Sometimes the solo walker craves the solo trail, to beg off from the world and the bustle. But other times, a peopled path is welcome.  

A few Sundays ago I had one of those days — a mid-morning walk on the Glade Trail filled with dog-walkers and baby strollers, with runners and saunterers, with whole families, too.

And no wonder: it was early enough to be comfortable and late enough to accommodate the Sunday sleepers-in. 

The smiles and nods gladdened my walk, made me feel part of a company of walkers, rag-tag and accidental, but a company just the same.