I couldn't seem to find my old hiking thread from the last few years so am starting up this new one. It's probably time to do that anyway.

While it wasn't my first hike of the year, it was my first GOOD hike. 4.67 miles on a lovely trail that wasn't too muddy for a change. Trying out a new Camelbak waist/lumbar hydration pack as my neck and shoulders are getting cranky with my Vaude hydration backpack. The waist version holds 50 ounces of water which will work for up to 6-7 mile hikes and longer if I can find a way to refill it. Afterwards I was a bit stiff as it was about a mile longer than I anticipated, so I went out into the meadow behind the parking lot after changing out of my hiking shoes and did my two TaiChi forms. Not long, only about 10 minutes, but it felt wonderful to do it outside in the sunshine. This is the first time I've done TaiChi outside and the uneven ground made things a bit interesting. No matter, it was fun, and did help. I took my time on the hike once I remembered the loop was much longer than the mileage post indicated - and it was too late to turn back at that point. Just under 2 hours for almost 5 miles on a mountain bike trail - that's pretty good I think. My neck and shoulders are feeling MUCH better than normal without the pack.

Tomorrow I hope to walk on our local canal tow path for a couple miles and have a bit of ice cream afterwards with a few women from church. Palm Sunday Ice Cream