My new/old friend Sarah told me about a Tuesday hiking group called the SCOOTERS, (Sunshine Coast Outdoor On Tuesday Energetic Roamers), and she hooked me up by getting my name on their email list. That is how I found out about today’s group hike, and am happy to say I enjoyed hiking with some terrific people today.

I could not be more delighted. The small group was friendly, and knowledgeable of the area. They kept a good pace hiking, as well as, took time to identify birds, mushrooms and other points of interest. This is a beautiful part of the world and we hiked up to panoramic view points and down to the beach so we could look out towards smaller islands.

There are a zillion trails on the coast, and I am excited to explore them. But, like I said before, I’m a bit of a fraidy cat, and while I like walking alone, the woods around here new to me. I don’t know my way around; the bears and their cubs are waking up, and I prefer not to hike alone. Becoming a “scooter” is a good solution to ease my fear of the woods, and a way to make new friends.

I was also happy to hear there was a place, a parking lot, to meet folks and carpool to the trail head.

I like to tell Ken where I’m going and what time to expect me home when I go hiking. This way, we both feel better and he sort of knows where to send the search party if I don’t come home by a certain time.

So, when he asked where I was going, my answer was. I’m going to a parking lot and getting in a car with a stranger who will be taking me into the woods!

Maybe I’m not such a fraidy cat after all!