A Walk Through W P Jones Park - My Secret Place

Sometimes I will go to W P Jones Park just for a refreshing change of pace.  It does not pretend to be like the other parks.  There are no soccer or baseball fields, club house, or activity center.  It does offer some of the finest tennis courts in the city, usually occupied with people who seem to take the game seriously.  But the trails and fields of the park appear to go mostly unused, which makes for a peaceful walk but also cause for concern.  In these times of lower tax revenue I would hate to see this wonderful place restricted or closed. 

To me, its simplicity is its greatest charm.  For instance, the trails are natural, and therefore unpaved.  Some do not like it, because erosion has made the trails a bit difficult to maneuver.  But that just makes them more friendly for my visits.  I enjoy walking through the shaded forest which actually leads to the back entrance of the public library!  It is nice to stroll along the stream, and even skip a rock or two.  And I like the lush grass of the park lawns.

As Big Dog and I strolled fast into the forest, we encountered a lady who was walking in our direction with a quick pace.  She looked at me with what appeared to be horror in her face, turned, and ran in the other way!  Now I understand that sometimes I have that effect on women.  But usually they are a little more discreet in their direct response!  With friendly dog in tow, we walked ahead.  And I discovered why she was so quick to leave my presence.  She was with four dogs.  Sissy-looking dogs.  All had been unleashed and were roaming along the trail.  This lady was afraid my German Shepherd would eat her scrawny little beasts.  He just ignored them as he happily continued on his merry way.  I did the same with their owner.

Bridge into the park.  Now that's a nice view.

 
Log, decaying, and slowly disappearing.  When I die, take me out into the woods, and leave me like this log.  Seems natural to me.

Contents of a wallet, strewed on the ground.  I checked to see if the owner could be identified.  Important items, like drivers license and credit cards, are missing.  Obviously these business cards and photographs are stolen leftovers, emptied and explored far back in these woods.

Playground.  I know for a fact that Skylar, my granddaughter, likes this place.  Once I tried to get her to join me, shoeless, in the little creek.  She complained the water was just too cold.  Baby!

Empty water bottle, littering the trail.  Before tossing this into the trash, I wondered about the perpetrator?  Someone cares enough about his body to exercise.  And this is a high quality brand.  Thus, someone has gone to commendable effort to facilitate purity for his body.  Too bad he does not have the same respect for nature.  Or, for others.