Fountain, Wilcox Park, Westerly, RI

On this most immaculate of August days, I took a lovely – though quite exhausting – walk in the park. To add a little strain to the walk, I carried some weight in my backpack (including a copy of Emma, which I started several days ago), and traipsed up and down my favorite steps by the pond for about 45 minutes. The spotless blue sky inspired me each time I reached the top step, when the trees fell away and the view opened. Just a few translucent clouds were sailing along; the rest was a blueness that we see only infrequently through the year. The temperature was perfect for exercising – perhaps in the high 60’s, with a rousing breeze blowing. In tune with the day, I carried my cumbersome pack (and Emma) with unusual heartiness as I mounted the steps again and again.