Sounds of Reservoir Park – Southern Pines, NC

You won’t need your AirPods for a walk around Southern Pines’ Reservoir Park. Just take it all in, breathe that fresh pine smell, and enjoy. As Taylor said, it’s an indie record much cooler than mine.

From the crunch of pine straw and sand beneath your feet, to the scuff-scuff-scuff of a runner speeding by, to the occasional rattle of a stroller, Track 1 is something I’d call “Into the Great Wide Open,” since I think Tom Petty himself would appreciate the wildflowers. Bring your paddleboard or bike to create your own cadence.

Track 2 has a more subtle sound, so you might want to turn the volume up and really listen in. Bring some cut up fruits or even a handful of oats and lean close to the water as the resident turtles climb and clunk shells to snap up a tasty mouthful. Keep an eye out for Blue Boy, a name I’ve lovingly dubbed my favorite turtle based on his coloration.

Skip to Track 3 for the real noise! From the metal bridge overlooking the reservoir, you can see the stars of this show. The ducks are quacking, spitting lyrics about something to each other from way across the water. Are they talking about how many fish they can catch? The way the water rolls off their feathers? A flutter of wings and a splash concludes this rap battle.

Out on the trails, runners, walkers, and other pursuers of exercise can attempt challenges like a chin-up and beam run. The ting of hands gripping the metal bars is the sound of progress. Squirrels scampering up the sweet gum trees rustle the leaves just so, and bubbling little creeks make up the accompaniment for Track 4.

The rest of the album is streaming now at Reservoir Park– go work out and tune in!