Fall(ish) on the Trail

On By Widow BadassIn Badassery, See the Beauty, The Great Outdoors

Yes – I know, I know! The fall equinox is not officially until the 23rd (@ 03:50 Eastern Time – thanks Interwebs) but that’s on a Monday – and still a workday for yours truly. So I’m posting this on the first day of Old-school FallTM, you know – September 21st? Like June 21 is the start of Old-school SummerTM, March 21 is Old-school SpringTM and December 21 is Old-school WinterTM?

Imagine my chagrin at seeing this sign at the start of my favourite, local walking trail:

WTF? Not THIS again. The trail was closed last fall too. Hmmmph! It’s almost as if the City is saying: Let’s see, what is the best time for people to enjoy this trail? Fall? Right, then – that’s when we’ll shut ‘er down. Again. For the second year running.

I shrugged my shoulders and sauntered past the sign, to see what was the issue. I walked on and on, thoroughly enjoying my lawlessness the scenery for many glorious minutes, until I came upon this sign:

Oh goody. They are going to replace the bridge. But work hasn’t begun yet. I appreciate the City looking out for my personal safety. They can consider their asses well and truly covered with this sign. I’ll be sure not to sue no matter what happens.

You guessed it, my fellow Badassians! I blew past this sign too. With not even a wobble on the bridge. That looked and behaved exactly as it had the week before and every day I’ve been on it for the past – oh – 15 years. And was I ever glad I took a chance.

(Sometimes my rebellious nature does come in handy – are you reading this in the Hereafter, Mom and Dad?)

Because I caught sight of this majestic blue heron,
and this lovely Monarch,
and these gorgeous leaves changing colour already,
and these beautiful asters,
and these wild grapes and viburnum berries, nicely intermingled…
and these lovely viburnum berries with the glorious blue sky peeking through.

I suppose one day soon I will come upon the bridge (or more likely where the bridge USED to be) and be thwarted from walking further until it is repaired and replaced. But until then, it will take more than a couple of signs to keep me off this trail in the Fall!

And that’s a Badass promise!

What rules have you been breaking lately? Do tell!

Rock on,

The WB

68 thoughts on “Fall(ish) on the Trail”

  5. Way to go, you scofflaw, you. I admire your badass, rebellious spirit, and I’d like to think I would do the same thing. Our nearby national park has a few trails where they prohibit use before sunrise. And before sunrise is just when I prefer to start hiking. So I’ve just blown past their signs. Anyway, who’s gonna see me? It’s dark.

    Reply

    1. HAHA! I wondered who was going to notice the bug on my forehead! I sure didn’t, until after I saw the photo. The bugs have died down a lot but they’re still out there, especially when you stop moving to take a picture. Thanks Dawn!

      Reply
  8. pam@ichoosethis

    Can you eat those berries? I always want to pluck delicious looking things off of trees and bushes. I haven’t broken any rules lately, but I once went and licked a glacier in Norway in a “no tourist zone”. haha.

    Reply
    2. Anne Fraser

      I love your photos. We call the asters michaelmas daisies. I count today, St. Michael’s day as the start of Autumn. I would have done the trail as well.

      Reply

  13. You go girl….pfftt…”rules, where we are going we don’t need any rules!!” Absolutely gorgeous photos Deb, Thanks for blowing by the signs…hey, wasn’t there a song about signs signs everywhere a sign…about keeping people out or keeping mother nature in?? Anyway, I appreciate the stunning photography, the badass attitude…you are an inspiration to all who read ye old blog. I haven’t broken any rules just lately but I tell you…reading this post is giving me the itch to do just that! LOL 😉

    Reply

  15. Just today I broke a rule. As in a sign in front of FedEx that said “5 minute limit” on a certain parking spot. I ignored it, said “tough noogies, it isn’t going to happen” and then parked myself in that spot. Blatantly ignoring the rules… like a badass bean.

    Reply

  16. You go, girl! I also would have walked right past the trail closed sign (especially if it was a trail that was open just a few days prior) but I’m not sure about the bridge. We get flooded roads here in the winter and signs warn drivers not to pass… yet every year a few people decide that the sign doesn’t apply to them and their car becomes flooded (or worse, they drown). So, maybe I’m a big chicken, but I’d be worried that the bridge was just about to fall down and my 125 pounds was would be the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. I realize that’s not very badassian of me, but there you go. Im glad you passed (both ways, I assume) with no issues.

    Reply

    1. Thank you Janis 💕 I know this trail and this bridge so well and could not see that any work had started on it yet. Besides, the creek it crosses is less than a foot deep 😄. A pretty safe bet I would survive.

      Reply

  17. You go girl!
    I used to surf a spot that required us to sneak through Commonwealth land at risk of being grabbed by the military police. Always a funny sight, seeing my mates in their wetsuits with their surfboards, in an open jeep being driven by white hat MP’s out of the Army camp to the front gate. They never caught me as I would paddle out into the ocean the moment I saw them.

    Reply
  19. hilarymb

    I’ll always avoid queues if I can -without inconveniencing others … and buck rules and regulations if I can get away with it … I did try and get thru the roadworks in Eastbourne town centre – but no obvious exit – had to walk round … I’m always walking in the bus lanes … and diagonally crossing the road – I am an English jaywalker! Take care and enjoy the fall – our grey skies have arrived, but we do need the rain. Cheers Hilary

    Reply

  20. Good on you!!! Breaking rules is such fun… as long as it is safe to do so. But I love your adventurous spirit: life is for living and you don’t get anywhere without taking risks. Your photographs are brilliant, and were very much worth crossing that bridge.

    Lieve

    Reply

  22. Great Pictures… Does walking past a sign that says “closed” count for a felony in Canada? At least someone somewhere is replacing infrastructure – we gave up on that in the US. We just wait till the bridge falls, kills someone and then we close it.

    Reply

    1. Not a felony, Kieran. Its gotta be something though! It’s getting hard for me to be lawless anymore. Weed is legal, and I’ve been of age to drink for centuries now. I have to treasure these minor infractions 😜. Thanks 💕

      Reply

  23. Yes! I thought I was going crazy for a bit. I remember the old school seasons. Everyone tried to tell me I was nutso. – I am so with you on your sign ignoring. I’ve done it myself, many, many times but do be careful on that bridge. We want to hear more badassery tales and see more of your beautiful photos. Ya’ take the risks. 😀

    Reply

  24. Deb, we live in a society obsessed with safety, and sometimes we just have to thumb our noses at some of the more ridiculous rules. On the other hand, some rules are kind of useful. For example, all day long, people speed along our little country road going 100 km/hr even though it is clearly posted as a 50km/hr zone. I feel I am taking my life in my hands every time I walk along it with the dog to get to the trailhead.

    Jude

    Reply
  25. Nancy

    What a nice fall stroll through the woods, Deb. So wonderful that the city is looking out for your safety. And yet, badassery strikes again. Love your style.
    Nancy

    Reply
  26. Kim @ Storms and Stardust

    Haha, you have more than earned your title! Before this post, I’d have slunk away disappointed, but now? Maybe not.

    Kim

    Reply

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