Sunday afternoon Aaron and I decided to go for a walk together. We are lucky enough to live less than a mile away from a Rivanna Trail entrance. The Rivanna Trail is one of my absolute favorite things about Charlottesville. The city linked about 20 miles of path that circle the area so if you live within city limits a trail head shouldn't be too far away from you. I think it's a brilliant way to preserve green space and it makes for some really interesting runs and a great place to walk. Besides that there are "ruins" scattered along the trail. If you keep your eyes open, under tangles of overgrowth are old stone chimneys and cellars that are fun to explore. And it's a great place to spot wildlife. Aaron and I have seen deer, groundhogs, rabbits, a fox, a skunk, squirrels, mice, a turtle, lizards, fish and countless birds and insects. If you want to see maps or learn more about the trail you can go here.
Anyway, yesterday Aaron and I got a little ambitious and decided to do a little bushwhacking along some overgrown deer trails. We ended up wading through a meadow of plants that came up to my neck, so Aaron's belly button. I forgot to change my shoes so I was wearing flip flops. Aaron had shorts on. I was wearing jeans but felt exceedingly jealous of Aaron because it was STEAMY hot. Neither of us had on bug spray. And while we charged through the tall grass and over marshy ground, unable to see what was under our next step, both of us returned unharmed. We were not attacked by snakes, bears, bugs, perverts, cougars, or anything rabid. It was a great time and made me think of all the fun I had when I was younger wandering around in the woods behind the house, climbing magnolia trees and building dams in the stream. I hope my kids get the chance to get out and play in the same way.
While I was at BYU, a professor recommended this book, Last Child in The Woods by Richard Louv. I really enjoyed it. The book describes how recently people have become AFRAID of the "wild" thanks to media fear mongering, so afraid that they won't let their kids play outside. Enter child obesity. Also, Louv showed children pictures of common North American animals, Pokemon characters and rain forest creatures. The kids did best on the Pokemon characters. They did second best on the animals from the rain forest. They did worst knowing the animals that they lived around. Louv contends that if the trend continues the next generation will know nature only as an abstraction. Louv then offers some practical advice on ways to get kids outside and learning about the outdoors. It was an interesting read.
5 comments:
wow! we did the same thing last night... although ours was a much less adventurous version. I agree with you, though-- I think the woods make the ultimate playground for you when you're in elementary school especially. I can't imagine growing up without that.
Wow, this is impressive...all we need to hear is that Robby went for a walk in the "woods of Brazil" and the whole family will have been in synch.
I love the woods too. Although certain risks of frollicking in the woods seem very real to me...like lyme's disease from ticks.
This morning we went on a walk on the Rivanna Trail and I tried to find an entrance near your apt. to save time, but I couldn't find one. Where is the one in your pic?
The sign in the picture is at another entrance. You can catch the trail behind the law school but I prefer to go down the hill towards the softball park. At the far left corner of the parking lot by the drainage ditch there's an entrance.
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