CJ Fitchett: Nolan Trail

My Nolan Trail experience occurred prior to the class meeting. Speed walking along the trail with a heavy backpack, sweating profusely, I could not wait to reach the bridge in order to get a rest. At the time, I didn’t realize that I was actually walking the trail all the way to the Lion’s Bridge, and that I would be re-walking it with the class. Though I was in a hurry, my hike was halted when I experienced a picturesque scene in the lake that the Nolan Trail circles.

The sunlight was glistening magnificently on the calm water of the lake. This, along with the fall leaves, provided me with an absolutely striking view from which to observe a family of birds flying in for a landing in the lake water. This simple observation was made all the more special by a cooling breeze blowing in the wind. The birds seemed to land directly in the golden part of the lake where the sun was reflected the most. I watched in awe as these incredible creatures cooled down in the shimmering lake water.

I watched the tranquil scene for a few minutes more before I realized that my pause might make me late for the meeting at the Lions Bridge. I sped to our meeting place with the image of the birds in my mind.