It was one of those Saturday mornings when the wide, blue sky begged to be walked under. So out I went. And I wasn’t alone. This episode features several salutary exchanges with other walkers—or, as I like to call them, fellow citizens of “The Trek-nited Feets of Walkmerica" (trademark pending.) Keep an ear out for their doppler-tinged Hi’s and Howyadoin’s as they shuffle by, all of us enjoying our solitary walks…together!

Meanwhile, the journey was full of surprise Animals. Choruses of crotchety crows caw-cawed overhead; a sea lion ejected his belchy croaks somewhere offshore. Gulls just wanted to have fun. Downhill, uphill, and winding back home: I covered a lot of ground that morning—with my feet, but also with my mind. A joyous and rejuvenating loop. Enjoyed this walk so hard I got a blister on my soul.

This walk is sponsored by North Light, a new, cozy all-day spot in Oakland’s Temescal Neighborhood—cafe by day, bar by night.