Woman walking among lupine
Terri Webster Schrandt

Sunday Stills: Paths and #Trails in the Great Outdoors

“Complete freedom is not what a trail offers. Quite the opposite; a trail is a tactful reduction of options.” ― Robert Moor

How is it already the middle of June? For many, this means summer is here, and for those who live in the Southern Hemisphere, winter has officially begun.

June is Great Outdoors Month! This week’s sub-theme is “paths and trails.”

Just to be clear…

A trail is an unpaved path, like the narrow trail you follow through the woods on your hike. A trail can also be a series of clues that are left behind, also forming a kind of path. SOURCE

View from the Centennial Trail
A small path leads to the lake from the Centennial Trail

Semantics aside, share with us this week your favorite paths or trails. Please be creative with the use of the words Path and/or Trail. Both words can be used metaphorically.

My Favorite Local Trails and Paths

I am blessed to live near forest paths here in Eastern Washington. Within a half mile of my front porch are a series of paths into the forest. June is lovely as alpine lupine grows wild along the paths.

local alpine trail

“On this path let the heart be your guide.” – Rumi

Forest trail
Alpine Lupine Trail
Woman walking among lupine
AI-generated image of me…

However, in rural areas, one must literally tread carefully. Otherwise, you may be trespassing on private property. Both images show what is now private property within walking distance of where we live. This path is now fenced off, and the owner WILL come at you with his gun!

Neighborhood Trail
The Call of the Autumn Trail
Walking dogs on a trail
walking path

Not to be deterred, we can access the Centennial Trail from Riverside State Park (Washington State Parks), just a few miles away by vehicle. It offers over 50 miles of paved trails for walking or biking. Some parts of the trail are even groomed in the winter for snowshoeing! Parts of the trail have doggie-bag kiosks.

Centennial Trail Nine Mile Falls WA
Walking dogs on the Centennial Trail
Walking dogs on the Centennial Trail
man rollerblading
Rollerblading on the Trail

Trails Out and About

“Just because my path is different doesn’t mean I’m lost.” – Gerard Abrams

Whenever we travel, we look for safe places to walk and hike with our dog. We stayed in Dillon, in southwest Montana, during our last two days of our Arizona road trip. Not far from our hotel were residential streets that led to paved walking trails. The trails provided access to public parks and a golf course.

walking path
Paved walking path Dillon, Montana
golf course in Montana
Private Golf Course, Dillon Montana

We’ve also enjoyed other trips which included visiting Multnomah Falls near Portland, Oregon…

walking trail Multnomah Falls

…and endless trails within the Valley of Fire State Park near Las Vegas, Nevada.

Hiking in Valley of Fire State Park
Hiking path in the Valley of Fire

Sadly, as more homes and large subdivisions are built, more wild animals are being displaced. This forces them to explore suburban pathways for food and water. I spotted this handsome coyote in Cave Creek, Arizona, steps away from a restaurant, on his new path.

coyote trail
coyote

“The wildlife and its habitat cannot speak, so we must and we will.” – Theodore Roosevelt

Trails Dedicated to Fitness

Our local Centennial Trail is a wonderful place for walking, biking, and hiking. I also lived nine minutes by bicycle from the American River Bike Trail in Sacramento for over 30 years. Good times!

American River Bike Trail Sacramento
Outdoor Fitness
Users on American River Bike Trail
Biking along American River Bike Trail
Road to Bike Trail
Access Road to Sacramento’s American River Bike Trail
Autumn Bike Ride American River Bike Trail

“Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?” – Garth Nix

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Sunday Stills Photo Challenge Reminders

The Sunday Stills weekly-themed photo challenge is easy to join. You have all week to share and link your post. Please use your own original images, whether new or from your archives.

  • Remember to title your blog post a little differently from mine.
  • Please create a new post for the theme or link to a recent one.
  • Entries for this theme can be posted all week.
  • Tag your post “Sunday Stills.”
  • Don’t forget to create a pingback to this post so that other participants can read your post.
  • I also recommend adding your post’s URL to the comments.

Sharing for Johnbo’s Cellpic Sunday and Jo’s Monday Walk.

Happy Father’s Day to all the dads, granddads, nephews, sons, and uncles! I miss you, DAD!

two men on bridge
Hans and Dad at the Bowl and Pitcher

“Nothing teaches a man like his trails.” ― Lailah Gifty Akita

I can’t wait to see how you interpret this week’s theme! Creativity is encouraged, so please share your own photographs (old or new), poems, original short stories, and music inspired by the theme. Join me next week as we celebrate the Solstice with Sunrises and Sunsets in the Great Outdoors.

graphic

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106 comments

  2. A great idea for a theme Terri, as so many of us like to photograph winding paths etc. I love those lupines, but am somewhat horrified by the idea that anyone would shoot someone who dared to walk on their land. Chase them off, yes, maybe report them to the authorities, but it’s hard for any of us here in the UK to get used to the idea that people have such easy access to guns and that they would actually use them.

    Anyway, here’s my offering for this week: https://www.toonsarah-travels.blog/gallery-following-the-path-to/

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you, Sarah. I’m glad you like the theme. I’ve never seen anyone brandishing a shotgun yet, I’m careful not to trespass. There is wildlife like bear and cougar here and many folks use shotguns to protect their livestock. Yes there are those who threaten with their guns in rural America.

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  4. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be chased off private land by someone with a gun, Terri. Thankfully, it’s unlikely to happen in the UK because of our laws surrounding the ownership of guns, but I have been chased off land by a farmer’s wife with a stick after she thought I was stealing hay from the field. That was all a very long time ago, though. Something I now laugh about.

    We are fortunate to live in an area that offers numerous walks and trails. At this time of year, I prefer shady areas when the temperature gets too high. Fortunately, because of our climate, the chances of forest fires at this time of year are very low. Plus, the dogs prefer shady areas when it’s too hot.

    I’m glad you have plenty of places to walk. I think walking a trail for the first time, as you never know what’s around the corner. And, of course, walking is beneficial for both our physical and mental health.

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    • It’s a little like the Wild West in some rural areas around here, Hugh. Amazing how protective some people are of their Junk! There are still plenty of places for good walks, but in summer, one has to go out early. We still have light in the sky now past 10pm, and I’ve seen a few late evening walkers lately. There are no street lights anywhere near us so you can imagine how dark it seems until your eyes get used to it.
      Love your memory of being chased by the farmer’s wife! I have a walk date with a friend this morning! She’s bringing her two school aged kids and I’m bringing Brodie along. Should be fun.

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      • With no light pollution, it must be an amazing place to stargaze, Terri. I’d need a telescope if I lived where you do. I used to own one when I was a child, and loved looking at the stars. Back then, the best thing I could see was Mars. The other planets, which were beyond Mars, appeared as just a faint light.

        Liked by 1 person

  16. Terri,

    Love the AI image. As many times as I have been to Las Vegas, I can’t believe I’ve never visited the Valley of Fire SP. I’ll fix that on my next trip. I’m sharing a picture of the Deep Creek Trail which is on the North Carolina side of the Great Smoky Mountains NP. The trail leads to a lovely waterfall and makes for an enjoyable hike. Oh, you’re right that is a handsome coyote. Joe

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    • Thank you, Joe! I have fun with AI but prefer actual photos. You will move VOF. $10 entry fee. It can take a whole day to go through, and the visitor’s center is a must-stop! I would love to see the Smokys some day. I’m still trying to get over to the west side of Washington!

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  18. Wow, like Deb, your post is just what I was planning to talk about this week. I loved the Centennial Trail while I was up there. Not as elegant, but just as good as walking are your rural streets.

    I love that AI image of you! I looked at it several times before I read the caption – duh. I thought, younger, maybe, but so much of it looked just like you now. Then I scrolled down to the similar picture of the real you. Did you give AI that picture to work with?

    Your other pictures are a great example of creative. You should consider that as your WOTY next year. Your photographs get better and better, and you do creative thing with them. Fun and informative post.

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you, Marsha! One of these days, I’m going to try cycling further down the trail a few more miles. I had fun with the AI image (I used WordPress’ AI feature. It captured my hair the best, LOL! The bike path pic was done through Painnt filter, always just for fun. Next week I have sunsets/rises from public parks and national parks. Are you still in OR? We have to chat, August might be looking good for me!

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      • I’m back home now. I only can get away for a week at a time. We had a good time, though. Best visit ever. Clean house, and I’m getting the finances under control.

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  20. A wonderful theme, Terri. The quotes by Theodore Roosevelt about speaking for wildlife, and Nix about the path choosing us and Gerard about having a different path but not being lost. The AI-generated picture of you is cool.
    I love all your photographs. Each tell a story and are so full of life. The one of the Alpine Lupine Trail invites the viewer to take a walk while the walking trail and the one of the little boy skating is heartwarming. The shadow of the cyclist, the road in Sacramento and the one with the waterfall…fabulous pics!

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  21. Hi Terry
    Thanks for sharing your ideas and pictures.
    What interesting trails to walk.
    We are not used to the fact that there is private land you are not allowed to go into. In Scandinavia, you are allowed to enter every land, it doesn’t matter if it’s private or not.
    We wish you a happy week
    The Fab Four of Cley
    🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

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    • Thank you for reading, KB! It’s sad that people are so protective of their junk, but that’s what it is. Sadly, in rural America, many folks are driven by scarcity and drugs, and will protect what they have. I’m just simply out walking my dog. Whatever, right?

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  31. I enjoyed reading about and seeing all your photos of the trails you frequent now and before Terri. I especially liked the nearby Centennial Trail and also where you visited the Valley of Fire State Park trail. I’ve seen that picture of you hiking before (I think) but didn’t realize that was an AI-generated photo and assumed your hubby took the photo from behind you like he did for the Valley of Fire path photo. That’s amazing what AI can do. 🙂

    I liked this quote best: “Does the walker choose the path, or the path the walker?” – Garth Nix That is an interesting question.

    My post today is about a path, Elizabeth Drive, but it is also tailored for Father’s Day predominantly. I posted it last night to wish the fathers Happy Father’s Day, but was not able to link your post until I got back online later today. A whole lotta goslings goin’ on on Elizabeth Drive!

    Gosling-palooza!

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    • Thank you, Linda. I always try to add new images to posts and throw in a few oldies for fun. The AI feature on WordPress and on Microsoft copilot are very good. Its fun to create when you can’t take your own photo. You should try it sometime.
      Our power was out here for several hours, so I’m able to comment again.

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      • I had fun with the WP AI image when I created an image of me as a scarecrow typing up a blog post for Walktober It was fun to create. I will have to try again. I didn’t realize you could create images in Copilot too … funny you mention that as I got an e-mail today from MS that I would be charged for MS Office 365 one month from today. I have a personal subscription as I have no need for a family plan – so it was $30.00 more than last year … I figured they charged me for the family plan again, but Googled before attempting to contact MS … they raised because they have introduced so many AI features. Guess I’d better try more of them out then! Sorry to hear your power was out – hope it wasn’t too hot for you!

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      • It was fun as I wanted to match the flannel shirt and jeans that a scarecrow in the ‘hood as well as me were wearing and AI did a great job. That’s good as it is miserable with no A/C or fan in the heat.

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  34. I shared my link, now coming back to comment…haha. Love these. Those paved paths look awesome. I agree..you have to be careful where you walk, sometimes it’s hard to know if something is private property. I’m itching to go find some trails.

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  46. What fabulous trails and pathways you have access to, Terri. Multnomah Falls is an impressive waterfall. I agree, it’s so sad that so many animal habitats are being taken over by humans. It’s no wonder they’re seen more and more in towns and cities.

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