Yesterday I spent a couple of hours on a training hike at Helen Putnam Park. Fixit did not join me this time, because he’s recovering from a minor medical procedure that was SUPPOSED to have been done a couple of months ago, but the doctor kept procrastinating. He should be fine in a couple of weeks.

The park has been renovating several of its trails, which were getting a bit gullied and “slumped”. I was able to walk on some of the renovations, including a whole new reroute that avoids a rather steep, messed up, old section of trail. Since Fixit and I were on a PCT trail maintenance crew a few years ago, and we got to learn a lot about building and caring for trails on that trip, I now have much more understanding and experience for looking at any trail maintenance and renovations I come across.

Being on a trail maintenance crew is an awesome experience! I highly recommend it!

Because Petaluma is under the “shelter in place” rule, and all “unneeded” businesses are closed, there were a lot more folks on the trail than usual, and I was able to do a lot of “people-watching.” Some people are so fearful that they literally are huddling in their homes and not even going out for walks (and hysterically criticizing those of us who do go out and saying we should be jailed!!!), but I would say the majority of Petalumans are being cheerful and making the best of things.

There is a rule about “six feet away” from other people, and on a fire road trail, that’s do-able, but on a narrow footpath, it’s not. There are lots of narrow footpaths at Helen Putnam Park. So what almost all of us did was keep to the right as best we could and pass quickly with just a wave and a smile. But there was one couple I met whose behavior was really sad. They were hiking towards me on a narrow footpath. I moved as far to the right as I could, and expected them to do the same. Instead, they suddenly started RUNNING off the trail, up the hill into the grass, and as I passed, they yelled at me angrily. I was thinking, “Are they crazy? That grass is full of ticks!” (Which is why I did NOT move completely off the trail into the grass). I hurried by while they yelled and I wondered. Finally I realized, “Oh, duh, they wanted ME to move OFF the trail about 3 feet, then THEY would move OFF the trail about 3 feet, and that way we could keep the 6-foot distance. And then we would BOTH have to stop and do a tick check.”

The other thing I noticed was a family of dad and 2 kids, one a 6 year old-ish girl and her big brother (I’d say he was about 8 or 9). They were just starting up what we call “The Face”, a long, steep hill that is greatly loved by Petaluma runners, who come there to train. The boy saw the hill, and being a boy, started to CHARGE up it! I cheered and said, “Go, go! Way to go!” Boys LIKE a challenge! They like to take it on! But little sister stopped and began a piercing, whining cry of “Wait for me! Wait for me!” Big brother ignored her. Little sister made no attempt to keep up, just stood and whined. Finally the dad made big brother come all the way back, and little sister looked triumphant. I was horrified. Little sister was being trained to be a selfish control freak. A far more sensible arrangement would be to say “Big brother, once you get to the top, wait up!” That way he would be able to do what every boy needs to do–meet big challenges–while at the same time, practice reasonable courtesy. And little sister should NEVER be allowed to whine and control, but instead be encouraged to do her best, with the idea that if she is diligent to work hard and run and climb, someday she ALSO will be able to charge up a big hill!

Well, I went up and down The Face myself, a couple of times, figuring “There will be a lot of this on the AT!” And I want to be ready to face that challenge!

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