the blustery, beautiful day...

She said she had a surprise for me in her neighborhood. I was anxious to get to her so it would be revealed, because she wouldn't even comment on my ridiculous guesses.  We walked along the water where we usually kayak, and the wind that blew our hair this way and that created waves on the usually-still river.   Our conversation was as constant as the wind.  When she pointed me to the walking trail, we took a tall step over the gate instead of swinging it wide.  We laughed our way down the trail, and she hoped that I would be as excited about the surprise as she was, as she thought I would be...

I squealed, because I am a lover of boardwalks.  I love the way they wind into the woods, to a place that would remain unseen without it, and I am so thankful that I live in a place where people take time to carve out the way.  {this is obviously unfinished!}  When I asked if this was the surprise, she smiled and said only part of it! I couldn't imagine what could be better.  But around the bend, was a tower, climbing into the sky, affording us this view...

We sat, we stood, we gazed and talked some more.  We spotted a hawk and two pileated woodpeckers along with some turkey vultures.  As we wandered back down the trail, we decided to continue down to the weir... and then the adventure took a whole different turn.

to be continued...