2/13/2010 To the Mailbox and Back

My friends are away for the weekend and asked me to get their mail and paper while they were gone. Normally I would have driven over there, as I did yesterday on my way home from my walk, but today I decided to walk over and get the mail. It is less than a 15 minute walk, maybe 1/2 mile, but in the 2 1/2 years I have lived here, I have only walked it once. It's pretty easy, and actually, I am finding it easier and easier to walk. I probably need to start pushing myself a bit with both distance and time walking. I think three miles is definitely close, and I'd like to stretch my walking time to 1 1/2 hours a couple of times a week.  Since just walking to get their mail and back wasn't much, I walked up Peterson Road to the end of the sidewalk. All in all it made for a nice 2.2 mile, 50 minute walk. The route goes uphill a bit, but I have to say I didn't even notice that today, so obviously I am gaining stamina and strength. 

I walked past all sorts of trees and plants in bloom. This tree looks like some sort of tulip tree.  Against the gray background, it isn't quite as pretty as in real life, but still, I don't think they usually bloom this early. I also saw lots of crocuses, daffodils, and cherry trees in full bloom.  Gray and rainy today, but so far I seem to keep missing the rain squalls. Wind yes, rain no.  If you see me walking, I look like an advertisement for REI--REI pants, jacket, shoes, hat, gloves, socks--got it all. But I stay dry and warm. You can see my route here: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/619932

2/12/2010 Home again!

I have to say that walking wasn't on my mind when I first got up this morning. By the time I made it home last night (or should I say this morning) and got to bed, I had been up for 22 hours and it was 2:00 AM.  I slept in today!  I came home to lots of wind and rain, but around 1:00 PM today, it looked pretty good and I was actually looking forward to going for a walk.  I keep a notebook of all my walks, so I looked up the longest walk at the Port of Skagit Trails and decided for that option today. 2.9 miles in just over an hour. (My goal is 3 miles an hour at some point...I am getting close.)  It was a good day for a walk; still I was surprised at the number of cars at the parking area. In all sorts of weather, people are still out walking. It was a bit windy when i started out, but it was behind me, and once I headed into the wooded part of the walk, it was very pleasant. I have a hard time figuring out how many layers to put on, and I ended up taking off my gloves and unzipping my coat.  Lots of times when I am heading out to walk, I chastise myself for forgetting my Ipod and headphones, and then on the walk, I realize I don't miss them. Without the headphones, I have a chance to listen to the birds singing and the frogs croaking. I would miss those sounds if I had headphones in. Today, though, an Eagle scared me. As he flew overhead, he let out a loud screech and I jumped a bit! There are also postings around the port that a coyote had been spotted a while back, and so now we have to keep a better eye and ear out for that as well.

This I find an astonishing sight on this trail. It is no fewer than 6 trees who must share the same root system. They are all leaning one direction and pulling up the shallow roots from the ground. I am sure this was caused by a combination of wet soil and high winds. Another of those combinations will topple these trees for sure. I am used to seeing this happen with cedar trees a lot, but those are usually individual trees, not a group like this set.
This is an example as to how wet it is around here. Moss everywhere. Makes for an interesting picture, though.

You can see my route today here:  http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/619136

2/11/2010 On My Way Home

Today between a real walk, although a short one, and another workshop, I was able to get in over 2.5 miles of walking!  Hurray. Some of it was walking to and from the conference workshop; then we walked to and around the University of Texas bookstore, and then I took a walk after I dropped off my teaching partner at the airport. On my walk, much to my surprise, I found these real Texas Longhorns! I was pretty amazed to see them. Great place to walk; right across from the highway to the airport. They seemed to like posing for pictures.

I am glad to be heading home. I like to travel, but getting in my walks while I am travelling is proving to be quite difficult. It might be better later this year when it is daylight longer; that way, if I do a workshop or have a meeting that lasts until 5:00 PM, I can still get in an outdoor walk.  I am packing my tennis shoes and walking clothes on every trip now, though it limits how many pairs of dress shoes I can take--one can only fit so much in a carry-on.

2/10/2010 A Work Day

Today I was presenting a workshop at the TCEA Conference, so I was on my feet most of the day.  No formal walk, but we parked a long way away from the workshop, and so my urban day turned into 1.45 miles. Probably some of the least walking I have done, but I was walking and on my feet; no sitting.  We worked at the hotel all morning, then did a 4 hour workshop in the afternoon, and then worked all evening again after dinner. It was a cold, rainy day in Austin--actually unseasonably cold. All in all, I'm thinking I did quite well to get in almost 1.5 miles after all.  Tomorrow I have some time between my teaching partner's flight and my flight, so I am looking forward to being outside. I miss my trails back home.

2/9/2010 Travel Day

Today was a travel day for me; flying to Austin, Texas.  I still managed to get in 1.9 miles of walking, even with all the flying.  One thing I like to do at SeaTac if I have my car, is park at a Master Park lot across from the airport. Then instead of taking their shuttle, I walk to the terminal. It usually only takes 10-15 minutes depending on traffic lights, and it's a good uphill walk with luggage. I think it's actually a bit quicker than taking a shuttle. Another way to get walking in at an airport is to walk everywhere rather than ride a tram (if you can), and walk instead of using the people movers.  And of course keep moving while waiting for your plane instead of sitting. You have lots of time to sit once you are on board the plane.This is so odd that I am giving advice on how to get walking in at an airport---not the airport part, the advice on walking part.  I thought about heading to the treadmill at the hotel when I got there, but my teaching partner's flight was late, and we didn't get to the hotel until after 11:00 PM. This is quite a great artistic piece at the Austin Airport. City of Music.

2/8/2010 Is It Really Still Winter?

Wow! What a day! Temperature in the 50s; sun! It was glorious today. No need for a heavy coat, or gloves, or even a hat. Hard to believe that in other places in the United States, people are buried under a few feet of snow. Here in Skagit County daffodils are ready to bloom. Buds have sprouted everywhere. Early rhododendrons are blossoming. If we get a cold snap, look out. In the meantime, we have to enjoy this weather.

My friend Christie and I walked the Padilla Bay Trail today. It is 2.3 miles from one end to the other, and I had yet to walk the whole trail, so that's what we did today. We took two cars and parked at each end. When I have more time and more stamina, we can walk the whole trail both ways, 4.6 miles, but not quite yet.  I did get some great pictures today on the parts of the trail I hadn't been on before.  The water was so calm that trees, posts, everything was reflecting in it. The tide was just starting to go out, so the water was quite shallow along the shore. Ducks of every kind were pecking in the mud seeking food. We also spotted a few herons today, but they were too far away for a good picture. The only thing we couldn't see were the mountains, as there was still a low cloud cover to the south and east of us.  You can't beat this walk for the scenery!

It seems like every time I am here there is some sort of bird on top of these posts. These two cormorants appear to be having a nice conversation. As we walked away, the one on the right spread his wings, sunning himself. Lots to see on this walk, so my time was a bit slower. If you look at my data, you can see all the times we stopped to take pictures.  http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/616760

2/7/2010 Burlington Blvd.

What a switch from yesterday. I woke up to a gray sky and wet pavement; it had obviously rained last night. It was so beautiful yesterday--shows how the tides can turn so quickly.  I wasn't sure where to walk today. I didn't want to head to any of my usual trails because I didn't have my trail shoes on, and I thought any trails might be wet.  I was opting for sidewalks.  I ended up heading to our main commercial street in the area, Burlington Boulevard (also known as old Hwy 99). I parked at Haggen's, a local grocery store, and then walked all the way to the end of Cascade Mall, around it and back to my car. 1.69 miles, 39 minutes. I am a bit surprised how far a mile actually isn't now that I am walking every day.  Things I thought were "miles" away, aren't even one mile away...it takes a lot of walking to get a few miles in.
Not too many things to take pictures of when you are walking along a main street, but I did see this memorial bench and plant outside the Bon Marche. Had I not been looking for things to take pictures of, I never would have noticed it. In fact, I haven't ever noticed it before this, and I think it has been there for quite some time.

I am hoping that those of you reading this blog don't get bored during this year of me walking some of my same trails over and over. As spring and summer come along, and my busy schedule slows down, I will venture farther away for some walks, but on days when I am in a hurry, or tired, or perhaps even a bit lazy, I will stick to my tried and true routes. 
One thing I am looking forward to doing soon, though, is participating in some 5K fun run/walks.  I found a couple that look good for the weekend before St. Patrick's Day. One of them is called Runnin' O' the Green in Bellingham. They include a 2 mile fun run/walk, and since it's close by, I might sign up for it. Collecting T-shirts throughout the year for the walks/runs will be a treat!
You can see my route today here: http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/616106