Moving for the Soul

15 miles of mountain biking in the lovely, shaded and quiet Ethan Allen/Mackenzie Park Trails. They're dried out now from July's floodwaters. The nettles are thankfully flattened, but it took a lot of work to clear debris and saw fallen trees.

It's helpful to keep moving, diversifying local routes, and in this time when we can plan adventures, finally, sometimes health quirks place us mentally back in pandemic times. Put one front in front of the other and don't look too far ahead. 

Both the Caulkins and MacKenzie Trails skirt farmland and zigzag along the Winooski Riverbank with water views.

With an age gap between me and my husband - he's free to travel and set his own schedule - and thus what a wonderful two months he's had in 2023, traveling thousands of miles, visiting family and friends, pedaling long distance trails and hiking high points. But his health has thrown curveballs, too. Often he overdoes physical work at home and at a summer residence, where seemingly minor tweaks accumulate and turn into debilitating back injuries that take weeks to heal. I'm hopeful he recovers in time for my planned vacation time - I'm still working - in September, because from day one, we're the best traveling partners.

Choose from meandering trails or a dirt road throughout the Winooski River bottomland - a local treasure,
whether walking or riding.

After a wonderful ride on the Erie Canal Trail (where my husband's fitness put me to shame) but then we had a thwarted July adventure, due to Vermont's terrible flooding, when I badly need a vacation. In the meantime, for my peace of mind, I have a quasi backup adventure just in case my husband can't make it.