All the outdoor time has been on two bicycle wheels. Pavement. Nothing slick. Limited still by the healing shoulder, and limiting my outdoor fun to the permission from the physician. Crossing the river into the evergreen state: Walking the neighborhood as well. This is just great — the third big mac attack in the neighborhood … More My refurbished shoulder and second-hand third eye
My arm’s been in a sling since mid December for post-op healing. A steep enough switchback, worn hiking treads, muddy conditions. That was the simple recipe. Done at 98.6 degrees for exactly one split second to the undesired tenderness. The silver lining has been the time off work, reading books I’d been meaning to pick … More Winter sling and the relationship between things
The wet season. It’s fire-safe to moto in woods. And safe to hike in nearby woods without encountering crowds. While I love riding routes through woods on gravel, I see myself riding pavement through the winter. But taking woods routes on foot, as I like to hear the rain and wind. I had a brisk, … More Winter Wet Hikes and Rides, and Taxes
Headed out to national forest. It’s curious that a wilderness area so close to a popular spot is always empty. It’s wonderful. I intended to spend two nights in it, but stayed only one because of the forecast and the desire to have another lunch time diner breakfast. I don’t usually have pre-trip excitement while … More Sounds in Woods, Speakers and Audiences
Another hop to the woods. I tend to schedule my hiking and other exercise around locations of diners. I like other types of restaurants too, but seem to have really narrowed in on diners recently. And burger joints. This may be because I don’t hike and bike for exercise, but for experiencing through senses, which … More Wilderness and Burger Baskets
I only walked in the woods a few times during the winter. I’ve just been walking in town. Near the convention center. By a new hotel directly across the tracks from where I stood during a lunch break. A lot of homeless and encampments about. I hear some of my fellow employed express disdain toward … More Sparkling New Hotel
…Drift Creek is where I ended up a couple of weeks ago, after looking at the real-time wildfire map and air quality forecast, and road conditions. Not all that far from the coast. Near the trailhead there was a glimpse of the river meeting the ocean. After gaining that elevation on the drive to the … More In wilderness again…
…by a second force this summer, the smoke. For now I just look at backpack contents until it makes sense to pack again. Early in the summer the pandemic had many trailheads closed. The smoke and fire risk now have a lot of federal lands in my area closed. Some state forest is open though, … More Thwarted from visiting public woods for now…
…for me in national forest. I was near water on some stretches of the trail. It was nice to sleep in the deep woods again. I awoke to temperatures in the high 30s F on this August morning at about 4500 ft., then warmed myself with a hot brew. But the ongoing political unrest. I … More A nice overnight backpack…
…the floor of my living room for the first time. It’s because since working primarly from home, my stretching and exercises are done at home on my mat instead of on the floor of the gym at work. Being on the floor is giving me a glimpse into my dog’s perspective. Dog rest her beautiful … More I’ve been spending time on…
Thoughts on Trails 