Outdoor Adventures

The sun was shining, a few clouds in the sky and it was 89 degrees at 11am. That's where today's adventure began. I started the morning by grabbing some tea and my mail then headed off to Piedmont Park at around 11am. I wasn't positive where I was going, but I figured I would know once I got there. WOW. How I have been so unplanned lately. This is unnatural for me.

Oh Piedmont Park. You were everything that I could have imagined and more. I set out to just walk around the park and was stunned at the amount of people there already at 11am. Its crazy that people were walking dogs, running, skipping, and riding bikes in unison it seemed. I wondered as I set out on foot, if people would be able to notice that I was not one of them, that I a Midwestern girl from Iowa was not at all acquainted with Atlanta and the people that inhabited the parks. But after walking past half a dozen people that were exactly the opposite of the previous person, I gathered there was no common theme among any of them so I fit right in.

My problem. I had no clue where I was going or what path to take to get to somewhere. It wasn't like parks I was used to - having just one or two paths around instead there were like 50 different routes to take. So again I became a free spirit and set off in which ever direction called me at the moment. I discovered the mountains and lake that Laura talked about in Utah. Except my version was actually a small lake and skyscrapers. (See Facebook for a picture). I took a moment to take in my environment as I stood under a few trees and looked across the lake to the city beyond. I smiled to myself. There was a young family rocking on a swing behind me and it was warming to know that Atlanta was loving. I think that sometimes people caught me smiling and probably thought that girl must be on something, because I often was just enjoying the place I was in that a smile was escaping. I listened to music with only one ear piece in so that I could still hear the environment around me. This allows me to be in a world all my own, but still be observant enough to hear people talking about the weather or their dogs. Needless to say this was a super fabulous adventure. I paused about an hour into my trek to just sit in the grass on a hill overlooking "the oval." I put this in quotes because there were signs up about every 25 feet around the oval that stated - NO dogs, bicycles or strollers. (I think that's right) either way it was kind of funny. Every time I walked past one I giggled. It was really for everyone's own good, because I sat and watched the people running/walking/sprinting around the oval and there really was no room for anything other then single people getting exercise. Inside the oval were playing fields - a baseball diamond, open green area, and two sand volleyball courts. How fun!!! I observed a while longer then took off. PS It was extremely hot. Even in the shade I was sweating. I didn't mind one bit though it was actually quite refreshing to sweat. I finished my park adventure with a short trip in the botanical garden. Beautiful flowers and art.

It was kind of fun just walking and observing. Again I realized I am fascinated with people. Everyone has a story and I often like to make up the rest that does not outwardly show because it makes these strangers someone I can relate to. My favorites today included: the rollerskater, the dogwalker, the bikerider, the writer, and the poet.

1. The Rollerskater - yes apparently people still do roller skate. This woman and I should totally be friends. She had on her knee pads and hand gloves. Don't worry everyone she was working her arms. It reminded me of the people you see roller skating on Venice beach rocking out to the music in their head and swirving back and forth. I'm positive this is a good work out, but it was interesting to watch.
2. The Dogwalker or should a say Dog runner. Many people run with dogs but this was different. When I first say this man coming I thought how awesome that he takes that big dog for a run on a leash...then as he ran by me I noticed a chihuahua scampering behind (not on a leash). I think I might have laughed out loud. Every so often he would look behind just to make sure the little one was still there. It was hilarious to see, but for the dogs they seemed to be both enjoying themselves.
3, The bike rider. There are too many. My favorite the couple - one with a normal mountain bike and his girlfriend with a bike from the Wizard of Oz basket and all. FUNNY. I imagined he really loved this girl because otherwise who would want to ride in public with that.
4 and 5. The Writer and Poet. I don't really know if either of the guys I saw were actually writers or poets but I like to think they were. They sat on opposite sides of the mini-lake. One was thinking extremely hard and would scribble a little and then smile. He had a stack of journals next to him but was writing in a tinier one - he was the poet. The other dude was an older gentleman who had clearly been writing for a long time. He was steadily writing in his journal and would take moments to observe his surroundings and then write some more - he writes novels. I hope its a good one.

I finished my Sunday by wishing Happy Fathers Day to everyone and then retreated upward to the pool on the roof. Man what a view. I read and tanned - yes I do tan - but I definitely burned my back a bit (the part I can't reach). Anyway that's another adventure for the books.