A Lovely Hike Last Night

Newton at full run up on the Mesa last summer.

I used to surf pretty much every day, and one of the things I miss now that I don't do that anymore is being outside and leisurely watching the sunrises and sunsets. I love the light that time of day, the colors in the clouds, how peaceful it is to be out in it. 

I went hiking at dusk last night, and although it of course wasn't the same as being in the surf, there was so much loveliness about the evening.

It was cold but not too cold.

My two boxers were with me, and chased each other the whole time, the older one, Dexter, getting down into a crouch and stalking the little one, Newton. Around trees and bushes, over rocks they didn't stop the whole time. It was good to see their unbridled joy.

And then going up, there were three young guys mountain biking, college students, perhaps. There's a place where the trail veers off and one part is hiking and the other is mountain bike only one way pretty gnarly from what I hear. It's called "Free Lunch." We were where the trail veered at the same time, and I could hear but couldn't see them make it to the bottom, hooting and hollering the whole time, no question the fun they were having.

And then watching the sun leave the valley, and the Book Cliffs and the Mesa turn the purple they turn sometimes, pink clouds in the sky. Lovely. A great end to an insanely busy day. Happy.