Thu, Jun 28 2018 - Thursday Morning Semi-Fitness Hike at Island Ford (View Original Event Details) Trip Leader(s): Carol, Joyce T. Participants: Joyce T., Carol, Larry S, Gloria Colley, SusanF, Shirley N, DavidV, Lyn S, Allen D, Sharon C., Judy, Amanda M.

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Oh, how lucky we were this morning! Carol and I considered cancelling the hike due to the prospect of thunderstorms, but we decided we had a window of opportunity and took a chance. We agreed to end the hike early if the storms looked close. As we hiked, we kept an eye on the local weather through our apps and saw that thunderstorms were approaching and would arrive by noon. So we cut the hike short and got back to the parking lot minutes before the thunder boomed overhead and the rain fell. The rain bubble held!  

Shirley and I spotted a little box turtle digging a hole for her eggs and stopped to take a couple of photos - - so we missed the group at the top of the hill. Sorry I didn't take a picture! I was told that Allen made it up first, with Susan in second place. Judy and David were third and fourth. Nice job, you super-fit peeps!  I also heard that Allen wasn't even breathing hard at the top, despite carrying that 35 pound backpack!

The trails this morning were beyond wet, with puddles covering the trails in many places along the river, so we kept to the inner trails and got in a very enjoyable one-and-a-half hour hike.  We had a group of 12 gather for lunch at the North River Tavern (including two D-Zeros) and enjoyed the torrential rain outside as we ate in dry comfort.  ~  Joyce