Thank goodness for the wildlife. A quick nod and a smiling hello is all it takes to be kind. Mountain jays and chickadees and wind in the pines and my own feet rhythmically scratching the dirt can be the only sounds. Unfortunately, predators share your love of wildlife. They like to eat things that run.
Dirt is such a joint-friendly surface.
The unevenness of the trail helps me to avoid repetitive motion injuries.