Thursday Morning

This was a morning of sublime joy.  It started with breakfast al fresco on the front porch.  Since I'm awakened every morning at 6:30 a.m., or earlier, depending on his mood, by my fine feline friend Moses, I've come to enjoy breakfast on my front porch.  Moses loves to enjoy his morning constitutional outdoors as early as possible.  Hence the early wake up meow.  Sitting outdoors to eat breakfast helps sooth my soul and gives me an idea of what to expect of the weather.  I do have to put in a disclaimer, just because Moses thinks I need to arise at 6:30 a.m., does not mean that I do.  I usually shoo him out of the bedroom, if I don't have to work early, and get up around 7:15ish, a much more civilized time.

View from my perch.

My breakfast perch.

Breakfast consisted of one fried egg with light Mexican shredded cheese, one homemade Whole Grain Blueberry Muffin, half of a diced avocado and a cup of fresh french press coffee (decaf of course) with coconut creamer.  My favorite breakfast.

The many faces of Moses.

 

Next it was on to the Paint Creek Trail for a bike ride. 

 It usually takes me about an hour to ride the trail from the trail head at Tienken road to the trail head in Lake Orion and back.  I'm all about the joy of riding and not about how fast I can accomplish the ride.  Needless to say, I'm frequently passed up by speedier, more focused riders. Carry on, you glutton's for punishment, this is supposed to be fun.  Right?  

The only advantage of having to work weekends, is that you have days off during the week.  On weekdays the trail is quieter and less congested.  I can ride for a mile without encountering another pedestrian or biker.  My motto is to go a la alone.  Me and the bike and the trail, the best way to experience the sights and sounds.  I saw a doe and a young small rack buck.  They were peering at me from the tall grass on the side of the trail.  As another biker approached they pronged across the field, white tails at attention.  Pronged - to leap gracefully, vertically and with forward momentum, propelling the leaper at a rapid pace periodically above the grass line.  My definition.  I encountered numerous flora of which I don't know the names.  I heard the bong of the bullfrog and the sweet song's of the birds. Riding the trail is my way of regaining my equilibrium and restoring my calm.  

The Paint Creek Trail is crisscrossed numerous times, not surprisingly, by Paint Creek.  It is the first Rails to Trails in Michigan and the prettiest trail in Southeast Michigan, in my opinion.  It is built on the limestone bed of the old Central Michigan railroad line.  It offers great biking, walking, running, fishing and horseback riding.  I took a lot photos this morning, because I wanted you to have a glimpse of the sublime experience I had this morning.

Looking forward to the experience.

Found along the trail.

What's around the bend?

Paint Creek.

Small rapids on the creek.

The fishing rules.

The trail guide, found at several points along the way.

Posting board.

The trestle bridge for Gunn Road.

 

Unknown flora of the outstanding orange variety.

Mile marker found, well, every mile or so.

More flora of the unknown variety.

Yet more.  Perhaps I should invest in a wildflower guide.

Ah, I know this one, Queen's Anne Lace.

A wild Daisy?

The site of the historical Rudd Mill.

My trusty steed.

The fish that frequent the pond.

Lily pads found in the pond.

A lovely pond and found north of Adams road.

More unidentified flowers.

Lovely periwinkle blue flora.

The turtle pond, found at the halfway mark.  I counted at least 10.  See the big guy, dead center?

A smashing red berry.

The backyard decoration of one of few homes you see along the trail.

They've hospitably supplied a bench and picnic table.  

More of the neighbor's old farm equipment.

Sassafras?

Lovely yellow flowers.

Blue sky and puffy clouds.  Temperature about 65.  Perfect!

The final reward - a Starbucks iced decaf mocha, nonfat of course.  

All in all, the perfect way to start a day.  Too bad I can't do it everyday.  Though I guess the joy would become routine.  I'm so thankful for the wonderful start.  Now I have to go do some work.

D:)