Well, even though we are still in the icebox, the sun beckoned me to venture out for a walk anyway.

Thus far in 2017, I feel as if I can’t win for losing, since the daily walks have seemed to be thwarted by one weather event or another. Several overnight snowfalls put the kibosh on the morning walk, and, if pesky snow or ice were not present, then it was brutally cold.  If there was no snow, ice or frigid weather, it was raining.  Or foggy.  Sigh.

Thankfully, it is only February 4^th, so eventually my 2017 walking miles (43) will catch up with my car miles driven (59).

On the bright side, the days are getting longer, so now I might squeak in a short walk after taking the car for a quick spin, even during the workweek.

Before walking this morning, I took the car out, even though I drove it yesterday, because of this extremely cold weather. But, today was a different story, since it marked the first day of the shutdown of Southbound I-75 for the big River Rouge Bridge Project.  The media has been warning everyone about this construction project which will last until November 2018.  Downriver residents are upset about the detour which involves substantial miles, and also the extra traffic along Fort Street which already underwent a significant revitalization just a few years ago.

Either way you look at it, it is going to be an inconvenience.

When I take the car out, when there are no errands on my agenda, I generally make a big loop from my house to Outer Drive, then to Northline Road, and then home. That is about six miles.

The traffic along southbound Fort Street was already busy and crawling with vehicles, including many semi-trucks, so, I can only imagine how congested it will be during the workweek.

Back in the driveway, some six miles later, I was nice and toasty from the seat warmer and the heat cranked up to 74. I really hated to get out of the car, let alone set out on a walk, but I did so anyway because I was bundled up with two layers of clothes under my down jacket, plus two hats, two sets of gloves and a big scarf.  I felt like I was five years old and shoved out in the backyard to play in the snow.  But, hey –  I was ready to take on that 14-degree air temperature and single-digit windchill.

I had stuffed a pack of peanuts into my pocket as well, figuring that if the perimeter paths were clear at Council Point Park, I could feed some hungry squirrels on this cold Winter day. But, I quickly discovered, once I neared the grounds, that although the parking lot was clear to the cement, those snowfalls on Tuesday and Wednesday had left their mark bigtime inside the Park.  Mounds of snow were everywhere and the paths were snow covered, which was a little disappointing, and, essentially stopped me in my tracks, but there was beauty to behold anyway.  Though footprints were evident, without boots, I was not going to attempt a walk along the pathway.  Besides, I think my furry buddies were undoubtedly tucked in their nests with their significant other, as I didn’t see a single squirrel.  No humans were stomping around the perimeter path or grounds either.

I was wistful that my walk could not include the nature nook aspect that I so enjoy at Council Point Park, but, nevertheless, I meandered through the parking lot, enjoying the Park’s peace and solitude on a cold, but sunny, Winter morn while ambling along the edge.

[Image by Jill Wellington from Pixabay]