One thing I have wanted to do since moving to Lewisville is check out the trails at Lake Grapevine. Yep – I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I started off at the MADD shelter which is a meet up for the NTTR (North Texas Trail Runners) and known as the ‘biker lot’ because that is where most of the mountain bike riders meet up. When I got to the pavilion there was a group of mountain bikers getting ready to start a ride. I waited for them to go out first and went after them for two reasons. 1 – I had no idea what I was doing. 2 – I didn’t want to get run over. When they say trails, it is truly trails. About half the width of a side walk, dirt, winding through trees. Definitely only big enough for one person/bike at a time. I just started off following the signs. Most of the trails are one direction only because of the width. This is one place that I might take my cell phone with me when I run. There are plenty of chances for broken ankles and getting lost. One good thing about the trails is there are not too many splits. AKA – I get lost, I just turn around and follow the trail back.
It is a bit intimidating as the mountain bikers are flying though there. Many times they are looking down at the terrain watching for roots, holes, and rocks, they are not looking up and come flying up behind you. I heard screeching brakes several times. Along with running with a cell phone, I don’t think I will be wearing head phones. Talked to a few other hikers and runners out there – several stated that they go the opposite way the trail points for safety reasons. Just like on the road, head at the traffic so you can see it coming. Most of the bikers were very nice, but I could tell some thought they owned the trails and did not like the runners/hikers. Jerks.
The run itself went pretty well. Definitely nice and slow with some walking. Had to watch the terrain and I kept checking behind me for bikers, and was looking around a lot trying to get my bearings. Not a good idea to be looking multiple directions on trails. There were several times I had to regain my footing because I was looking somewhere else and not at the trail, therefore tripping or miss stepping. I just followed the trail and checked my watch to see how far away I was getting from my car. At one point I came out of the woods at a parking lot and stopped to talk to some people to see where I was at. I really need to stop going, ‘where the heck am I?’ on runs. Decided to turn around and head back towards the car. I wanted to be the good little runner and follow the signs, so I hoped on a different trail – it was going back towards my car, but wasn’t the same one I just ran on. Switch trails to switch directions. I was very ecstatic when I could see my car through the woods. Only one problem – the trail kept going and I didn’t know how to actually get to my car. I tried to follow the trail for a bit but felt like I was getting farther and farther away from my car (and into some bamboo). Not what I wanted. At one point I said F-it. Cut through the woods, and took a trail the wrong direction and got to the parking lot.
At that point I started talking to a guy who hikes these trails all the time. He was able to tell me where I missed the turn to get to the parking lot (yeah – it is not marked), and kind of how the trails meet up. I decided to walk to the turn I missed so in the future I would know what I was looking for. I got it now!
Overall it was a learned experience, and I will definitely be going back out there – with a cell phone, without head phones, and go the wrong direction!
Other than that, I went out for margaritas with a friend and did some shopping. Wasn’t able to find the shoes I wanted, but did get a few tops for summer/Europe. Haven’t gone furniture shopping yet. I keep putting it off because I have no idea what I am doing. I hate decorating and just don’t want to do it. I still have to go back to my apartment and clean. I have been avoiding that too, because I don’t really want to.
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