Saturday was a mellow day. We slept in, and I wanted to take it easy because I was scheduled to run the Cleveland Marathon on Sunday. What better way to relax and take it easy than a four- or five-mile walk in the woods?

Recently, I was installing Google Earth, a program that shows you satellite images of the Earth, and I zoomed in near where we live. Someone had uploaded a picture of a row of trees bordering a trail, and it looked intriguing to me. It was on a park trail near our house, so on Saturday, I drove us over there. It was in a park to which we had been before, but when we were there last time, we had taken a trail that went to the south. This trail, the Plateau Trail, went north. I had no idea how far it went, but it turns out quite a ways – I’m guessing it was four or five miles. The trail was very pretty, and we got to see the rows of trees I had wanted to see. The shade kept us from getting too hot, and it was a very fine, if a bit long, walk.

We got home, and Mer ran some errands while I napped. When she got back, we headed off to our first graduation party of the year. It was at a house in nearby Hudson, and the family had set up tables with umbrellas for shade, so it was very comfortable. The food was excellent, although I ate conservatively so as to not risk being ill for the marathon. I did not really know anyone at the party, and I was getting nervous about the race, so I’m afraid I was probably not great company. I don’t think I was dour or rude, just quiet. Mer had a very nice time,  getting to catch up with a former student (the older sister of the graduating CVCA student). We left the party after about an hour, and went home, where I ate a chicken sub while we watched Downton Abbey. We went to bed fairly early since I had to be up at 4:00 a.m. to get ready for the race.