An afternoon hike with Robinson Crusoe

“What the hell? my 86-year old mother said as we tramped up a steep hill. “Who do they think I am, Robinson Crusoe?”

I laughed and thought for the millionth time about how a video drone should follow my mom throughout her day, recording her spunk.

Like Robinson, she is adventurous. But she’s also pretty careful about the risks she’s willing to take. She likes to map out her parameters and she really, really doesn’t want to fall. She doesn’t like to do anything that might negatively impact her tennis game.

So, just a few steps in to a walking trail we’d been wanting to try all summer, she already knew we’d made a mistake.

A morning rain gave the air a nice freshness and the sun lit our little Midwestern world perfectly. Golden leaves carpeted our path, which stretched ahead of us like some celestial staircase.

Unfortunately, the combination of all that beauty made our actual hike pretty treacherous.

“We can turn back,” I suggested.

But as concerned as she was, my mom was also curious.

“Well, let’s see where this path goes.”

Ever so carefully we wound our way up the Sigurd Olson Trail and crested somewhere near the Cider Pond. Of course, I documented the moment as though we’d summited Mount Everest.

Mom posed for a triumphant picture.

Then, we had to make our way down, which would have been tricky enough without all those slippery, wet leaves.

It may have seemed like a 28-year trek back to civilization, but it likely took us closer to 28 minutes.

As we headed back to the car, my mom referred to another literary master, Edgar Allen Poe.

Quote the grandma, “Nevermore.”

We did have fun, though. And I’m definitely going back. I had no idea the Purdy Nature Preserve had such cool walking trails.

My mom is going to stick to more level ground for her daily hikes.

As Mr. Crusoe said, “It is never too late to be wise.”