The sun creeps low in the sky, beaming through the trees as we hike

I managed to go to Stringer’s Ridge twice in the same week.  Not just in the same week, actually.  In 2 days.  It started on a whim.  I can see the Stringer’s Ridge overlook from my office window.  I have been watching (through binoculars) the progress on the overlook.  One day, I peered through the binoculars long and hard and thought, “I think they’re done!”

That was the day, being one of the 2 work days in a week that we don’t have a prescribed cuisine, I thought, “we should have a picnic dinner at the overlook.”  And so it went.  We packed up Tisen’s dinner, threw a couple of beverages in a day pack, and headed to the grocery store to pick up sandwiches and cookies.

A coniferous tree glows yellow in the light from the setting sun amongst greener brethren

We drove up to the overlook as the sun worked its way toward the horizon.  We managed to eat with a spectacular view followed by a nice walk through the woods as the sun continued to set.  We made it back to the car before dark feeling pretty darn good (less the bug bites).

It was so nice to get out on a Monday evening, I thought we might make a habit of it (yet to be seen).

Tisen is a great trail dog–always checking to make sure Mommy is coming if he gets too far ahead

The next day, the cleaning folks were coming and I needed a place to work where it was quiet.  The cleaning crew didn’t arrive until nearly lunch.  I managed to get me and Tisen out without interrupting the conference call I was on.  This is perhaps one of the most amazing things about technology today.  I think back to when I started my first job and felt really special because I had a terminal and a phone on my desk.  Flex time meant you could set your start time between 7-9AM and leave 8.5-9 hours later, depending on how long you took for lunch.

I cannot imagine what our department head back then (who thought email could only be used to goof off) would think of a work world where you can be in the middle of a meeting, pack up your office and your dog, head down to your car, start up your own wireless network, get back online and fully participate in the call without anyone knowing you just changed location.

Tisen’s wallow

On another whim, once I got setup in the car, I headed back to Stringer’s Ridge.  I drove up and parked in a shady spot, sitting in the car until the meeting ended.  Then, instead of spending lunch sitting in front of my laptop working, I took Tisen for a walk through the woods.  I found it doubly refreshing to get out in the woods in the middle of the day.  Tisen, I think, found it rather stifling.  Unfortunately, I hadn’t thought to bring him water.  The first puddle we found on the trail quickly became a mud bath for Tisen who sank into it like a wallowing pig.

He made it back just fine, thankfully, just muddy.

I know I posted similar shots yesterday, but the view from the overlook is pretty cool