Shade Tree Wisdom 6/4/09

The last days of school are welcome to teachers and scholars alike. The paper reports School principals doing some rather silly things because their school achieved better than average, or did something successfully that the principal challenged them to do. And Dan Green is retiring from 33 years as track coach for the Woodlands High School track team. During these years he has taken the team to state 30 straight years, won 15 cress-country championships, and finished in the top four 10 other times.

But school’s over, and its vacation time. What are your plans?

Saturday is National Trails Day. This annual event encourages the goal that every American be able to go out their front door, and within 15 minute, set foot on a trail that is Tax payer supported, plus an understanding that physical activity is essential to good health, has led many states and cities across he country to invest in trail systems that approach the 20 year-old goal.

Best known of many is the Appalachian Trail, which runs 2,175 miles from Springer Mountain, Georgia to Katahdin, Maine. It has 260 shelters, and camp sites set a days hike apart all along its length. It is maintained by many volunteer organizations plus the national Park Service.

There is also the 3,100 mile Continental Divide Trail running form Canada to Mexico. This is about 70% complete. As well as the Pacific Coast Trail, 2,700 miles long.

But in Texas, plans are underway to extend the famous river walk in San Antonio along the river across four counties all the way to Goliad. Dallas is at work on the Trinity River Corridor Project to transform the flood protection solution into a greenway.

But in Houston, the “can do” place, collaborating groups and individuals are in the midst of setting a 650 mile Trail and Wilderness Preserve, linking regional parks, walkways, and bike trails as well as river and creeks. When finished, it will offer paved and unpaved bikeways, hiking paths, and paddling and bridle trails. Soon a 130 mile paddling trail connecting various waterways and creeks, making them accessible.

So, travel is out because a teenager has a job, so how about visiting a park nearby, or taking a picnic lunch to the lake shore, or just taking a book – might I suggest the Bible – and relax in the back yard with a glass of iced tea or a cool Pepsi?

I remember some days doing this in Detroit. We would pack a lunch, drive to Belle Isle, spread a blanket under a tree, watch the Great Lakes ore carriers glide by on the Detroit River, and just enjoy a quiet hour.

One thing, if you do that, leave any cats at home, locked in the kitchen or some such. But DO NOT take a cat along on a picnic. They will get scared by some sound, climb a tree, and you will stand there pleading and feeling he proper fool. Leave the cat at home.

Then enjoy the nature that the Lord so lavishly provides.

GPD 6/4/09