Hiking in the rain

One of my favorite ways to see more of Nashville is by going hiking each weekend. I was able to find a great park only 30 minutes away that was pretty well secluded with beautiful walks by the Cumberland River.

One weekend, it ended up raining. But you have to understand that the typical rain in Tennessee, that I had seen up to that point, only lasted a few hours. We hadn't actually ever had a full day of rain.

So with hopeful abandon, I headed to the park with the expectation that the rain would clear up before I arrived.

One of my favorite ways to see more of Nashville is by going hiking each weekend. I was able to find a great park only 30 minutes away that was pretty well secluded with beautiful walks by the Cumberland River.

It did not.

Instead, as I pulled into the parking lot, the rain started to come down in sheets. Auggie was with me and gave me a look that said, "You don't expect me to walk in this, do you?"

I told him, in no uncertain terms, that I would not have wasted the gas to get here to just turn around.

I got out of the car, donned my many layers, which included a large raincoat, and started on our hike.

As we walked, Auggie and I were greeted by less and less rain. The downpour subsided, and we were able to enjoy the misty fields. I really enjoyed hearing all the birds twitter about. It is after rain that the birds can be quite loud. In this park, there were barely any other hikers, so I could take my time around the loop and let Auggie off his leash.

After a pause in the rain, the weather started to pour again. At this point, I was starting to feel the chill of the rain, and I realized my raincoat wasn't as sturdy as I had thought. We marched through a shortcut and arrived back at the parking lot.

It was a lot of fun to walk in the rain and then see the landscape after the rain lightened up. I am always amazed at how nature changes yet stays the same. Despite the weather, it was a good hike.

Before I go, I want to recommend some shoes that are essential for a wet and muddy hike. I wear KEEN Targhee Mid-Height shoes. These are waterproof boots with excellent traction. I highly recommend them for any person looking to make hiking more comfortable.