4 MILE HIKE IN 3 PARTS

Recommendations from health and fitness experts is that one should walk 5 miles daily – even at 60+; I can’t do that with my gimpy leg.

WALKING BENEFITS: https://www.healthline.com/health/exercise-fitness/average-walking-speed#takeaway

But I think I should be able to handle 4-miles without inflaming that piriformis muscle.

So that is what my starting point is … and I got that underway this morning.

I stopped at the Short Stop Store, across from the Boondox, to grab a quick bite; it’s been a while since I’ve been there. It was strange walking into that store without Bob – I’d always been with Bob and the kids (all the kids; grands, includes). For 44 years, Bob and I had stopped there, off-n-on; getting from point A to point B along Ocean Beach Highway. Walking through the door went okay: my stomach did not get queasy, and tears did not sting my eyes. I found I could speak without a shaky voice while the cashier checked me. My heart is healing.

It was 60-degrees outside, and the Plan was to walk Lake Sacajawea, because that is a guaranteed 4-mile hike if one walks the entire Lake Trail. The trail was workable today (flood waters had abated) – parking was not. I drove around the lake three times hoping for open spot to slide into, before going elsewhere to do my 4-mile walk. There was curb-side parking, but I would rather park off-road, in the little off-road parking lot.

I left downtown Longview, and parked in the parking lot on 30^th and Pacific Way; to walk that end of the Pacific Way Trail.

I didn’t get very far into the hike (31 minutes – 15 minutes walking, turn around; 15 minutes back), before I had to leave due to drifting smoke on the air.

30th & Pacific Way.

A bedraggled fuzzy-wuzzy; did not look healthy, at all.

Mating Mallard Ducks.

“We’re Having a Baby, My Baby & Me”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YrTPaa9kJ1o)

Goldeneye Ducks.

The Dike Hike ended after 31 minutes; due to brush burn smoke.

Brush burn with drifting smoke.

The 2nd fuzzy-wuzzy was a little livelier; healthier.

(https://www.raritanheadwaters.org/2020/04/02/creature-feature-woolly-bear-caterpillar/)

I was really beginning to think my walking aspirations were jinxed: no parking at the Lake … and now being run off the Pacific Way Trail by smoke.

But I was determined to get my 4-miles in!

So far, I’d only managed 1½ miles.

After the drifting smoke clouds forced me into the Highlander; I drove to Willow Grove, which is closer to home.

I added 2 more miles to my goal 😊

Exiting the Highlander at Willow Grove, I saw Mt. St. Helens - and a fluttering kite.

High tide.

The covered picnic areas are finished; last time I was here, the construction hadn't even begun yet - the founation was being laid.

The play area gym has been freed up - no more asinine covid barrier.

Kite man.

Snow-topped Mt. St. Helen's showing herself.

Busy Ocean Beach Highway - seen across Willow Grove's width.

All that is left of the white kite from 2019, is shredded tatters.

”Kites” 1969 song:

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQAm4wcK0vo)

Winter's sun in an afternoon sky.

Activities at Willow Grove.

Another reason masks are not a good idea.

The sun sliding over the horizon.

Moving into phase 3 of this 4-mile goal.

Willow Grove from Heron Pointe; 8 minutes.

The moon making an appearance.

Mt. St. Helens dominates the skyline; 3 mins to home.

After collecting the mail, and parking in the carport at home; I decided to relax my leg a bit. I balanced the checkbook, shredded the junk mail, and checked social media messages before putting my coat on and walking the final mile around the Park.

It was close to the dusking hour, but still light enough to walk without a light source.

The setting sun was lovely at the far end of the Park.

Sunset at the upper end of Heron Pointe; Industrial Way Rd in background.

Sunset over the Columbia; seen near my street.

Walking a daily 4 miles is doable without stressing that gimpy leg – and if necessary, I can even break it down into a 2-mile walk/twice a day 😉

BETWEEN THE RAINS

The snow that surprised our region is all but gone now (all of it should be gone tomorrow); so, needing fresh air, I went for an early morning walk this morning.

Rain showers was in the forecast some time today, so I plugged my ears with cotton to ward off ‘swimmer’s ear’: I have to be careful not to get excess water in my ear canal … or breezy winds in my ear canal. So, inside, I immediately wick my ear canals with Q-tips after washing my hair/showering (and I avoid swimming) – and outside, I protect my ears with a dab of cotton.

Snow mostly gone. Walking from the church end of the Trail.

Snow-less Trail.

Winter sun, this morning ...

Early morning; not another person on the Trail. Cotton in my ears

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3g7ZvXo-qtA)

Some cinnamon-brown-headed ducks caught my attention, right off 😊

They were very striking – the pictures do not do them justice; but I did try to get some good ones 😉

Common Goldeneye Ducks; females.

Cinnamon headed ducks - Common Goldeneye, females.

The little cavorting Bufflehead duck, doing its perfect swan-dive had me chuckling.

Bufflehead Duck; female.

Swan-diving Bufflehead Duck; female.

I tried to get a shot of a Merganser Duck pair … but they were skittish and kept flying off …

Flying Hooded Merganser Ducks.

When I was finally able to get close enough for a good frame set – the male was absent.

Hooded Merganser Duck; female.

Along the walk, I spotted a lethargic fuzzy-wuzzy, sluggishly moving across my pathway. I was surprised to see it had survived the snow that was dumped on us this past week <:-O

I did some research on them after I got back home, and was equally surprised to read that they survive winter’s chill very well because their bodies have been designed to produce their own antifreeze enzyme; in this way, their body cells won’t rupture in freezing weather!

I am constantly awed by all the ways Creator Yeshua designed life on Earth 😊

Lethargic Fuzzy-Wuzzy caterpillar.

Weather patterns this morning.

Throughout the walk, I saw more Goldeneye ducks than any other; they were all up and down the short length of trail (from beginning to end) that I walked this morning:

Common Goldeneye Duck; female.

Mallard Pair.

Goldeneye Duck; female.

Goldeneye Duck Pair - male in the lead; female Merganser in the tail end.

Ring-neck Duck; Male. Blue bill, & bright yellow eyes.

When I reached the gate at the far end of the short portion of trail, I walked this morning – it was tempting to cross the street, and push on further; but it was beginning to drizzle, and I have been dealing with a cold this past week, so I reined myself in 😉

Reached the end of this portion of the trail with a few sprinkles, and I’m heading home. I don’t want to get sicker.

When I got back home, I checked my mail; and thought I’d get to it after I painted my fingernails.

When my nail were dried, I started going through envelopes and opening the important ones – setting the junk mail aside to be shredded.

As I pulled a statement from one envelope, I instantly saw red.

And reached for my phone.

What I read from the hospital billing department had steam rolling from my ears: my mood matched my red fingernails.

They were claiming they had not received payment and was ready to sic a collection agency on me.

I was directed to 5 different departments (all hospital related!) to try to get the snafu sorted and corrected – the bill had been paid January 13^th, 2021: I have documentation on my end to prove that fact.

The hospital drones need to get it straight on their end: it is not my problem that the post office has delayed the receiving of payment. It is not my problem that they are short-handed and may not have gotten to my payment yet. It is not my problem that they are jumping the gun with a threatening notice …

I told them I had mailed their payment off to them January 13^th – with a receipt of payment from the P.O. – and that “they should have received it well before needlessly sending their bullying statement, which I do not appreciate”.

(https://jeastofeden.blogspot.com/2021/01/chaotic-day.html)

3 hours later (and no closer to getting a direct answer from anyone), I was ready to slam heads together.

Hospital Office Drones!

Instead, I singed a few ears (and bared my teeth a few times) and ended up driving into town (between rains), to the post office – to repeat the same process I had done a little over a month ago: and this time, I better not get another shitty letter … or another BS-run-around >:-P

I was frustrated. I was angry.

I don’t feel good – I have a cold; it has me coughing and sneezing periodically: I do not need to be coughing and sneezing in a busy P.O., where I will be getting dirty looks from masked people living in fear that every damned thing is covid related.

People/businesses have gone covid crazy.

Seriously.

And they are picking a fight with a woman who isn’t afraid to fight back.

Covid is a convenient excuse …