Little Red Riding Cardigan

The walk home from classes is a rather short one. It only takes about 15 minutes at a leisurely pace, mostly because my classes are just right across the street.

It begins with a short trot through some academic buildings and then a quick hop across the street, followed by a couple yards of sidewalk that you follow up to the entrance of what I consider 'the way home'. Everything before entering the opening into our street is just leaving class as it still has a city and suburban feel to it. But upon beginning the way home, the atmosphere completely changes.

This walk that I take everyday (since you have to walk down this road any time you leave our dorm) is barbaric. I say that because whenever I walk around it, I cannot help but think of all the ways in which a real road, such as this, should act and how this one does none of that. It has a wild, untamed feeling and I like it.
 
It begins with a long stretch of speckled grey stones that make a wall about six feet tall. The wall stretches on into the distance and continues to curve beside the road until disappearing behind some shrubs and trees. The road itself is a mix of jet black and storm grey as holes have been patched and filled. Even so, there are a series of holes ranging in size from a few peddles to an adult man with varying layers and texture.

The causeway makes small 'splash' and 'squish' noises under your shoes as you wade through puddles and mud trails. The dead leaves mix in the mud and water adding extra crunches and snaps where appropriate. They also make an interesting patterned camouflage for the road and pathways. The entire area around smells like moist earth and decomposing plants, due to the nearby trees and grass already entering into the stages of fall.

Along the road a bit further, the shrubs grow and heighten, almost making a canopy all around you of green, burly leaves, thorns, and pale berries. Through small breaks in the natural foliage you can see old cottages overrun with ivy, glints of glass windows with small lights shining through then, and another stone wall coming slowly into focus, winding its way towards your trail. And just when the slate, moss eaten wall apears that it will colide with your humble walk way, it halts and continues parallel, only leaving gaps for small roads and trails to student homes in the distance. Occasionally you can hear an odd person or two chatting quietly or even a young woman practicing her vocals.

Eventually you too take one of these small roads and disembark from the main route. You enter into a true canopy made of the boughs of trees which are still jade, except where the sunlight hits and they have begun to turn gold. The air smells like newly cut grass and rain. All around are mixed plants from bushes to flowers to grass to ivy. There are small animals that you can hear scampering through the the brush, but never quite see. There is also the wind that blows slowly through the thicket and makes a thin whisper in your ear. At this point your fingertips start to feel a bit chilled along with your nose and tops of your ears. You could bundle up more, but why when the crisp air feels so calming and fresh. 

As you continue to descend deeper into the trail, it begins to broaden and open and the sound of people talking can just be heard over the deep silence of the woods. If you continue on you will see some of the student dorms and people walking about to do laundry or go to class. But it is at this moment that I stop for a moment and look back. I wish to stay in the cool trees' shade and rest under the sparkles of sunlight through the canopy. But I can't because it starts to rain. So I rush back home with my red cardigan tightly around me and forget most of my adventure upon entering the door.

Until next time...

Embrace the Odd,
Caitlin

"I like long walks, especially when they are taken by people who annoy me." -Noel Coward