I have set a goal for myself that in September or October 2015, I will hike the entire length of the Batona Trail – a 50-mile hiking trail through the Pine Barrens of Southern New Jersey.

I will, of course, need to find someone to do it with me – hiking alone for 3 days in the Pine Barrens is not exactly something I feel ready to do. A few friends who have shown some interest, so we’ll see how that works out.

I started prepping today by taking a short hike around Pakim Pond in Woodland, NJ. It was a beautiful day, sunny & warm, low humidity. We hiked the Cranberry Trail, an well-blazed and wonderfully kept trail that is ADA-accessible. The woods were quiet and we spotted a Northern Fence Lizard rustling up a tree next to the trail, a pair of butterflies hanging out by the pond, an assortment of birds, some sheep laurel, and the loveliest pine cones I’ve ever seen.

It was a good day.