Every summer since we moved to our present home in Santa Fe, my
husband and I have taken advantage of the Arroyo de Los Chamisos Trail, which
is close to our neighborhood. Taking long afternoon walks has become our
favorite activity during the summer time. Interesting creatures, plants, and
sports enrich the walking, but unpleasant situations sometimes overshadow the
walking trail.
One of the interesting animals is the cottontail rabbit. Summer is a great
time to see cottontail rabbits, especially on a cool late afternoon, after the sunset.
There are many cottontail rabbits that inhabit the area, but sometimes they are
hard to identify because their colors are similar to the ground and their sizes are
not big. But do not worry, we can see them when they run. Their tiny cottontails
expose their whereabouts. Occasionally, a mature rabbit will sit with a tiny
rabbit, nibbling the grass, and sometimes a little one is out on its own. It is
seldom to see a bunch of cottontail rabbits out.
Birds such as sparrows, robins, blue jays, house finches, and noisy crows,
are another pleasing sight over the walking trail. Crows are not very flattering,
and Chinese people believe it is a bad luck if crows are yelling at we the first
thing in the morning. More than a dozen noisy crows will gather in a tree before
it is dark. It seems that they are having a meeting, and they argue badly over
some important issues. Occasionally we will see two crows performing a ballet in
the air. They fly in unison and never bump into each other.
We will not miss a black, hard shell beetle in the walking trail. Unlike the
dung beetles always rolling the dung, these black beetles constantly travel alone
in silence. It is fun to watch them climbing up and down the field. Sometimes,
some of them are hit by the bikers and die right on the path.
There are many different kinds of cacti, various trees, and chamisos
growing unrestrained in the walking trail area. The trees provide shade for
the walkers. The cacti, enduring the heat and dryness, blossom with bright
beautiful flowers, while the chamisos are kind of an eyesore.
Gaia Garden is located right off the trail. This garden grows vegetables and
flowers. If we are tired from the walking, we can sit on the bench on the trail
and admire the outstanding sunflowers, various colorful flowers, and the green
vegetables.
If you like playing frisbee, there is a certified Frisbee Golf Course behind
the Genoveva Chavez Community Center. It is free and open to the public. The
rules are easy to find because they have been posted by city park employees
right on the trail.
However, the following nasty conditions may complicate our walking. The
walking trail is open to bikers. Most of the bikers are polite. When they come
near us, they ring the bell in a nice way or say, “on your left”. However, racing
bikers will rush in, ring the bell hastily, and all of a sudden, they occupy the trail.
They are rude and dangerous to the walking people.
Many dog owners enjoy walking their dogs on the trail. Dogs are irritating
if they are not on a leash, especially the big dogs such as German shepherds.
Actually, most of the dog owners are aware of the rule, and they show respect to
the other people who use the trail. Few owners let their dogs walk with them
unleashed. Dog owners always think their dogs are the friendliest dogs in the
world. But, the unleashed dogs are out of control. They may jump on you or run
at you, and ruin your mood for walking.
The dog poo that is everywhere is annoying. Do not be surprised, if we see
the dog poo right on the middle of the path. Dogs and their owners should go to
school and learn the appropriate manner to walk on a public trail
Some people do not walk with their dogs; they walk with their mobile
phones. It is a pity that they are busy talking to people on the phone, they neglect
the fun and the beauty of the walking trail, and they make themselves another
unpleasant view.
When we take a walk alone, we actually are not alone at all. The
interesting creatures, the drought-tolerant cacti, the various wildflowers, and the
trees providing shade are there with us. We bring a flying disc with us if we
want to brush up our skills, and we enjoy the pleasant experience and have a
sense of humor when a nasty situation happens.
