On the Simpson Park Trail on Thursday afternoon: A glorious spring day, corona notwithstanding.
We shouldn’t forget that so many people in Oregon have lost their jobs and income because of the coronavirus panic. But Albany’s forest trails offer at least a chance to get away from the news.
Albany has two such trails just minutes from the center of town. The Takena Landing Trail starts from that park in North Albany and heads downriver. On the south or east side of the Willamette, on Thursday I took the bike on the other one, which takes off from the parking lot for Simpson Park and the Talking Water Gardens.
Both of these trails are roughly the same length, a little more than a mile, and end in a loop. The Simpson trail is generally wider than the other one, so staying more than six feet away from others should be easier there. But even during this fine spring weather, neither one is ever what you might call crowded.
The Simpson trail is still a little muddy in the low spots, but it’s easy to avoid those.
From parts of the path you get a nice view of a placid stretch of the Willamette River, especially now before the riverside foliage comes in thick and strong. As you might be able to see from the spot where, on Thursday, I got off the bike and looked around. (hh)
“Panic” is certainly the appropriate word in many cases, though some cooler heads are prevailing. Minor example: Twice this week my wife and I were playing catch on a baseball field in Lebanon and were not shooed away when a police car drove past.
Panic
Two thoughts
An unreasoned response to a perceived threat
Grandfather’s advice about a theater fire — the crowd will rush the doors. Hold your seat until things get quiet, then walk out over the bodies