Walk, saunter or stroll, but please, no hike for me.

I just returned from an 8 km hike along the Bluff Trail with blogging buddies Lynne (Five Good Things) and Dallas (Eating Real - Being Real in Nova Scotia).

It was a group hike being led by a local author who has written a number of books on hiking in Nova Scotia.  And to be truthful, it was billed as being for "experienced" hikers.

See Wendy standing by Lynne and Dallas ?

I learned something on this outing.

I'm not much of a hiker.

I'm a walker and occasionally a scrambler, but not really a hiker.  Sure, I tell people "I going out for a hike", when really I'm off for a saunter.  Or if I'm feeling energetic -- a walk.

At the outset I caught myself thinking, "Where's the fire?", as the initial clip felt more like a race start than the casual strolling pace I usually set for myself.

But the scenery was lovely and some of the vistas, just plain stunning.  I love rocky, "bleak" landscapes.

Though it was quite cool, it was "great hiking weather", as we kept telling each other.

Trouble is, as my hips, knees and toes (!?!) are now telling me that I'm not much of a hiker.

Trey is a hiker.  No.  That's not right.  Trey is a runner.  A chaser.  A fetcher.  A bounder -- as in -- bounding here, bounding there.  "Where's the stick?  Throw the stick."

Wendy is more into the experience of the hike.  She likes being with people and runs from the front of the group, to the back, in a vain effort to keep us all together.  Mostly she just stays with us, enjoying the outing.

Wendy and Trey both wore "bear bells" to scare off wildlife and hunters.

Lynne and I found ourselves walking near the rear of the group, while Dallas kept up with the leaders with no problem.

Hike leaders trying to figure the easiest way
 to get my body out..

We stopped on a marvellous high stretch of rock that provided us with views of two different lakes and the surrounding countryside and ate our snacks. Trey lay down and whined quietly about us being stopped and me not throwing objects for him.

Several people sported orange, "DON'T SHOOT ME" vests. In fact,
there is no hunting in this area on Sundays.

And then, oddly enough, everyone else decided to go back on the shorter loop and Lynne and I decided to slog on to see a section of trail that we'd missed.  Yep, the two silly, technically seniors, set off on their own.

And we had a lovely walk.

The End.

Well actually there's lot's more to tell you, but my bed is calling, my bones are complaining, and my eyes are drooping.

'night.

Oh wait, before you go, are you a hiker ? or a walker ?  and what about: sauntering, strolling, rambling, meandering and  wandering ?

Are they the same ?  or are they very different experiences ?  Which do you do ?