Today I completed the final leg of this long journey. For awhile I thought I’d never proclaim that I reached that 500-mile mark as fractious weather has intervened since Thanksgiving and conditions were not very favorable to walk. I am grateful to have reached my goal because today’s walk was not enjoyable since there was alot of black ice and I had to be very careful. I went to Council Point Park and the walking path is essentially a huge Figure 8 shape. One of the loops is tucked inside a more-dense marshy area with trees and bushes and the two branches of the Ecorse Creek are nearby. The other loop is more out in the open where there is a soccer field and an inline hockey arena. The first loop is where I feed most of the critters and I only did that path once this morning because the black ice was so severe that I had to walk on the grass rather than the Park path. My little squirrel found me right away and he was very cute as he let me know that he was present and accounted for and ready to receive treats. First, he stationed himself right in front of me by begging on his haunches, then, after I fed him, the little nipper followed along at my heels even when I went to the other side of the Park. One branch of the Creek was frozen over and the other was not, and at this alcove, near the shelter of the storm drain, I saw a heron who flew off when I walked down to the concrete precipice to feed the ducks. His wingspan was huge and he made alot of noise flapping his wings when he left the alcove after I arrived. There were many ducks today and I gave them quite the booty of bread. Whether they recognized me, or my yellow Sunbeam bread bag, I am not sure, but there must have been easily a hundred mallards eager for a tidbit of bread and they were quacking up a storm all the time I was feeding them. After dispensing their bread, I scrambled up the grassy area to the path, then switched over to the grass again, glad to be on solid ground. The other Park path was somewhat icy, but only in a few places and it was much easier walking on that portion. The loops are both the same size so I did three laps on that side then headed home. I’ve now walked through Council Point Park for four seasons, and by far, Fall was my favorite time of year. I never dreamed of walking 500 miles in one year, but the unusual Summer weather and alot of rain, found me walking instead of watering and tending to the garden. I first set a goal of 240 miles (a one-way trip to my late grandmother’s house), then 300 miles seemed easy. Along the way I decided I should “beat” my car mileage, which I have done by 105 miles (395 miles driven versus 500 miles walked). Next, I set my sights on a very doable 400 miles, deeming that a “piece of cake”, then I decided I must try to reach the 480-mile mark (the same as a round trip to my grandmother’s house). About six weeks ago I decided I’d like to walk the equivalent of a 10K marathon (6.2 miles) and I got that done. My ultimate goal became 500 miles and happily today that mission is accomplished. So, I won’t set any goals right now for 2014; I am just happy to have reached my dream mileage mark and will now rest on my laurels.