January 22, 1987 - Winter WalkingPage 10A /The Suffolk Times /January 22, 1987
Winter
Walking
By PAUL STOUTENBURGH
Walking has always been one of
my favorite pastimes, but I'm afraid
it is not the athletic type of walking
we often see being done so vigorously
along the roadside. My walking is
more casual and to me more enjoy-
Focus on
Nature
able for the simple reason that my
ears and eyes are continually seek-
ing out.
There are so many places one can
walk in the country. Of course, our
country roads are fine but they only
last until the summer season arrives
and then some of them lose their
country character. Yet for the road
walker who is truly interested in
finding a country lane, it's not too
difficult. There are enough side roads
where there is little traffic and walk-
ing can be pleasurable.
Winter walking has to be done at
the right time. Temperature, of
course, is important up to a point.
Even when the thermometer dips,
walking can be invigorating and en-
joyable, provided you dress warmly.
Loose clothing that lets you move is
a must. Another important factor to
consider is wind. Here on the East
End we have one major wind during
the wintertime and that's the north-
west wind. When that really blows,
it's a tough one to face. Look for a
protected woody area for your walk
on those days.
On Long Island our winter wea-
ther changes from hot to cold (well,
not really hot) every week or so. First
the temperature will be below freez-
ing and then the wind shifts and
comes off the ocean (our southwest
wind) and it will warm up again.
When the wind comes from the east
you'd better hurry up and get your
walk in for it means rain or snow is
on the way.
Finest Beaches Around
I'm not much for road walking, as
I said, although I often have to use
the roads to get to some of my favor-
ite walking areas such as the woods
or beach. We here on the North Fork
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beaches to walk is at Orient State Park, but make seemingly endless beach. (There are new heated
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have been blessed with some of the
finest beaches in the whole north-
east. Some are miles in length,
others short mini - beaches. Each to
his own.
Beach walking is probably my fa-
vorite. On rare days when the north-
west wind's asleep, the sound
beaches make good walking. Perhaps
not for all, for stones and boulders do
have a tendency to make walking a
bit more difficult. It's here we all fall
into the old tradition of beachcomb-
ing. Who can resist picking up a shell
or a piece of driftwood?
Yet calm days on the sound are few
and far between. More likely our
northwest wind will be blowing and
it's then that you would head to the
more protected beaches along the bay
that are sheltered by trees and
banks. To get variety take your car
down almost any of our local roads to
the beach and get out and walk.
There'll probably be a scavenging
gull on patrol to keep you company
and off shore there'll be winter ducks
foraging on the bottom. If the winds
drop off you will hear the ducks as
they flap and run to take off from the
water. Of course, if you are lucky,
you'll hear the oldsquaw ducks yodel-
ing back and forth to each other. Oc-
casionally you'll hear a swish of
swans as they fly by. Their big wings
are particularly noisy when flying.
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Less Woods to Walk In
Woods are becoming harder and
harder to find to walk in. But when
you do find a place for a walk, if the
wind's up you'll hear and see it as it
moves through the treetops. Naked
trees and dead leaves look pretty
blah in the wintertime but if your
eyes and ears are tuned to seeing and
hearing, you'll hear the chickadees
calling in their cheery "chick- a -dee-
dee-dee" as they busily search each
nook and cranny of a nearby tree for
winter insects.
You'll hear the jay scolding a crow
or hawk which will usually bring the
whole tribe in for the harassment.
This is the best way to find hawks or
owls, for bluejays seem to have a
thing about these birds of prey and
will seek them out to harass. Perhaps
you'll hear the hammering of a wood-
pecker in an old dead oak as he tries
to dig out a grub or worm for lunch.
This is why we have these birds year
round. They can always find a meal
if there are enough dead trees. The
problem in today's world is we usu-
ally cut all the dead trees thinking it
makes the place look better, thereby
eliminating the food supply and nest-
ing sites for birds like woodpeckers,
chickadees and nuthatches.
You're bound to see a squirrel out
if the temperature isn't too cold, for
they forage throughout the year. You
might even hear them chattering,
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particularly if they are annoyed or
concerned about something. It's get-
ting about- the time of year when
squirrels are cavorting in mating dis-
plays -- chasing and jittering about
trying to win over a mate. This is the
time they chase other squirrels away
who might have ideas about moving
into their territory. You can tell if
there are squirrels about even if you
don't see or hear them. What you'll
look for is big leafy nests in the top of
the trees. It's in these retreats they
curl up on those cold, cold days of
winter in a deep slumber till it
warms up.
I know a young elderly gentleman
(80 or so years of age) who religiously
walks every day. Of course, if it's
pouring rain or the temperature is
around zero he might not venture
out, but otherwise it's up bright and
early and off for his walk. I've met
him on his walks and tried to follow
him. He surely doesn't waste any
time in his strides. He has a route
through the woods in back of a couple
of houses and then back along the
beach that he knows like the back of
his hand.
As we walked along, he'd point out
this or that and give a little history
about it. This was his walking territ-
ory. All this was part of his life and I
guess that's what makes his walk so
interesting. He sees and hears as he
moves along each day.
Too many of us get cooped up in
our homes and don't realize there's
an opportunity out there for a change
of pace. I've never gone on a walk
that I regretted, yet there's many a
day I've stayed at home not getting
anything done when I could have
taken an invigorating walk.
Walks don't have to be long and
drawn out. Sometimes a short walk
"to get a breath of air" is all one
needs to make the day look better.
So let's make a date. See you down at
the beach walking or shall we make
it the woods?
Coming Feb. S
1987 Wedding
Handbook