The Lady with Binoculars

 

Photos can be deceiving. This is Fryman Canyon. I rarely hike Fryman. It's not an overly birdy area and it's mostly LA's fittest and finest (or those working hard to be fit and fine.) It's a difficult hike. Not strenuous, but straight up for the first mile or so. Not sure what the grade is. I tend to go off the beaten path getting away from the crowds. I think that's a bit more intense. Still, you do see people on this trail as well. 

Today, I started the hike at 11:45am. I am hiking later because I'm working hard to take off the COVID 7 (not bad as COVID added poundage goes, but still a challenge.) If I go early there will simply be more bird activity and I know myself. I won't walk as fast or get the aerobic benefit of pushing myself because I'll be too distracted. By 11:45 the bird activity would be diminished for sure. Still, I had tossed my binoculars in the car, just in case. I would be so disappointed if I heard some Vireo or Warbler and didn't get a look. Birding FOMO is very real. 

When I jumped out of the car, nary a bird to be heard. Oh maybe the occasional House Finch or hummer, but definitely quiet. I contemplated bringing the binoculars. What would be the point? I could really focus on the desperately needed exercise. I AM SO OUT OF SHAPE RIGHT NOW. Then it dawned on me... you know, when you are surrounded by LA's fittest and finest, it is slightly embarrassing to be LA's slowest and out-of-shapest? If you bring your bins, Thome, you can stop whenever you want to "look at birds." They'll never know. Genius. So I grabbed the bins. Halfway up the first section - that's the toughest part - I was able to stop a few times to "look at birds" as the health conscious and scantily clad throngs sailed past me. 

After stepping off the beaten path to the less traversed trail, I thought I'd be golden. Half-way up I stopped to catch my breath for the third time. I was doing the bend-over-God-help-me-what-have-I done-thing, when I heard a young, 20-something gal talking on her phone speeding towards me. I thought, "Perfect! You got this, Thome. Look like a birder!" I pulled up my bins and pretended to look in the distance. The young woman smiled as she trucked past me, breathlessly. As soon as she passed I dropped my bins and bent over again. In an instant, I realized, she'll probably be curious as to what I was looking at. Sure enough, as she rounded the bend, I saw her look in that direction. The only thing to see - a few snags (barren trees) and a couple of distant homes. I saw a look of confusion come over her face. I knew she was thinking, "What is that woman looking at?" I laughed. 

Some genius. I surely didn't come off as a birder but as a creepy woman with binoculars looking into people's homes. Then I laughed again because I didn't care. Turns out I'm more comfortable being the creepy woman who looks into people's homes than the out-of-shape woman who needs to exercise more.

Have a great weekend! Get outdoors.