Fall walking attire

My neighbor ladies and I walk from 6:30-7:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings.  This was a good idea in August when I came home sweaty and in need of a shower even this early in the day.  

Late September is a whole 'nother ball game.

It's dark at 6:30 a.m.  Really dark. 
It's the beginning of hunting season.  Ten minutes before dawn is the time to shoot.
My reflective vest for visibility.

The bears have been hanging around huffing territorially at neighbors from across the road at the end of our driveway.
My loud whistle for bear scaring.

Then, the Wednesday morning nobody else could walk, it drizzled.  The sound of dripping in every dark shadow under every shrub and tree along my walk made me feel like breakfast.  

Not like eating breakfast but being breakfast.  

Whatever benefits I gained through exercise I lost in adrenaline flooding.  I couldn't decide whether to feel foolish for walking alone at the crack of dawn in hunting season with grumpy bears about or for worrying so much about taking a solitary stroll on such a beautiful morning.

So I felt foolish for all that and such a classy outfit, too!

The wet hoodie, reflective vest, and extremely loud whistle- I had to laugh and ask Mark to take my photo.

Now what's really funny is that on the next walk, Kifah had on her reflective vest.  Then we met up with the two other ladies that walk together down the dirt road and they were both wearing reflective vests, too!  We stood out at the end of Kifah's driveway and laughed as the pickups driving by slowed and gawked at the four of us in our Fall Walking Attire. 

I also asked advice from these seasoned country road walkers about the wildlife since they've lived and walked there safely for 15-20 years each.  One drives herself down her driveway to meet her neighbor at the bottom since the bears like her wooded driveway.  I felt vindicated since I had driven myself to Kifah's that morning. 

I'm a little closer to making peace with such beauty and danger mingled together.