Dan Antion

That Time of Year – #1LinerWeds

“Rattlesnake Mountain? Um, Faith?”

On Saturday, our daughter Faith asked me if I’d like to go on a hike with her on Sunday. I’m not really prepared for winter hiking, but we weren’t really looking at a winter day. We haven’t had any snow in weeks, and Sunday’s temps were going to be above 50°f (10°c). I haven’t been hiking in a while, and I haven’t hiked in winter since I was in my early 20s. Still it was nice to get out on a muddy trail, cross some well-worn paths, climb a few rock outcrops and see some things I don’t normally see.

This is the time of year when we folks in the north start thinking about spring and getting ready to end our hibernation and take part in everything the reborn world will offer. It’s also the point where Major League Baseball’s spring training has started. I always mark this time of year with one of my favorite songs. I’ve shared it here before, but it has special meaning this year.

“Put me in coach, I’m ready to play today.”

This post is part of Linda G. Hill’s fun weekly series One-Liner Wednesday. If you have a one-liner, I’d encourage you to join in on the fun. You can follow this link to participate and to see the one-liners from the other participants.

The gallery includes a few photos from Sunday. Below that is one of my favorite songs.

“Rattlesnake Mountain? Um, Faith?”
The view over the mountain.
My guide. She’s always prepared for just about anything. She hikes solo, often, so that’s important.
“Up there? Really, Faith, we have to go up there?”
I haven’t hiked in winter for a long time. Normally, I wouldn’t see very far in these woods.
I guess if we weren’t following the blazes, we could avoid that rock, but we’re going over the far end of it.
I’ve been seeing these towers from a distance for over 35 years. Now I get to see them up close.
“Yeah, I’ll be right there. Really, I’m coming.”
I always like seeing the way these grow.
We were happy to have the wooden walkways.
They are working on building these walkways over the really wet parts.
I like the tangled vines and branches.
Let’s put this hike in the win column and enjoy a cold beer. (Amber Ale for me, Porter for Faith).
Classic burger and parmesean tater-tots.
Looking up the Farmington River from the bank near the restaurant.
The Farmington River

72 comments

  2. I’m glad to see you got in a winter’s walk this past weekend, without all of the snow we have here and even warmer temps. Isn’t it fun to see the landscape in the woods this time of year, and even better that you have a most excellent and prepared guide in Faith? Beautiful landscape, beautiful day, family, food, beer…what more could you ask for?

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  3. Perfect post leading up to March. A lot of folks insert the term ‘hike’ for ‘walk.’ You, however, went for a real hike there Dad. :-) Not trying to get personal out here on the web, but what generic field does Faith work in? Health Care, IT, Sales? I couldn’t keep up with her on a hike, but I think I’d enjoy having a cold beer with her. :-)

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  4. That’s the first time I heard that song. It has a springtime beat and optimism that goes with baseball. That expression on your daughter’s face in the pictures reminded me of my daughter’s when trying to follow her up the Malibu Incline. Admittedly that was steeper, but the expression was the same.

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    • We had a good time. It wasn’t a long hike, but it was challenging at times, especially since I’m in my “winter” shape.

      Spring is coming Ally. Coach will make sure we all get some playing time.

      Thanks for dropping by.

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  8. What a beautiful day. When I was younger, clambering over that giant rock would have been irresistible. Not so much today! The photo of Faith standing there was great. Love the ones of the light on the river too. That looks like a very cool place to go. Thanks for topping it off with John Fogerty. Hugs!

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  9. A winter hike with Faith! Life is good to you Dan. The fact that Faith is so patient and paces herself according to who she’s walking with, says a lot about her “guide” expertise. Love the shots you caught of her.

    Terrific outdoor shots of winter waning in the woods. I especially love the rocks/boulders.

    I bet you woke up feeling a few muscles you had forgotten about! 🤗
    🐾Ginger 🐾

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    • Ha ha – forgotten muscles did get my attention, Ginger.

      This was a great hike. It was good to be in the woods. I’ve been moaning about the lack of snow, but this was a good way to take advantage of that. Faith is very patient – I don’t know where she gets that from.

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  11. I remember that song, it may not be MY fav, but that’s ok-I do love CCR. Your daughter looks very capable and you were a good sport to agree to a hike, and look, you were rewarded! If I had a virtual beer with you guys, make mine an apple cider (Like Wicked), unfortunately, I hate beer. Or, I’ll just have a skinny margarita! ;)
    Add in a bunless burger and some sweet potato fries, I’d be in Heaven.

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  12. Any day you can climb a rock of that size you’re doing great!

    Last year while on a hike to a waterfall we came across a big rock, but going down it was first and I feared I wouldn’t be able to get back up with all my gear, so I stayed behind while my friends went on. I shoulda went!

    This year I’m doing that hike again, but scaling that rock and finishing it!

    The after-hike recharge your energy fuel looks yummy! 🍔🍺😀

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    • Thanks Deborah.

      I find going down trails and especially rocks much harder than going up. Going up, you can bend and keep your center of gravity over your feet. Going down, you have to make sure your feet are firmly planted. Also, going down feels worse on my knees.

      Burgers and beers were required and they were both very good.

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  14. I like hiking and trail running best in the winter – no hornets or poison ivy to contend with. It’s so nice that your daughter asked her Pop to go for a hike. You must be a great Dad! :)

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    • Thanks Laurie. Hiking seems pretty nice. I’m not sure I’d want to be running on trails at all, winter or summer. Given that I tripped on a tree root in our front yard (years ago) and broke my foot, I don’t think I’d try running. I’m not sure about me, but Faith is a great daughter.

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  16. My husband said, “When you retire, we’re gonna get out and walk more.” Hike? Not yet….we haven’t even started walking yet! I’m two weeks into one (so far) very lazy retirement. You and Faith are giving me the push I need.

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    • Remember, I retired 3½ months ago, Lois. I did finish a few construction projects in November. I walk the pup, and I try to get out and walk with a set of compression poles, but I haven’t started that in earnest. It needs to be dry…which it’s not.

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  17. I’m still waiting, Dan, for winter to come–six-tenth’s of an inch of snow does not count as winter in my book. I went hiking on Monday with a friend and he was wearing shorts. Yikes. I love those two-board walkways–we have some of them in couple of the parks that I visit.

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    • It seems we had all the snow we’re going to have in December, Mike. We saw people in shorts on Sunday. It’s fine when your walking, but if you end up standing still for a while, you can get cold quickly, even in 50 degrees. Faith ordered, I mean urged me to bring extra layers in case anything went wrong. Those walkways were a blessing. High praise to the people maintaining that trail.

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    • Haha, she might like that description. She is always prepared. She hikes solo, often, and carries the stuff she needs and might need. I would be more inclined to carry less, but experience has taught her that she’s not overdoing it. We did have a great time.

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    • Their “Classic” burger comes with Mayo and chopped onions, which is just the way I’ve always ordered my burgers. It was an easy choice for me. Mayo on burger, mustard on dogs/ham/pastrami ketchup on fries/tater tots.

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  20. Faith reminds me of my son, Rob. We used to go hiking, but I can’t keep up with him anymore. Nobody can! Plus, his job takes so much of his time preparing and traveling. And speaking of preparing, that man thinks of everything and is prepared for anything. It’s great that you two do these things together. Our kids know how to get us off the couch.

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  25. She sounds like a fun adult daughter! I have to share the fun their spouses and kids. Spouses are okay, but the kids want ALL of our time with us – also they’re making sure we don’t favor one over the other, lol! Thanks for getting back – i never would have know one-liner if it had not been for you:)

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    • We’ve had lots of wet, Glynis, but all in the form of rain. It’s been a weird winter. It will rain on back-to-back 40-degree days, then drop into the 20s and be clear. This was a great day, because I’m not really prepared for cold weather hiking. Faith could probably hike in the Arctic.

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      • During the last few years, Tennessee hasn’t gotten but maybe one snow storm during the whole season. This year though, we’re getting snow at least once per week. It doesn’t stay around because the temperature is too high but it’s been odd. On top of that we’re getting rain too. I feel like I’m living in a cold swamp.

        When I lived in upper Michigan, the snow was there from November to March. It didn’t bother me either. I just dressed for it and drove slow.

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