So yesterday was our first documented adventure!
The players for today’s trek? Just my 17 year old son and I! My oldest son had to work, and my daughter just couldn’t muster enthusiasm for physical activity early on a Saturday morning, which I respect!
As we are in the middle of a pandemic, the kiddo and I decided to keep it local despite always being up for a road trip. We wanted to be confident that our first exploration location — masks handy should they be required –would allow safely practice social distancing while still enjoying ourselves in mid-day Memphis weather.
Enter the Wolf River Greenway.
Per their website:
The Wolf River Greenway is a corridor of protected green space along the Wolf River that includes a paved pathway for non-motorized transportation. Built in phases, this 10-foot and 12-foot wide pathway will eventually extend a total of 36 miles to connect neighborhoods all the way from the north end of Mud Island, in downtown Memphis, through the neighborhoods of north central Memphis, connecting to Shelby Farms and then to the cities of Germantown and Collierville, Tennessee.
https://wolfriver.org/the-wolf-river-greenway
A beautiful yet sweltering day was in store for my son and I as we entered the Greenway East access point. We decided to wing it, and while we did have a wonderful time, I wish I had researched the various sections of the Greenway and made a clear plan for our walk. The trails are a mix of asphalt and dirt, both with bike traffic, and we made the mistake of choosing to stay on an asphalt path that let us straight into a sunny meadow with no means of escaping the Southern summer heat.
Also: Construction.
As you can see from this picture [ pic removed ] taken about 30 minutes AFTER we had left the trail to escape into the air conditioned sanctuary of my home-bound vehicle, the sizzling mid-day heat was unforgiving.
I think we made it just over a mile into our walk before I realized that I, greatly overestimating my fitness level, had fallen prey to hubris. I was not going to make it anywhere near the distance I had anticipated before stepping on the trail.
We eventually did find areas where the trees lined the asphalt path, shading us from the torment of the sun, and I took every available opportunity to sit beneath those trees and recover before managing the meager mile back to the park entrance.
I was red-faced with both heat exhaustion and humiliation.
I am so grateful that my son — who is in the best shape of his life and didn’t get to fully appreciate our outing because my body held us hostage — is so supportive and patient, but I know that I have a lot of work to do. Improving my fitness level needs to be priority number one!
Thankfully, the lack of mileage did not diminish the quality of the conversations that my son and I were able to make during our walk. It means so much when I am able to connect to both nature and my children in such a meaningful way. Hearing his musings about the world we live in and how we, as a family, fit into it? My heart was so full it could burst!
Overall, if this location a review, I would give Wolf River Greenway kudos for being wheelchair accessible, clean, beautiful, and perfect for those of all fitness levels who wish to be active outdoors while responsibly socially distancing. We have a lot more to explore (obviously), and I will definitely go back. However, I will definitely plan out my desired route and be better prepared for the heat. I will start seriously working on my fitness level this week by taking daily walks after work. I will also continue to make better fitness choices.
I hope to go back soon and see progress. Perhaps one day I will be in good enough shape to give this beautiful green-space the attention it deserves.
Health & Happiness 
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