How did that happen?
Last night, I was feeling guilty about not going swimming after work. Since there was no Twins game to watch (tell me again why it wasn't televised), I decided to go for a walk. Usually when I walk I take the path to the dam then turn around and come back. It's about a two mile walk. Last night, owing to my guilt, I kept walking past the dam. I figured I could find the trail that semi-loops back to the ballfields behind my house. So I kept walking and every time I came upon a fork in the trail, I took the one that appeared to go back to where I figured the looping trail I was looking for came out.Three things to note about the trail system in the city:
1) There are over 40 miles of trails running through the city
2) The trails are completely wooded and it is often impossible to know where you are
3) All the trails, no matter what direction you are going, are uphill
After walking in 800 million degree heat for an hour, I came upon a large hill with many, many steps. The trail curved so I was unable to see exactly how many steps were involved in continuing onwards, but up I climbed. At the top, the trail forked three ways. I went straight. Bad idea.
Note to self: Always stay on the paved and/or obviously well-groomed gravelled trail.
So there I was, lost in the wilds of Chaska. I finally came out behind the elementary and high schools where the path ended. This is about a mile west and a half mile north of where I needed to be. So I turned around and took a different fork. Another trail ending in a random neighborhood. I turned around again and took the third fork. Success! I ended up behind the trailer park that overlooks the dam.
This trail was fun because it divides the trailer park from the $500,000 houses that back right up to the trail. Interesting dichotomy there. Eventually, I came upon the tunnel under the street that leads back to the park. Being excited to have figured out where I was, I ran the final half mile to the volleyball court where my ankle gave out and I limped my way home. Thus ended my trek.
Someone remind me never to do that again.
posted by E @7:33 AM