It is doubtful that Teddy Roosevelt subscribed to the notion that "total physical and mental inertia are highly agreeable." His state of inertia was constant motion, constant projects. His life was highly scheduled, packed with demanding activities both mental and physical, all the time. His routine at his Sagamore Hill home included walking to his personal beach and vigorously rowing his rowboat. A downhill walk from his house takes you to Eel Creek which is a tidal salt marsh. Beyond the marsh are sand dunes and the beach on the western shore of Cold Spring Harbor, now part of the Oyster Bay National Wildlife Refuge. It is only fitting that TR's beach would become a wildlife refuge as he was the founder of our first national wildlife refuge with the designation of Pelican Island National Wildlife Refuge in Florida in 1903.
The shack on the beach to change clothes and shed to hold TR's rowboat are now gone as is the bridge he built across the Eel Creek, but a new boardwalk has been built. You are able to walk in Teddy's path and glory in nature which has been preserved. The beach is a "passive beach" meaning there is no swimming and no boating. So you go there and marvel at doing nothing surrounded by beautiful views which include estates of very wealthy people across the bay including Billy Joel's mansion which is currently listed at around 40 Million dollars. However, it is free to walk the beach and do nothing.
Take a walk with Birkenstock.
