July In Skagit

The trips around Skagit have continued in July.

Last weekend I was out the door at 3:15 AM, in hopes of seeing the comet Neowise. It was a beautiful, quiet start to the day. A clear bright light stood out in the sky, and I thought I'd found the comet, but turns out I was looking in the wrong direction and it was a planet. Originally, I thought it was Venus, but turns out it was Jupiter. That's pretty cool, of itself.

I completed a do it yourself, from the door marathon, in a grand circuit of Skagit. I headed out to Conway via the Dike Road, and then went all the way around the outer side of Fir Island, visiting both the south and north forks of the Skagit. Gorgeous day. I came back via Rexville and the farms near the tulip fields. Tired, I was. Saw a big snake.

This effort was sufficient for me to complete the Great Virtual Run Across Tennessee, a 1000 KM adventure I started in May. It has been grand, registering my miles each day and following along on the map. The GVRAT has really kept me out there--my distance has gotten longer, and I haven't had a zero day since April. Great community too. A buckle is on its way.

During the week, I visited the Skagit Flats down by Edison and Samish Island, in further pursuit of the comet. I eventually found it, with the help of a SkyGuide app and some helpful comments on FB. It is not a clear as Hale-Bop from the 1990s, but it is impressive and quite extra-ordinary. I've gone out three times since locating it, just to stare up some more.

I've also started identifying other sights--Jupiter, Saturn, Venus, and other constellations, to name a few things. The other night, I happened to spot the international space station, ripping across the sky, as confirmed by my app in the moment. Way cool.

I am now on my way "back across Tennessee", with a goal of completing 1000 miles in four months. My approach is to do a run and a walk each day. Combined, these really keep my thoughts and health in order. It's been a good distraction from all the COVID news. 

Running On Skagit

2020 continues to be a year of touring the valley from my door.  I keep finding new country roads and fields to go through, as I extend my distance. Nothing crazy, but I'm enjoying watching the crops grow, seeing the roadside stands fill with berries, and finding this or that on the road.

In the last week, I've found a phone, a pair of pliers, and some spackle spreaders, I found some Ray Bans about a month ago. There is evidence of crime sometimes--stolen mail, a phone without the battery/card, one needle. I've seen a couple old box televisions dumped in ditches. One of the weirder things has been dead frogs--I kept seeing them on the side of the road, looking skyward. At first I thought they were hit by cars, but I think now that maybe a hawk or some other type of bird has been yanking them from the ditches and eating them.

I think my favorite loop now is to head out to Conway. Earlier, I was traveling south on the road paralleling I-5, but now I take roads by farms. Yesterday I had some blackbirds chasing me for a bit--so strange. I didn't notice at first, but they were making some noise. I wasn't moving fast, but it should've been fast enough to move past the noise, but then I noticed a few of them were flying down the telephone wire, in spurts, following me. Maybe I was disturbing a family, gathering. Interesting, whatever the reason--it happened. I've seen robins sort of behave like this around the place.

Part of the reason I like the Conway route is I can get a fresh water when I get there, and lately a bag of sunflower seeds and a latte. So, not too serious a run. It ends up being 16 to 17 miles though, depending on the route. I like wandering the river back to Mount Vernon. I've figured out a route now that is closer to a marathon, by heading over to Fir Island and then back home via the Rexville turnoff. I suspect that adventure is coming, but the high country is in season too.

No urgency, but I'm putting more miles on the feet than I have in years. I walk some days, run others. I log my miles each day on the #GVRAT site. I'm getting near the turnaround in my virtual Tennessee, about a month or so ahead of time. I have a number of friends who I'm sharing this journey with, so nice to stay in touch. The running and walking have been very helpful for me, as I sort through this pandemic and news of the world. Especially Saturdays, by the fields. I'm reminded of distinctions between the built environment and the natural environment--in the Skagit fields, these distinctions merge pleasantly, with all manner of birds flying around, and a "wild and scenic" river to tour.