Slept in later than I should have, but managed to get to the trail while it was still nice outside. The trees provided shade almost the entire time, and there was an occasional cool breeze that felt fabulous.
Just after starting out, there were 2 girls headed back to the parking lot. I didn't see anyone again until mile 11. Seriously. No one else out on the trail. It was a beautiful day out- where was everyone? I guess most of the serious runners were already done with their run for the day and were home showering by then. Between mile 4.5 and 5.5, I almost ran into this little guy. I am used to seeing dead snakes, but live ones make me a little uneasy. I should have kept running, but I wanted proof. 
As I was putting my ipod away, I hear a noise and he's taken off in a flash. Luckily he took off away from me and not toward me. That's a long way to run back to the car with a mess in your shorts.
I found the end of the trail at mile 5.5. Ran out to the road and turned around. Here's the trail head at the far end (I started in the middle).
It's mostly packed dirt. Some sandy spots, some rocky spots, and some ravines from water runoff - especially on the hills. I headed back to the car and stopped for some gu on the boardwalk that runs through a swampy spot next to a creek.
Other than being the only one out on the far end of the trail today and having to find all the spider webs myself, it was beautiful.
I stopped at the car after seeing the 2nd set of people. I re-filled my water, gatorade, and had a couple bites of my pb&j before heading the other direction on the trail.
I went out 1 miles shy of the other trail head and turned around. I saw one man with his dog on that side of the trail. Still can't figure out why no one was enjoying the day on the trail. It'll be closed in 2 weeks for hunting season (till January), so this will probably be my last time on the trail for the year. A guy ran on it 2 days before it opened a couple years ago and was shot & killed by hunters (on accident). I ran past the memorial that was set up for him. Such a shame. But lesson learned - stay off the trail during hunting season.
After the run, I had some shopping I needed to do on base, so I tried changing in the back of my car. My muscles starting cramping up every time I tried to move. I was certain I would go into total body charile horse and be stuck like that half way undressed until someone came to rescue me the next day. Grateful I won that battle :-)
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