BEST Return to Nature EVER

First off, a congratulations is in order for many major sporting events this past weekend:

• Italia, the World Cup champs
• Roger Federer (hubba hubba!) and Amelie Mauresmo, Wimbledon champs
• Trevor Immelman, the unknown that sunk a 32-foot putt to win his first PGA Tour tournament
• And some French guy that won the 6th stage of the Tour de France, but cheered for Italy in the World Cup. Um, if you want to gain support from your home country, shouldn't it be a no-brainer to cheer for France in the World Cup when you are from France and competing in a bike race in France?

Maybe it was the inspiration of watching sweaty foreign men running up and down a soccer field or perhaps it was listening to the deafening grunts of the Wimbledon matches, or maybe just maybe it was the fact we were given a break from the sweltering heat in the nation's capital. Whatever the reason, I decided to go jogging on Saturday morning. The minute I arrived back home, Kimmmm asked me if I'd be interested in returning to nature by hiking Great Falls. Why not? I just finished 6-miles, why not add a few more onto the day? Besides, this best summer ever ambition has been cutting into most routines, including exercise, so we have to jump on the opportunity for outdoor activity when it presents itself.

When we arrived at Great Falls (Maryland-side), we glanced over the different trails you can hike and decided on the Billy Goat Trail, which warns it is for experienced hikers only-- well, we've been walking for a good 25 years now, so yes, we are self-proclaimed experienced hikers.

So we set out along the difficult boulder trail and soon discovered we were not the only ones to take advantage of the outdoors that day. We saw many other hikers as well as a group of folks scaling the wall and a group of kayakers trying unsuccessfully to tackle a rapid.

As we continued on, we passed a park ranger scolding a younger boy, "You should not jump from rock to rock. If the rocks can't hold you, you will hurt yourself and I will have to do my job."

Number one. The kid is pushing 50-pounds tops. If the rocks can hold the ranger, they certainly can hold the kid.

Number two. Kids hurt themselves, he'll live.

Number three. This is not exactly Everest. This is an effing hiking trail. That's what you do. You have to leap to some of the rocks in order to progress along it.

Shortly thereafter, we passed a runner hurrying along the trail in the opposite direction, which apparently is permitted. To sum up: Leaping to the next rock, BAD. Running along the slippery rocks, GOOD. All in all, another great day spent in the DC metro area.

On Monday night, Kimmmm and I realized we had bruises from Saturday. The question remains if they resulted from the hike or from our belated birthday celebration later that evening….

Disclaimer: None of the photos shown on this post were actually taken by me. Of course, I wish I had been that close to Mr. Federer to snap that pic.