Lost in the forest

A sunny morning and Catherine off to a long day of work but many things are closed Wednesdays,  including the credit union where Michael works, so he was home, just driving Tola to school. He made a  leek potato soup and we had a nice lunch. 

   Colorful sheep running away from me

Then I went for a walk to the nearby Ballypatrick Forest. There were two cars by the locked gate, surrounded by barbed wire. I had a pleasant chat with a local man named Robert, a university psychology professor, about retirement and Trump. He seemed to know Catherine, at least to recognize her. No one I talk to on this trip understands how Drumpf could have been elected a SECOND time, and that'swhat Robert said, too.

I got instructions from him and the few other people walking there but there wasn't a single sign and I must have gone the wrong way. I walked about a mile out of the way and had to backtrack. At least I had water but only M&Ms to eat. Total steps: 16,600.

I had terrible leg cramps most of the night and it wasn't easy hiking. My GPS wasn't helping on my inadvertent detour! I was thinking I would find the loop my cousin Marie talked about instead of just going back the way I came!

I had to climb over a 5 ft gate and as much as I dreaded it, it was easier on the return trip!

The dreadful sound of killing trees could be heard on most of my walk. Robert told me it was a "working forest." It seems to me putting that adjective (as in working dog) is just an excuse for bad treatment.