Wait there is more ( walk diaries continues)
About three years ago my daughter made me buy an Apple watch. “Mom, you will love it!”. By then I had a nicer pedometer which was almost dying. Reluctant to spend the money but really wanting to lose some weight and needing additional motivation, I bought it. Ever since it has become my companion.
In an effort to complete my steps I would walk any time of the day, between work, on phone calls and all the combinations of that. During COVID days I could spend more time than normal and with need to avoid boredom on usual routes and avoiding people contact I started taking car to and parking at a random location and walk that neighborhood.
One day I turned on Comer road. I could see a hill and wanted to see how that was. I drove with hesitation, I am afraid of heights and did not know if the road was too steep for my taste. But aha! it was just beautiful. Hurriedly I drove back to the bottom and walked. And I kept walking to the top as a daily ritual and one day I saw a trail sign. Those were the early days of COVID and I did not want to go on trails yet, those being too narrow to maintain the distance of 6 feet.
Everyday, I would happily park at the bottom of the hill and would walk to the top on tar road. Gaining elevation and looking around at other hills, mini mansions, silicon valley all spread out till almost the waters of San Mateo and city lights on the late evenings. I would feel lucky to have stumbled upon Comer!
I would see regular walkers and their dogs. We would exchange smiles and walk on. One day a man stopped to say hi. As we exchanged greetings, I told him how much I enjoyed those walks to the top. Obviously a home owner nearby, he knew the area well! I told him, I would walk to a cul-de-sac and turn looking at the sign “private road”. He seemed surprised. “You don’t go past that”? he asked. There are so many nice trails beyond that, you should try once day, he added. My one day sure enough came the very next day! I was really surprised to find many more hidden trails and road leading to areas I frequented.
Now Comer and its big and small trails have become my daily ritual. On the days I cannot go in different parts due to work or family schedule, I make it a point to go on Comer.
That man not only opened a whole new walking area for me, but he made me challenge my inhibitions of following things blindly. The other day I saw him again and shared how much joy I have found walking that area and I am sure it made his day too, knowing somewhere there is this person who is so happy because of a simple tip he exchanged.
