It was a quiet morning and as I stepped outside to pick up the morning paper I found the cool morning air invigorating so I decided to take advantage of the weather. I had awakened early that Saturday and now I was glad I hadn't just rolled over and gone back to sleep. After pulling on my shorts, a light sweat shirt and some running shoes, I headed out.
I could have walked to the park but I didn't want to waste time with a thirty minute walk through the housing area before stepping into nature, so I jumped into my car and in less than two minutes I parked near the tennis courts at our local park. There were no other cars and as far as I could see the park was empty. I climbed out of my car and stretched a bit while looking around.
The sun had not risen yet and there was a light fog rising from all around giving the entire scene a feeling of serenity and quiet. As I began walking toward the hiking trail the only sound I could hear was the crunch of gravel beneath my feet and an occasionally bark from one of the many squirrels watching me from the trees. I felt a bit chilly in the damp morning air, so I picked up my pace walking fast enough to warm my body, but still slow enough to take in the surroundings.
Once I got onto the trail, the path narrowed so as I meandered into the forest I got to see wonderful vista views on each side of me as the path passed a number of openings in the trees. I continued running back on the pathway and came to another small opening in the trees that looked like it might provide some good viewing, so I paused a moment to catch my breath and then began wandering into the opening.
Unlike the other areas I wandered to, this one turned out to be more of a rough trail than a short passage to a viewing area. As I quietly walked down path I heard what I thought to be an animal or something, but when I noticed the trail coming to an opening just ahead, I noticed a small tent.