Trinity Canoe Trip

Trinity Canoe Trip

Our class trip canoeing on the Trinity river was scheduled for an extremely busy week for me. I was feeling overwhelmed with classes and when I saw the email about the trip, I felt another layer of stress rest on me. During that week, I viewed it as just one more thing I didn’t have time to do. However, when the day came for us to go I grew with excitement. I realized I had let myself become obsessed with my school work and I needed a break. I knew this class trip was just what I needed to relax and put some things into perspective.

As we carried our canoe down to the water, I couldn’t contain myself from laughing. I had never been canoeing in my life and here I was struggling to carry the boat to the water. I knew an interesting adventure lie ahead.

After almost tipping boat getting in the canoe, Catherine and I were finally on the water. We struggled to get the hang of it at first. While everyone else was going straight, we would zig from side to side and run into the rocks on the side of bank. I found myself becoming frustrated with my lack of ability to keep the boat going straight for more than a few minutes. However, I tried to focus on my surroundings. While the water was stagnant and it was upsetting to see quite a bit of trash floating in the river, the trees surrounding the water were beautiful. The sky’s various shades of orange and pink were eye catching. It was such a peaceful experience. There were parts of the trip, when it felt like we weren’t in Fort Worth.

After a couple hours, I grew tired. When the sun had set, I found myself wondering how much further we had to go. Again, I pushed the negative thoughts out of my mind and was appreciative to get such a nice study break outside—something I would have never tried myself. One of the most stunning views of the trip was when we turned the dark corner and saw downtown Fort Worth illuminated in the distance. It was interesting to see the city in which I live from such a different perspective. It reminded me that there’s no reason to become bored and mundane in my everyday life. There are always new things to try.

I know the canoe trip was intended to be peaceful and relaxing, which it was to some extent. However, for me it was an eye-opening experience. It was a new experience for me that sparked in me a desire to try new things. I knew I loved being outdoors, yet I have limited experience with outdoor activities Due to this trip, I now want to have more outdoor experiences and find the little pockets of nature within this city.

Week Three at the Fort Worth Nature Center

Week Three at the Fort Worth Nature Center 

Week three at the nature center was my favorite thus far, because the weather was gorgeous. It was my favorite kind of the weather. The cool front brought by the rain was nice, but the sun helped warm the air—making it just the right temperature for my liking. I could’ve worn a sweater in the shade, but working in the sun I was comfortable in my t-shirt.

I arrived about a half an hour early to class and was not sure where we were meeting, so I took the liberty of driving around the park, exploring other areas we have not yet been to on our weekly visits. I drove by the water and observed people with their boats and other equipment. However, I did not pass many cars or people on the road, which I suppose had to do with the day of the week and time of day. I assume the park yields more visitors on the weekends. For the fear of getting lost and being late to class, I didn’t explore for long before I made my way back to the class meeting spot.

When everyone arrived, we were split into groups of 3-4 and tasked with clearing mesquite in the bison pasture. Two people were asked to cut the mesquite, one was asked to clear the brush into piles, and another was asked to follow behind and treat the base of the plant with herbicide. I have never used herbicides, so I was hesitant to volunteer for that task. Therefore, I grabbed a pair of gloves and began chopping small groups of mesquite. In my group, we rotated tasks by each taking turns cutting mesquite trees and hauling the limbs into a pile we had created. Someone would then come around and spray the base of the trunk with herbicide.

It was fun and easy to cut the small plants; however, it was more challenging to cut the trees with a thicker trunk. I attempted to use a saw to cut a larger plant and nearly had it cut, before needing assistance from Dr. Williams. I discovered using the saw tool was not my strength, so I switched tools and spent the remainder of the class moving the branches into piles. I found this task most enjoyable because I got to move around and observe how much progress we were making. I am always impressed with how much brush we clear during our couple hour visit.

The only negative aspect of the experience was the vast amount of thorns covering the entirety of the plant. I was constantly getting poked through my gloves. I got a splinter stuck in my hand, although thankfully it was small and it didn’t hurt. I had to strategically select where I gripped the plant to remove it, for fear of being poked with the long thorns. There were several times when a thorn would get stuck in my glove. Thankfully, I dodged a few of the thorns from sticking me, because my gloves were too big for my hands.

My favorite moment of the class was during the water break, when Daniel and Michelle shared stories about their experience with bison. I cannot imagine working with such large animals. It’s so kind of Daniel to invite us to volunteer for their Halloween night and to watch the bison vaccinations. I’m not sure if I will be able to attend either event yet, but I appreciate that he invited our class. I haven’t gotten to know the staff well yet, but I can tell they are such kind people. They are so friendly and welcoming. I appreciate that they welcome us with such positive spirits each week and allow us to work on different projects. I like not knowing exactly what I’ll be doing when I arrive for the day. It keeps things interesting and gives me something to look forward to each week.

Walk Along the Trinity River

Walk Along the Trinity River 

I live in Clearfork, so often on Saturday mornings I go to the local farmer’s market. It is always bustling with people, some of which shop at the market, take part in outdoor yoga classes, play ball in the grass, ride bikes, walk/run on the trails, or brunch outdoors at Press Café. It is one of my favorite environments, because while there are many people, I find it peaceful. Everyone is enjoying the outdoors and choosing to be active, both individually and in community.

One morning, instead of staying close to the crowds of people, where I often enjoy people watching, I chose to take a long walk on the Trinity trail. The further I got from Press Café, the less people there were. It was nice to take a slow walk and entertain my thoughts uninterrupted.

The water was static and trash floated stagnant, just as it had on our canoe trip. Yet, the trees were vibrant shades of green, and the sky was perfectly blue, with no sight of clouds. The breeze cooled off the warm October day, making the moment more enjoyable. I walked for a few miles before deciding to stop and find a place to sit and reflect on the nature around me.

In the Clearfork shopping area, they are building shops and restaurants where there used to be fields of cattle—and the expansion continues. It is interesting to note that while they overtake the land, they choose to leave some of it untouched. It always makes me laugh, because on my drive home I pass a field of cattle, only to arrive at my apartment surrounded by shops and restaurants. These two atmospheres just don’t seem to match. However, I know that soon these fields will undergo construction and more businesses will emerge.

Ironically, they construct buildings on plots of land, destroying the grass and plants—and then they plant pots of flowers and trees throughout the streets and walkways. As I pondered the irony of this space, I thought about progress and whether or not it’s progress to expand communities into nature—what’s the balance? What is progression and what is regression? I suppose it depends on the perspective—man or nature.