Walk, Dance, Hike - Get a lift...

This morning was almost sunny - so clear that I could see the snow on distant peaks. I decided I would walk to the Rec center where my Israeli Dance class meets on Tuesdays and Fridays. I thought it would be about a 20 - 30 minute walk. Wrong. It took closer to 40 minutes. I also had to wear clogs because my other walking shoes were damp from walking through puddles after last night's art course. (I should have put them on the hot water heater - a favorite quick drying spot). You have to carry-in your shoes to the Rec center. They don't want street shoes worn inside. I think it's because of the rainy weather and having all that moisture continually brought inside. Also, that's something that Ketchikaners do automatically here. If you go to someone's house, you always leave your shoes at the door. It keeps the mud and muck at bay.

By the time I got to dance, it was half over, and I was a little tired. A friend asked if she could give me a lift home. "No," I said. "I want the exercise." Up, up the hill I went. Then I had a brainstorm. "Why not hike the Rainbird Trail back?" It was on the way, and I had never done it. So, up, up the cliff steps I went. Actually, make that UP, UP, UP since the stairs seemed to go on and on. The trail went straight up from there on rock steps and log steps. The view was amazing. I was fortunate that I had my camera along, so I was able to take pictures.

Halfway through the hike, I met a friend from church and a friend of hers. We stood and chatted for awhile way up above the city. It was gorgeous. Then they went down the trail and I went up a little more before going down. At the other end of the trail, I went down another set of steps to the parking lot. There was my friend from church who asked if I wanted a lift home. "YES!" I cried. Thank goodness she came to my rescue. I think it's fine to walk and dance. Maybe even dance and hike. But probably not walk, dance, hike. At least not in Ketchikan.