As hinted in my previous post, I was on a quest to find an exercise routine that brought me enjoyment without the need to break a sweat. Well, I did stumble upon something I truly enjoyed, though it did lead to a bit of sweating. I suppose anything worthwhile demands effort, and in the case of exercise, a little bit of sweat.
In November 2022, my daughter Elaine and her husband John graciously invited me to join them for a brief hike. We met at the Elachee Nature Science Center for what I recall as a roughly 2-mile hike. They were so considerate of me, taking it easy and we took several breaks. However, that day, I fell head over heels for the combination of walking in nature and getting exercise. Within days, I found myself frequenting a nearby gem, Little Mulberry Park (if you need more information, please look up Little Mulberry Park on the Gwinnett County website). I’ll provide a detailed description of the park and share some pictures later on.
On my first visit, to Little Mulberry Park I took my time but completed the 2.2-mile loop around Miller Lake. Soon enough, I was making the journey three or four times a week. Elaine and John were my biggest supporters, offering endless encouragement. I’ll forever be grateful to them for introducing me to this wonderful form of exercise. When I saw my physician in February 2023 and reported my newfound walking habit, she was genuinely thrilled. She encouraged me to continue and expressed her hope that if I continued walking it might help me lower my blood pressure, potentially allowing me to discontinue the medication I was taking. Somehow, without conscious intent, I found myself walking daily and striving to reduce the time it took me to complete a lap around Miller Lake. And so began my passionate love affair with walking and hiking…