The chill in the air this morning made it feel more like an October day than the first of September.  I’m loving this weather for walking as it gives me a real spring in my step, but I have to admit this morning really was downright cold – not just chilly, but cold.

I arrived at Council Point Park just as a flock of geese were descending from the sky and I watched them settle onto the grassy entrance to the perimeter path.  There they were, like they owned the place, as they grazed for a few minutes, then goose-stepped over the grass right across the perimeter path, forcing walkers to sidestep them as they mixed and mingled with their brethren.

As they gathered in a gaggle I wondered if their soft down feathers were keeping them toasty.  I know my hands sure weren’t toasty, and I kept tucking them up my sweatshirt sleeves.  I wasn’t the only walker doing that either – who knew you’d need woolen gloves to keep your fingers from getting numb on the first day of September?  Of course, there were a few brave souls with short sleeves but they were few and far between.  Surprisingly, the squirrels were a no-show, deciding not to venture from their warm and cozy nests, even for peanuts.

These chilly weather stats are not the only numbers that are newsworthy.  Today, I reached 600 miles walked so far in 2017.  This milestone fulfills a personal goal of mine because it was Labor Day weekend six years ago that I began this walking regimen.   So, I decided I would make 600 miles walked my goal for Labor Day weekend.  That initial walk in 2011 was on a sweltering humid day and I went one City block and that was all.  I began increasing that daily trek by a few more blocks every time I walked … this morning I walked 5 ½ miles.

So, onward and upward to the final goal of 755 miles at year end.  While I have four months to complete those remaining miles, we are also headed to shorter days – today, the sun did not even rise until 6:59.  Then there are going to be the inevitable rainy, and even snowy days.

Like I said, this cooler air has me more energized, so I’m geared to achieve that final goal … onward and upward!