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.