Walkin' at Wilson Park

I just have to say, I love my new park walking habit! We have such beautiful parks here in Fayetteville. One is particularly gorgeous and well-peopled, Wilson Park.

In the picture, you can see a view of "Point 7" aka "the castle. The picture doesn't do it justice and I hope to get a decent camera soon so I can take my own pictures. There is a natural spring underneath the castle, feeding a small pond and Scull Creek which rounds through the rest of the park and is a tributary of the Illinois River (or as DS recently read the sign: "the Illusionist River"). There are small surprises of colored glass and symbols nestled throughout the stones and ferrocement sculpture. The spire is topped with four quirky faces representing the four winds or four directions, North, East, South, and West. Benches are ferro-cement flowers. Little is more pleasant than hanging out on one of them, listening to the watery chiming of the pond fountain. I could knit there for hours.

The walking path is .9miles and much of it bordered by gardens with very interesting plants (maybe later I'll manage to write up a litany of them!), not just your usual peonies, and so much is in bloom right now. Coming down the hill to the park today, I was smitten (again) by the sight of it all, as well as by seeing so many people out on the grass lounging, or walking the path. Reminds me of why I love living here... there are plenty of people more enamoured with an early summer park day than staying in for the tube.

I do wish my allergies would ease up... but I'm determined to get out there in the spring, despite them... I'm just suffering through the night with sinuses, so I'm compromising with allowing myself late, late mornings. It helps that DS is happy enough playing on his own for a while when he first wakes up, but I do hope to resume an earlier day as soon as I can get normal sleep again. Not that I will ever be a morning person... but lately... hmmm. All in stride, I guess.

I think the exercise endorphins are already starting to kick in... I tried the exercise bike during DS's YogaKids vid yesterday and it was nothing but great... challenging, but in a way that felt good, like my system was clarified and energized, rather than damaged... and not just physically, also mentally and spiritually. Movement like this can be a spiritual practice, and better for depression and anxiety than prozac. I have high hopes for the exercise habit... I know how great it's been for me in the past, and am feeling so grateful to have found some equipment, a walking pal, and a lovely path to get me going again.

Happy thoughts, I guess. :)