemed like a really, really long trail with no alternative options other than 1) a bridge that was literally in the middle of nowhere leading nowhere, 2) turning around or 3) keep walking and find out where it ends. The bridge was obviously not an option, and there was a couple behind me a little ways which gave me that "I don't want to be that person" feeling again, so I just kept walking.
By this time, I was getting a little thirsty again and having downed an entire gatorade in the first 30 minutes of my walk was making me a little uncomfortable. I eventually made it to the other end of this trail to find myself on Rosser, which if I walked about 35 blocks more down it, I would find myself right in the middle of downtown Bismarck. I briefly considered doing that, but discarded that thought with one that said I needed to get home before the sun went down and before my bladder burst.
I ended up basically walking on the other side of the tracks that I had just finished following through a very nice neighborhood. There was a park and I might have stopped and used the swings but there was a family there and that would be just weird. A little further down, there was an even cooler park (sadly, no swings) and I decided my bladder could wait a little while while I climbed ALL the things.
(Way cool playground)
(At the top of the climby thingy - note the train behind me)
Feeling accomplished at climbing things, I continued my way back to my apartment. It ended up being a really long way. I did finally break down and ask a very nice couple outside their house if I could please use their bathroom and they graciously allowed me. I refrained from a selfie in the bathroom, but it should be noted their toilet paper was on the dispenser the wrong way. Still, I was very grateful.
That is how I ended up walking 8 miles in a little less than 3 hours this afternoon on my short walk. Despite my thirst upon my return, I did swing on the swings outside the apartment building for about 20 minutes just because I could. I swung long enough that I have blisters on my hands from it. I only stopped because an actual child wanted to use them. I was generally amused by the number of people who slow down on the road next to the swings to gawk at me, a grown adult, swinging on the swings as they drive by. They make pretty funny faces. Also, Watermelon Citrus gatorade is my new favorite.
And for good measure, a therapy joke selfie:
#sundayfunday #ihopeimnotsunburned #planmore
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