Trekking Skagit

Skagit River from dike trail in Burlington

My virtual run across Tennessee, from my home, continues. I'm generally getting a mile or three in at lunch, and then throwing in a walk or run in the early evening. I have a few simple loops and out and backs from home. I've been steady, with no zero days since May 1st.  My weekly mile totals are climbing too, but I tend to eat feral, still.

Saturdays are the big day. I get up early or kind of early, strap on a hydration pack, and set off walking somewhere. A couple weekends ago it was an out and back to Conway, where I ran into Rob and Darlys way down by the Conway bridge. This weekend I wandered the River through Burlington, finishing out on the Berry Dairy Days course. I am loving the dike trail in Burlington--a simple, beautiful miles-long stretch along the river. Pictured above. Ran into Susan and her group somewhere around District Line Road. I walk and jog some. I think I can go up to DNR lands now, but I've kind of got in the habit of this journey from home stuff.

I met up with Seth and Ellen last weekend, out at Wiley Slough. We hiked to the end, where the Skagit meets the sea. We wandered around through some marshlands. I tried eating the end of a cattail. Haven't died, yet. Some day I want to spend a whole day in a chair there, just watching the birds and listening to the breeze. Always great to get together.

"This world is too much with us; late and soon..." -Wordsworth

Sunrise on a Saturday

Some odd plants out by Clear Lake

Wiley Slough, occupied eagle's nest in the distance

Yellow growth on log

Seth and Ellen - Skagit mouth

Skagit from Home

I've had some terrific Saturdays journeying from home around the Skagit Valley this month. I've made two trips out to Conway and back, exploring the dike trails and farm fields of the south valley. A couple Saturdays ago I wandered north along the Skagit through Burlington and then out to Sedro-Woolley, and then back via Clear Lake. I've also had a couple trips out to Clear Lake and the Taylors for a sit and talk in their yard.

I signed up for the Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee, which requires covering some 630 miles or so virtually between May and the end of August. It has really motivated me to be steady, as I put in miles every single day in May. A streak! In total, I think I'm at 236 miles so far. There hasn't been too much trail--mostly country roads and the neighborhoods of Mount Vernon during the week. But as always, getting outside on my feet is a welcome distraction from all that is going on in the world.