Hunting!
Jason was nice enough to take me small game hunting with him today! His only rule: No complaining. I figured I could do that. I had to check with my doctor to see if I could even shoot a gun while pregnant (we were worried about the noise). He told me his only concern was with the noise and there wasn't really any research on the topic, but just to be careful and basically don't fall. With that advice Jason and I pretty much ruled out me actually shooting a shotgun anytime soon, which is fine by me. Last time I shot the shotgun my shoulder actually had a bruise on it the next day.
Jason woke me up at 6 a.m. No sleeping in for this sleeping beauty! We were headed north of Mora to Bean Dam State Wildlife Management Area. My navigation must be off because of Reidstad (/sigh already blaming the baby) because we missed our turn and actually ended up another 30 minutes north. After a bit of arguing we finally got to BDSWMA around 10 a.m. We got all our gear on and headed out.
Jason was looking for grouse and I had the .22 rifle looking for small game. Jason and I usually don't hike together because he likes to get to places quickly, whereas I like to get to places eventually (a/k/a I'm poky). We hiked a few miles and found a nice little clearing to have something to drink and a little trail mix.
We hiked another few miles and sat down to have our lunch. Gotta love those peanut butter sandwiches! It was such a perfect October day. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze and you could hear all the wildlife around you. I think our lunch was much longer than planned because I just wanted to sit there and take in everything around me.
After lunch we were a little behind schedule (because of poky) and so we had to go back a lot faster. Unfortunately I didn't realize that on the way in it was all downhill, thus the way back to the car was all uphill. I didn't want to stop because than I could feel my feet and ankles swelling up, so I had to keep pushing myself. Jason was so sweet though, he kept asking how I was doing and we took another break where we met up with our friend Glen and his daughter Kylie. Glen is who Jason goes deer hunting with and they also came to this same place last weekend. It was so funny that they were the ONLY people that we came across hunting all day.
Eventually around 3 p.m. we made it back to the car. I almost wept when I saw that car. The trek back was torturous. Every time I lifted my head to look at the path ahead it was in a constant incline, but I never complained. Jason was pretty proud of me.
I had such a nice time. I always love getting away with Jason and just being the two of us. My favorite times were when we would take our breaks and relax on a few trees. We'd close our eyes and just listen to the wind fluttering the leaves and making the trees groan as they swayed back and forth, hearing the birds chirping and other wildlife going about their day, and feeling the sunlight filtered by the trees hitting your face and of course, the smell of pure autumn air. There was just this quiet solace and I just loved it even more knowing Jason was close by enjoying the same thing I was. I always feel safe with Jason near ;)
Unfortunately we didn't really see any wildlife. Well, we saw a ton of birds and heard a duck and possibly some wild cats. We think we saw part of a tree torn down by a bear, but we're not experts. Oh, and I completely forgot, we saw 3-4 doe on the trail. Jason did see one squirrel but was so shocked by it that by the time he got his shotgun ready it had already fled. Of course I was watching my feet a lot so I wouldn't trip that I didn't get to see too much into the woods.
As soon as I got home I took the hottest shower possible. It felt so good but I can feel my feet and ankles are a bit swollen. As soon as I sat down and propped them up it felt like liquid running back up my leg! Reidstad liked the hike but every once in a while I'd have this cramp thingie going on, which probably meant he was wondering what the heck all this jiggling around was all about.
We plan on going to the apple orchard tomorrow, that is if I can actually walk! I'm in love with apples.
Lindsay
Jason woke me up at 6 a.m. No sleeping in for this sleeping beauty! We were headed north of Mora to Bean Dam State Wildlife Management Area. My navigation must be off because of Reidstad (/sigh already blaming the baby) because we missed our turn and actually ended up another 30 minutes north. After a bit of arguing we finally got to BDSWMA around 10 a.m. We got all our gear on and headed out.
Jason was looking for grouse and I had the .22 rifle looking for small game. Jason and I usually don't hike together because he likes to get to places quickly, whereas I like to get to places eventually (a/k/a I'm poky). We hiked a few miles and found a nice little clearing to have something to drink and a little trail mix.
We hiked another few miles and sat down to have our lunch. Gotta love those peanut butter sandwiches! It was such a perfect October day. The sun was shining, there was a cool breeze and you could hear all the wildlife around you. I think our lunch was much longer than planned because I just wanted to sit there and take in everything around me.
After lunch we were a little behind schedule (because of poky) and so we had to go back a lot faster. Unfortunately I didn't realize that on the way in it was all downhill, thus the way back to the car was all uphill. I didn't want to stop because than I could feel my feet and ankles swelling up, so I had to keep pushing myself. Jason was so sweet though, he kept asking how I was doing and we took another break where we met up with our friend Glen and his daughter Kylie. Glen is who Jason goes deer hunting with and they also came to this same place last weekend. It was so funny that they were the ONLY people that we came across hunting all day.
Eventually around 3 p.m. we made it back to the car. I almost wept when I saw that car. The trek back was torturous. Every time I lifted my head to look at the path ahead it was in a constant incline, but I never complained. Jason was pretty proud of me.
I had such a nice time. I always love getting away with Jason and just being the two of us. My favorite times were when we would take our breaks and relax on a few trees. We'd close our eyes and just listen to the wind fluttering the leaves and making the trees groan as they swayed back and forth, hearing the birds chirping and other wildlife going about their day, and feeling the sunlight filtered by the trees hitting your face and of course, the smell of pure autumn air. There was just this quiet solace and I just loved it even more knowing Jason was close by enjoying the same thing I was. I always feel safe with Jason near ;)
Unfortunately we didn't really see any wildlife. Well, we saw a ton of birds and heard a duck and possibly some wild cats. We think we saw part of a tree torn down by a bear, but we're not experts. Oh, and I completely forgot, we saw 3-4 doe on the trail. Jason did see one squirrel but was so shocked by it that by the time he got his shotgun ready it had already fled. Of course I was watching my feet a lot so I wouldn't trip that I didn't get to see too much into the woods.
As soon as I got home I took the hottest shower possible. It felt so good but I can feel my feet and ankles are a bit swollen. As soon as I sat down and propped them up it felt like liquid running back up my leg! Reidstad liked the hike but every once in a while I'd have this cramp thingie going on, which probably meant he was wondering what the heck all this jiggling around was all about.
We plan on going to the apple orchard tomorrow, that is if I can actually walk! I'm in love with apples.
Lindsay
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