Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

What has Rails to Trails Conservancy done for you lately?

Chief Ladiga Trail in Alabama

A lot, as a matter of fact. RTC is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year, and they have accomplished many incredible feats in those 25 years:

• They have built 1,600 trails...
• ... for a total of 20,000 trail miles.
• They now have trails in all 50 states.
• They have launched the very successful and helpful traillink website...
• ... which documents over 30,000 miles of trail.
• They have instituted a "Campaign for Active Transportation."

If you're not a member of Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, please consider joining. You can contribute at whatever level you feel comfortable, and you'll be supporting an incredible cause. It is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

Rails-to-Trails Conservancy

Yogi Berra quote applies well to trails.

Lake Mineral Wells State Trailway in TX

“You can’t observe a lot just by watching.” - Yogi Berra

Normally, Yogi Berra is  noted for his malapropisms rather than his words of wisdom.

But his quote above is actually quite perceptive and appropriate.

This past weekend, I drove thousands of miles to ride a couple epic Texas trails. I can tell you very little about what I saw on those thousands of miles of driving. But in slightly less than 100 trail miles, I can tell you a volume of great sights.

Trinity Trail in Fort Worth, Texas

So to tie this back into the Yogi Berra quote, when you drive, you spend a lot of time watching. But when you are on a bike trail or hiking trail, you are constantly observing; you are immersed in your environment and you actually see and appreciate your surroundings.

Obviously, that is one of the reasons I love trails so much. They allow people to become a part of their surroundings and to be keenly aware of the rhythm and peculiarities of nature.

If you haven't seen America by trail, you haven't really seen America.

Yogi Berra quote applies well to trails.