The Sean Trail

Several (well, OK, two) people have e-mailed to ask about “Sean’s Trail” which I want to build on our property. It is kind of hard to explain it and I admit that it is pretty ambitious but I can try to explain a little more.

I want to build a trail on the property that is for Sean. Our property is a rectangle and the perimeter is 1 ¼ miles all told . So even if I just built the trail as a path along the perimeter it would be over a mile long.

But there are a number of challenges involved – the first of which is that I have absolutely no idea how to go about this. I have tried contacting the Colorado Parks and Rec - but they apparently exist merely to refer people elsewhere.

I thought of giving the Feds a try – but if you have ever been to the National Park Service website and tried to find out how to actually contact them? Hmm?? Here’s a link, see if you can find out how to talk to them : http://www.nps.gov

Should you actually succeed in getting that to generate an email form for you, you will most probably run into the “Proxy Error” page. Don’t bother trying to report that – you just get another one. LOL.

But – back to our muttons.

I want to build a trail, it is going to have to work in summer and winter and be natural. I want it to be secure for Sean to walk on – for those who may wonder Sean is a fairly good walker but he stumbles on uneven ground. If Sean does not feel confident in the footing, well he will not use the trail.

I am toying with putting up a hand rail – on balance I think it will be for the best but I would like some feedback…

Now – I think the walk itself has to be interesting – there has to be some “point” to it all other than just walking. Although Sean like the rest of us, does get some stimulation just from being out in the elements I think that having “way stations” of a distinct character would make it more interesting. I thought of having one place that would have a bunch a variety of flowers so that there was always a scented “presence”. Maybe one place that has an interesting rock or two that Sean can touch. Maybe a place with some shade and a wall or two to block the wind or the rain.

Maybe a station that has a rock with water that trickles down it provided by a solar powered pump. Maybe a place that has a stained glass small window? I really like the Chagall Windows in the Chicago Art Museum – those colors would be very vibrant for Sean I think.

There are a couple of photos of the front of the land on either side of our driveway just to give you the picture of where part of this trail would go.

Suggestions welcome – please bear in mind that it all has to be done by a really incompetent workman (me) who doesn’t have much money.

Oh – I think I may have a way to get this started – discing the pathway!!

Mick