The Boots Are Made For Walking
Sometimes it’s good for the soul to take a walk in the woods. It works the body, it works the mind. Afterwards, whatever was chewing on the spirit is often gone. Just a mile down the road from my home is the Stan Yoder Memorial Nature Preserve, a fifteen acre plot of land in Boalsburg that was rescued from development by the community.
It’s a good place to wear out my Danner hiking boots.
Into the Woods
This time of year the preserve is generally empty save from the birds and small mammals that live there. Signs of deer and bear can also be found from time to time. But mostly it’s quiet and provides a measure of solitude for anyone with a few minutes to walk.
Down the Trail
Each time I walk through the preserve I’m reminded of how rejuvenating a walk in the woods can be. It’s not unlike a ride on the Vespa scooter only a bit more physically challenging. Often I’m here with a dog. I’m thinking in the future I may bring along lunch and just hang out and breathe…
Dog Log Support
I always travel with plastic bags in my pocket. But for those dog owners that forget you’ll find a couple reminders and resources to keep the preserve free of canine land mines. I didn’t see any on this walk.
Sitting
For a lot of people this place must be a bore. No ball fields or tennis courts. No picnic pavilions with barbecue grills or tennis courts or swing sets. There’s nothing to do. In a world of frenzied activity and chaos a park like this is a romantic anachronism. How many people want to sit alone on a bench in the woods and write poetry anymore?
The Woods
I would have loved this place as a kid. These days I would be shocked to see any kids here without their parents. Different world now. In all the years I’ve been coming here I bet I’ve not seen a dozen people. I wonder what that says…
Escape: a walkr in the woods. Is there the sound of motor vehicles heard while walking in the conservation area? If not this is good, adds to the isolation of your thoughts and of the walk.
Some similar areas prohibit dogs for their tendency to deposit bombs where ever.
A mile from home tranquility and a chance to escape, sort of likens to riding a Vespa,,,
Only heard birds on my walk yesterday. No cars or chain saws or even an airplane overhead. It’s in a quiet section of town. During hunting season you’ll hear rifle shots on the mountain.
Nice post. A long time ago when life was stressful and I needed to push myself to accomplish a challenge, I sought out a little used trail in a wooded hillside nearby where I could let the solitude settle my mind.
When I’m at work and need to “center” my head I take a little walk down the street to the Art Museum. It’s quiet and just enough physicality to it to do the trick. Took me years to figure out that sitting at my desk and continuing to bang my head on the wall wasn’t working.
“How many people want to sit alone on a bench in the woods and write poetry anymore?”
Me. So much me.
I suppose they’re out there. If they would only wear a uniform or something so you could know…
It would be nice to more easily identify like-minded souls. 😉
I have to agree with Gina! That would be me. Unfortunately a mile from house still reflects nothing but concrete and traffic lights. I have to ride about 6 miles to find anything resembling your retreat. Love the photos and the thoughts Steve!
I guess we all need to find space as we can. I have an even closer nature walk that I failed to highlight. It’s a great place.
Please share if you will! I’m living vicariously through you in the wonderful hills and quiet roads of PA.
I will at some point when I make a series of new pictures. Junior is laying here reading my thoughts. He’s saying, “Let’s go!”
We strive for a stroll every day and if possible before the ride. Seems that the walk is often less inevitable if the ride comes first. I agree that the two are sympathetic and each enhances the other’s enjoyment. Nice that you have that walk in the woods a mile down the road. Speaking of which, brekky has been completed and we have perused the front section of the paper, time for a walk and our morning espresso.
I understand the importance of the walk (or anything else) before the ride. Seems like I’m sated after I return from a ride — body, mind and spirit. Just want to linger in the glow. My dogs wish it were otherwise.
But as the weather warms a bit, and my back continues to improve, walking takes on a greater space. That’s good all around.
Have fun on your morning walks!
My ideal ride includes a stop at a location where I can take a short, solitary walk like you described. Places like that are few and far between these days, which diminishes us all.
I used to buy a hunting license just so I could walk on the vast leased hunting lands offered by our state wildlife resources commission. I never fired a shot. But they are fewer and farther away now.
I wish I had the guts to pick up and move to an area like where you live Steve. There are still places like that around. I guess it is easier to stay where I am and complain.
I”m extremely fortunate to have many locations for those solitary walks. And even the busy places are empty in the winter.
Funny you describe your hunting experience as you did. I always felt my father used his hunting license as an excuse to get out into the woods. For his generation of steelworkers I had the feeling that only weirdos walked in the woods. Hunters on the other hand — that was ok…
Moving is a big deal. When Kim and I were healthier (and younger) we toyed with moves to remote locations. And even now think about moves. But the weight of moving a life — that’s a big mountain to scale.
Thanks so much for listing this park. I didn’t even know it’s there. Lynne and I are always looking for a close-by walk on days we don’t want a major hike, especially in winter.
Glad to share it. Just up West Main Street from the Diamond. Parking lot on the left. A few laps through the park is a nice walk.
This looks like a lovely place, Steve. I’m so glad it was saved from development.
It seemed extravagant to many at the time but the community banded together to keep an open space. Wish it happened more often.
Me too.
Hey, Steve,
Nice to read your post and view your pictures. I connect very much with your observations here. Consolingly soulful, and cheering!
Hello John. Sorry I missed you on the phone last night. It’s been years…
And I’ve not responded to your letter because I want to hand write the response. For whatever reason, I seem to resist that process. And I used to write letters all the time. I appreciate the art of it but man is the inertia great.
Thanks for commenting. One day you’ll need to post something like, “Guess what, I got a Vespa.”
I miss Stan Yoder, such a kind and wonderful friend to so many patients and neighbors. I’m glad this plot memorializes him, however inadequately.
My only visits to the park were kind of ruined by the other visitors, have little tolerance for the Bbg Village People pecksniffs, such rude and pretentious people, more New England than Central Pennsylvania. Fortunately, there are so many other, more isolated places to roam and ruminate.
I never had the opportunity to know Dr. Yoder. I hope they find a way to keep some knowledge of the man alive. So many places now with names but people have no idea who they were.
You’ll have to expand on the pecksniffs. I’ve not found any rudeness myself. Kim used to say it was because I was scary. Once in Ithaca, New York she was talking to a fellow on the street who pointed toward me — I was not with them — and said, “I think he’s a DEA agent.”
You’re right about more isolated places nearby. Harvest Fields is a fine place to walk. And in a few minutes you’re in Rothrock State Forest.
If you are still living locally, we must be neighbors. I found this post after walking with my kids at the Stan Yoder Preserve this morning. I thought about how I would love to send my older 2 out there on their own this coming summer, however (to address your comment about lack of unescorted children) I worry about the traffic on Main Street. At this end of town, the houses are far off of the road and as cars near rt 45 they increase speed. I have had many scary experiences walking with my baby & 3yo. Its amazing how many cars do not slow when they see us in the road.
I’m still in Boalsburg. Walked the dog through the Military Museum grounds today.
Even though statistically the world is much safer for kids today than it was when I was growing up — at least for the scary kidnapping stuff — it would be hard for me to let my kids roam like I did as a child. Fear just seeps in from our culture I suppose.
Main Street can be crazy. I usually walk the dog in the street but there are times when people race through there on there way to who knows where. A baby and a 3 year old need extra special care. Easy to understand your concern. I live on the Pike and see a few neighbors who easily top 50 mph as they go past our house. I’ve always dreamed of a device that could cause an engine to throw a rod at the press of a button…
Keep your eye peeled for an old guy walking a big black dog. Or a florescent green riding jacket on a Vespa!