When:  Beautiful day for a walk, 1/31/2018
Weather: Low 70’s with sun and a breeze slightly more than gentle
Observations/Thoughts

If I were a younger person who was afraid of every shadow, I might have been more scarred by today’s walk.  Since I am old and jaded, I came through it fine.  I do recall my heart beating a little faster…but I am getting ahead of myself.

On my walk yesterday, I yearned to walk the sidewalk I normally do.  I did get a little excited when I saw the worker moving some of the boards off of the path area. When I asked when the sidewalk would open, he stated, “It will be open in a week.”  As I walked today, I came upon this same spot.  The bigger barriers had all been removed.  It only had an orange-webbed fence and a waving yellow tape to limit my access.  I could not shake the temptation.  I crossed and explored.

There really was nothing to see. The issue responsible for the closing was the land to the left of the path (when going south) was not getting the runoff it was previously getting. Along the right side of the path, 15-20 yards of concrete had a gradual drop.  At the end of the drop, a pipe ran under the path and took the water to the other side.  Just pass another orange-webbed fencing, the owners of the land I just passed have their house.  As I came upon the yard, the homeowner was out.  He came to the fence right at me.  He said, “I was told I need to take a picture of everyone who uses this path while it is closed.”  He apparently didn’t get a good picture of me, or he just needed to harass me some more.  He was continuing to try and match my stride to the left of me–the path ran parallel to his driveway.  As the end of the “closed” sidewalk approached, I realized he may be trying to get a picture of me crossing the last webbed fence.  I picked up my stepped and hopped over.  Fortunately, no cars were coming on the road on the other side of the fence.  I crossed quickly.  As I crossed the homeowner yelled, “I think I have a good one for the marshall.”

When I was “caught”, I can’t deny a twinge of guilt. I got curious and explored more than I should have done.   I do not believe I interacted with the guy at all.  I do not recall saying anything to him.  I took his threats, and I just kept moving.  The irony of my position was why the sidewalk was still closed.  There was no equipment or tools or anything remaining. The only thing I saw was 3 orange webbed fences, the drain I mentioned, and quite a few new pieces of less-than-green sod.  I anticipate the path being open very soon.  I make no promises on the paparazzi.

To avoid any old man with attitudes, I avoided the sidewalk coming home.  As I was preparing to cross the last small bridge before the house, I saw the golfers I saw the other day.  After leaving them the other day, I realized I had a few golf balls I could give them for their practice sessions.  I followed them for a little bit on the path–they didn’t seem very aware of me.  As I was about to pass them, I asked them how their drives went today.  They were non-committal to slightly embellishing.  I volunteered the balls I had recovered from the park where other duffers had failed to recycle their golf balls.  They were up for it.  As they hopped into their truck, I directed them to the house where the balls would await.

Most of the balls were lemon-to-limey in color.  They may have been a little dirty, too.  They pulled the truck up to the end of the driveway.  I brought the small box where the balls had lived for a number of months out to their truck.  I emptied the balls into their “ball” bag.  And, they were off.  I don’t know their names and didn’t shake their hands.  I gained nothing from the interaction other than the satisfaction I stretched their golf game out for a few more days.