American Legion Post 30’s Inaugural Community Cadence Walk Conquers the Unexpected

It was supposed to be an opportunity for exercise and fun for the group of Post 30 veterans and community members who gathered in the parking lot that early morning. They noticed the heavy carpet of leaves and occasional tree branches across the trail, not realizing it was only the first sign of what lay ahead. They soon encountered a fallen tree or two that were easy to navigate around, stopped only by one impassible trunk with multiple mature branches that demanded they try another route. It wasn’t quite orienteering, but it did take knowledge of the Edgefield streets to figure out how to divert through a neighborhood to get back to the walking trail. After a few such challenges, the group was feeling pretty competent in its navigation skills until they met The One Big Obstacle. The hailstorm had dumped massive quantities of rainwater into Slade Lake and its spillway did what it was intended to do: release water across the walking trail into a nearby gully. Indeed, a river ran through the trail. At this point they were forced to retreat. But the friendly gathering was a success after all. The challenging conditions had turned the very first morning walk into a memorable adventure.