Category Archives: Walking

The Winter Trail…

On Wednesday we had a dry day with some sun breaking through the clouds and I was happy that our daughter Katie agreed to join me on a walk on our favorite trail.

2014-01-15 winter trailWe start out on the Sammamish River Trail close to downtown Bothell and heading west it soon becomes the Burke-Gilman Trail.

winter trail 002It was so nice to have a dry day for some exercise. Thirty minutes out and thirty minutes back is our standard plan. That translates to about three miles at our pace.

winter trail 003The reflections on the river were exceptional.

 

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We were dressed for the cold. Katie had her ear muffs and gloves. I walk a little warmer and didn’t need muffs or gloves on this day.

The Canadian Geese were out in numbers and squawking quite loudly.

winter trail 014winter trail 012Part of the trail runs alongside a public golf course with bridges that traverse the Sammamish River.

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More reflections in the river.

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winter trail 021The best treat during our walk besides the good feeling that our heart rates were being elevated was spotting this eagle!

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winter trail 032I’m still hoping to make walking part of my weekly habit. It is so much easier to get motivated to step out and walk when the weather is dry.

Where do you like to walk?

A Good Start…

On Sunday afternoon of day 5 of the New Year Dear pipes up and says, “do you want to go out and take a walk?” I said, “let’s go while it’s still light and dry.”

2014-01-05 icyThe morning started in the 20’s and there was lots of frosty ice on the deck, roofs, lawn, and sidewalks so we bundled up before we headed out.

Not too much excitement here in the neighborhood to report but here are some things I took photos of…

P1040764Little varmints have been busy in the neighborhood. They sure were digging in a straight line!

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She did not fly south and she was squawking up a storm upon our approach. She was perched on the roof of an out building.

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By the time we got way up this hill I was breathing quite heavily and used the excuse to stop and take a photo of where we had come from and the view from the top to catch my breath. Those mountains are in the Cascade Mountain range.

P1040767The trees are in full winter mode. This weeping willow has so much character.

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We got home as the sun was setting and casting a wonderful glow onto the maple in our neighbor’s yard.

We really need to make walking a habit for this new year. We used to walk more regularly but have fallen way out of the habit. Do you walk regularly?

(I stayed up way too late watching the season 4 opening of Downton Abbey. I’m still hooked and very tired.)

A Trail Walk…

Almost a month ago Dear and I drove to the river trail close to us to have a very early Saturday morning walk.

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The mist was lying low.

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It was so peaceful.

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Finally it was late enough in the morning to see other humans. This was the first time I’ve seen policemen on bicycles on the trail. I was happy to see them. I hesitate to walk this trail by myself because there are so many secluded parts of the trail. When we walk this trail we do a quick one hour walk which ends up being about 3 miles or so. A good start to our Saturday morning. Hope we didn’t spoil the good of the walk with this next stop we made on the way home…

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Someone did say that it’s good to have a goal for your walk to motivate you. I don’t think this is what they had in mind, though.

When our floors are done I hope to drag Dear out to the trail again on a Saturday morning. He is a willing victim when we start very early. During the week it would only work for us to walk in the evening since Dear is out the door by 4:30 A.M. on weekdays. Do you prefer to walk in the morning or the evening?

Refresh

What do you find that refreshes you each day?
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I know from experience that it’s good for me to start each day thanking God and expressing my gratitude to Him for the new day.
I also know a little exercise each day is refreshing, too. I’m wondering what is going to kick start me into my habit of walking which has fallen by the wayside the last few years. I don’t want to be that American that Yeats speaks about who doesn’t walk in the winter because it’s too cold or walk in the summer because it’s too hot. Maybe each morning after I talk to God and express my gratitude I’ll start asking for Him to help me put one foot in front of the other and walk a mile or two.
Do you walk regularly and what helps you get out the door?

Free Them 5K

On Saturday we met up with some of our small group to participate in World Concern’s Free Them 5K, helping build awareness of the worldwide problem with human trafficking.

This year the participants numbered over 2000.

Our son’s company was a large contributor and had a tent on campus with a giveaway. We were sad that Josh could not participate in person this year because of a recreational soccer injury he received earlier in the week that has had him home having to stay off his feet.

Another successful 5K/10K and hopefully our DIL Laura will have a more restful week now that this major responsibility is complete. After the walk Dear and I stopped by Chipotle to order some takeout food to deliver to our injured son and a meal for our DIL to enjoy once she got home from all her responsibilities at the 5K.

Today we are back in a rainy pattern here in the Pacific Northwest. It was fun to get phone calls from my kids one after another today to wish me a Happy Mother’s Day. Flowers showed up at my door today, too.

On another note I got a lead on a high school kid who is trying to earn money for a mission trip so I might get some help with the yard work. I’m happy to pay well for someone earning money for missions. I only have 3 things on my calendar this week…woohoo. How about you?

Free Them 5K!

We joined our son’s team Axia Home Loans Lynnwood to walk against human trafficking. World Concern in Seattle sponsored the event.

This is part of our Northshore Baptist group. Notice the sun glasses? We are in a wonderful stretch of sunny days here in the Seattle area. We were all a little befuddled from all the sunshine we were in on Saturday!

This event has really grown from year to year and our daughter in law was busy helping coordinate it all week long. Thankfully there were lots of volunteers to help things run more smoothly. Human trafficking is a troubling worldwide problem and events like these raise awareness and money to help fight it!

Our sunny day activities continued on after our morning walk and I’ll share more later. Today I’m linking this post with Mary at Little Red House for Mosaic Monday.

Finally I Walked…

…and I need to walk more.

I met my former walking buddy and we walked 6.7 miles on the river trail on Saturday morning at a 3.5 mile an hour clip. I know all that because she has a new fangled program on her phone that tells you things like that…

The weather was sunny and dry and perfect for walking in the Great Northwest. The ducks were in abundance and were really making a racket!

I’m looking to be able to walk a least 3 more times during the week. One more day of dryness has been promised to us. We’ll take it and enjoy it to the fullest. Next Saturday we hope to walk again with our third former walking buddy along as well. Time will tell. You just have to be flexible these days.

The River Flows to the Lake…

These are the last of my photos from when our family was visiting.

 

My sister Kathy, her granddaughter Avery, and I took a little stroll along the Sammamish River.

 

 

We saw a snake and picked some wild Sweet Peas along the trail. I can think of two of my nieces that would not have been pleased to see this little harmless snake!

 

On another walk we went to Juanita Bay Park which is along the shore of Lake Washington in Kirkland.

 

We saw wild life of the flying and floating variety.

 

 

Some not so wild creatures were spotted on the boardwalk, too.

 

 

 

 

Our temps were nice and cool while our company was visiting but this weekend we are sizzling here in Seattle and breaking some heat records. It’s OK because we know that cooler days will follow and the dry will turn to wet soon enough.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

Free Them 5K!

 

World Concern in Seattle sponsored a 5K Walk/Run to help raise money to stop human trafficking. Our DIL Laura works for this organization. We got together for this worthwhile event. This is a photo of us at the finish line. Our son Josh and Scott (Laura’s brother) ran the 5K. Laura’s mother Pat, her SIL Lisa (with child), the doggie Mylie sp.? and I walked the 3.3 mile route. Laura worked the event and then cheered us across the finish line.

Photobucket replaced all my photos with ugly black and grey boxes and they are holding my photos hostage until I pay them lots of money. I’m slowly going through all my posts and trying to clean them up and replacing some photos. Such a bother.

There and Back Again…

Friday was a beautiful day in the Seattle Area. I set out for one adventure and ended up having two. First I went to Juanita Bay Park which is a Wetland Preserve. The Robins were the easiest bird to capture with the lens today and then the Herons.

Then I traveled a few miles back toward home and stopped at St. Edwards State Park. I picked the North Trail to hike down. At the trail head at the top it said North Trail .6 miles. I trekked down and then when I got to the bottom I saw this sign…

LOL…it might have been nice to say that at the top before you are totally committed!

I made it back to the car huffing and puffing.

I’ll show more photos later of both of these great destinations…

We’re throwing steaks on the barbie and are going to continue to enjoy the weather. The retaining wall is complete and I’ll show more photos soon.

Have a great weekend everyone. I’m headed to another Sounders soccer game on Saturday…