Perfect. Perfect Day. Perfect spot. The Trexler Game Preserve has been there since the 1930s I think.

Well I was sort of right. It was 1933. General Harry C.Trexler, one of the founders of Portland Cement, purchased the land in order to preserve Plains Bison and Elk and keep them not in Zoos, but in their natural habitat. He was one of the early conservationists who had a vision and money to make it happen. Not unlike President Truman. The Bison and Elk have thrived. How cool is that.

This was my first time there since I took Yolande there to see the Bison when she came to America in the year 2000. So, 25 years ago. I didn’t see any today, but I could tell something was roaming around out there. Something big.

I hiked with an almost full pack for a little over 4 miles today. It reminded me a little of the African bush. Plenty of room for grazing with small trees and shrubs. I kept waiting to come around a corner and see a Bison, like you see Rhinos in the reserves in South Africa. Sort of.

It had just the right amount of hilly terrain to get a good training session done. I NEED to lose some weight and get fitter!!!

Here, just to prove I was there…

This part of Pennsylvania is still called the slate belt. As you can see, there is lots of the rock here used for Slate.

Pretty cool. I didn’t know that. metamorphic means it has gone through a transformation due to heat or pressure.

It was a great hike, except for the lower G.I. Upset that hit me about 2 miles out. There was no place to go except there in the woods. (Sorry, I’m a hiker, we always talk about this stuff.) So I made my way far enough into the woods and took care of business. But, I didn’t have any paper in my pack! I always go out there prepared! I used to, anyway. So I had to use natural materials to, you know, finish. Errr, clean myself up. I used leaves and stuff, making sure it was not of the poisonous variety.

That was the only interesting, to me, thing that happened out there, with the exception of a bunch of hikers and trail runners. And 3 dogs. German Short Haired Pointer, English Spaniel, and a Poodle. Love English Spaniels. We had a painting of an English Spaniel, pointing, by a local Chalfont artist above the mantle. The was the only piece of original art in my childhood home. I wonder where it is. I must ask my brother.

Here’s my hike. Out and Back.

Happy Sunday. Palm Sunday.

A.I.