TRACTION

’Silver Bells’ 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLECnO5EaUU)

My phone told me this morning that there would be snow arriving Christmas Eve … or, Christmas Day. Reading that notice, I knew I’d need to find some kind of traction for my festive red leather boots.

I barely avoided a fall on my padded keister, a few days ago, when I stopped at Baker’s Corner before heading over the hill to Castle Rock. Though I’m a bit ‘fluffy’ – I’m not padded enough to avoid serious injury if I take a fall at my age; and it would have been painfully embarrassing, too (no pun intended).

I needed to go on the hunt for traction.

And, I figured if I’m out and about … a walk around the Lake would be prudent too: especially if that forecasted snow actually decides to make an appearance.

I wore my hiking boots today, so traction was not an issue this afternoon 😉

The walk around the Lake was enjoyable – and decked out in festive ornamentation along the hiking route: at night, Lion's Island puts on a brightly lit light display ... but, I avoid night driving, now ☹

My holiday mood, in the city, is gaining traction 😊

Skeletal winter trees, seagulls, and geese across the Lake; the second half of the 4-mile Lake hike.

Lake Trail Map.

(https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Lake_Sacajawea_Loop_Hike) 

The 2nd Heron I saw as my hike started. This Great Blue Heron looked like a grumpy old man, hunched against the cold weather.

We can use some peace on Earth ... and it's on it's way; Lion's Island Holiday Banner.

Holiday cheer along the trail.

I like hearing the Church bells - they chime 1 chime for each hour; on the hour. 11 chimes this afternoon, while I was there. ‘I Heard The Bells’ song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMmRkimMBOE)

Ducks & geese; Washington Way Bridge.

Geese staying warm; Washington Way Bridge. A number of avian species, including ducks and geese, often stand on one leg to thermoregulate (control their body temperature) during cold weather by keeping more heat close to the body, the same way a person might wrap their arms around themselves when cold.

Heart garland tied around a tree trunk along the Nichols Boulevard side of Lake Hike.

Lingering Fall color, though the majority of trees are skeletal bare now.

Another decorated tree at the Sacajawea footbridge; Nichol's Boulevard side of Lake. The Sacajawea-with son, Pomp statue is located towards the middle of the Lake, across from R.A. Long High School.

R.A. Long High School (marked on map).

Snowberry bush; R.A. Long High School in background. Clusters of pure white snowberries appear in late summer and fall and last through much of the winter making snowberry one of the most appropriately named native shrubs.

Bela was at his usual station near the Japanese Garden bridge - doing his thing; posturing as the 'Count' 😉 Cormorants have feathers that become easily waterlogged, which allows them to dive deeper by preventing air bubbles from getting trapped underneath their feathers. This is one reason cormorants often stand with their wings widespread, drying their wet feathers after diving.

Shy little squirrel hides in the bamboo along the river's edge; must be this year's teenager.

A bit of a snafu ... Nichol's Boulevard & Ocean Beach Highway - upper end of Lake hike.

The geese begrudgingly parted way.

This is what caught my eye when I turned into the Lake area, off Ocean Beach Highway earlier; upper end of hike; Kessler BLVD.

More festive highlight in a bleak winter landscape; Kessler Boulevard.

’In The Bleak Mid-Winter’ song – Matthew Ward:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MvCN1vfaaBk)

2nd squirrel bridge in Longview, located on Kessler Blvd. These little bridges sure gained traction here - there are 7 now.

(https://www.bendbulletin.com/lifestyle/travel-longview-wa-bridges-gap-between-people-and-squirrels/article_434a2e33-bb7c-5c86-9968-21f1ecbd12e0.html)

Oriental Japanese Maple bedecked with colorful balls & glitzy cones; Japanese Garden area along the Kessler Boulevard side of the Lake hike route.

Little squirrel hustling to get his tree pad, cozily padded for winter comfort.

That particular leaf didn't suit - so, he's revisiting Mother Nature's 'store' for something different. LOL

After my 4-mile hike, I added another mile of steps to find something slip-proof to put on the soles of my red leather boots; the slippery scare had more to do with wet/oily pavement … but with ice and snow on the breeze this weekend, I want to make sure I won’t be taking a tumble in the foreseeable future 😉

And because I didn’t want to go home and wash my sweaty hair before shopping, the stores were just going to have to take me as I was: it was 37-degrees outside – but the humidity was 86%. I needed the coat with the hood I was wearing to deal with the temperature/ward off an ear-ache due to breezes getting past my inner ear flap and causing pressure pain … but all that trapped heat inside my coat, as I walked, made me sweaty. And my hair looked like I’d brushed it with oil.

Fun hike - now I'm off to find some traction for my boots.

I do not want to repeat Saturday's slippery moment.

Traction apparatuses.

I had said – and posted – earlier this year, that “nothing could entice me to ever shop at Fred Meyers again” after they locked my bank account over a fueling dispute (their fault): but, Fred Meyers was the only store that had anything for the soles.

I wasn’t happy about that, but in considering they were my only choice, my mind asked if my pride was more important than saving my bacon; the need to save my bacon won the inner argument 😉

Safe now, I hope.

I also bought some earmuffs I hope will cut down on the humidity sweating while hiking in cold weather.

So, I found the skid-proof apparatuses at Freddies … but, I drove across the street to Safeway to fill the gas tank 😊