SPECTRUM

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrDkL-6jwik)

When I checked the phone this morning, I saw that steady rainfall is predicted to start around midnight tonight – and run through next Friday.

So, I put the notion of walking on the treadmill aside; and decided to walk a lap around the Lake downtown, instead.

I have dropped 6 pounds since getting my treadmill (and only eating one hearty meal a day), so I decided to see if my “1-size-down” charcoal-colored jeans would fit comfortably now. (((YES!))) They slid up right my legs and hips without having to wiggle and jiggle myself into them – and they settled nicely over my thighs and fanny; I did a happy dance for about 5 minutes before finishing dressing, and lacing my hiking boots on 😉

It’s been months since I’d given any thought at all to the Lake: I’ve only walked the Lake Hike twice this year! I’ve been on the road – exploring and enjoying new places – just about every day, until September.

The walk was due.

I stopped at Mr. Bill’s, and got a Pumpkin Spice latte; then nipped into Baker’s corner and was happy to see that the deli was up and running, again: I got 3 pieces of bacon, and 3 skinny jo’s for breakfast 😊

Reaching the Lake Park, I was able to find a parking spot off roadside, on the Kessler side of the Lake – I was thankful. I pulled my camo jacket on, belted my fanny pack in place, grabbed my walking stick out of the back end of the Horizon; locked the car, and started walking with joy juice in hand.

Walking along, sipping my latte, I noticed the grass was littered nicely with a golden carpet of fallen leaves.

Kessler Boulevard, Longview-WA

Fallen gold was littering the grass on Kessler Boulevard side of the Lake.

I was sipping my latte, and swiveling my head around to gladden my eyes with all the vibrant Fall foliage … when I happened to catch sight of Hotai Kazumi (or “Joe”, as he laughingly refers to himself among friends). So, I walked over to say “hi” to him.

I spotted Hotai getting ready to set his camera for some great shots.

We had a nice 20-minute chat. Joe is a professional photographer; he worked as a photographer in Japan for 40 years, before retiring in America. His pictures are amazing: and he is very friendly and personable.

Continuing along the hike route, I started feeling hemmed in as I neared the hospital area … I was in a wide-open space, but I really do not like passing by that hospital – we were always rushing Stacey to ER following her baby boosters (she nearly died the last time at age 3: she never got another childhood jab – for anything): and Bob spent a few months there too, in 1981: and again, from August 30^th to November 24^th, 2018, before he was shifted to OHSU and never came home again alive. I have no warm feelings towards that hospital.

As I was quickly rushing up the gravel path, past it, into the gloominess of the overlapping leaf canopy; I noticed bright red leaves intermingled among the darkening overhang.

It was dark under the trees near the hospital; but this red tree brightened things up.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8T1R2szl_M)

I snapped the picture, and scooted to a more relaxing section of the pathway.

The outside edge gravel trail at the Washington Way end of the Lake Hike, spurs off onto an inner bike trail – I took that spur. I had used my asthma inhaler before starting the hike … but I still avoid the traffic fumes whenever I am able to do so: that’s why I pretty much stick to the Pacific Way Trail along the backroad dikes, and rarely walk the Lake Hike.

Along this bike trail spur, there are metal planet plaques dotting the landscape at specific intervals. The plaque markers are measured to a smaller scale that matches the planetary distancing in outer space: the last plaque marker is at the other end of the Lake, near Ocean Beach Highway.

Making the 15th St. turn around the lake, the blooming yucca plants add contrast to the scarlets and golds.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77rinB5pYqA)

MAP Nichols Boulevard, Longview-WA

The walk was enjoyable; the afternoon was still a bit on the chill side due to the wet front looming on the horizon, but it wasn’t bone chilling. Actually, for me, the air temperature was perfect. Occasionally, the sun was peeking out of the shifting gray clouds.

I was smiling and nodding at the smiling and nodding strangers surrounding me as they also enjoyed the walk.

I was enjoying the fallen – and falling leaves – and found myself captivated by the picturesque symmetry of the Washington Way Bridge: it was just the way my eye saw it.

Silver and browns litter the grass on the Nichol's Boulevard side of the Lake.

Washington Way Bridge is open to traffic again, since the last time I was here, in July.

Beautiful symmetry; Washington Way Bridge.

I’m glad that my heart has healed to the point of where I can enjoy Fall again with all my senses. It’s been a long, hard, 37 months.

I am sure Yeshua and Bob and sharing an exuberant {high-5} in appreciation of my getting to this point 😉

This 2-tone tree reminded me of a flame.

On both sides of the lake, the trees are switching out their dresses ... and trying to out-do each other.

The tip of the lake's Pioneer Lion's Island.

LION'S ISLAND at Lake Sacajawea; the island was built by the city’s Lion’s Club in the 1960’s. People enjoy walking/fishing there – and every year, there is a large Christmas Lights display, and fireworks are set off there for a magnificent 4^th of July air show.

A bachelor mallard treading water ... pardon the pun 😉

This tree's leaves are barely hanging on ...

This White Ash tree will be the first to shed her dress after this year's Autumn Dance.

I took a side stroll through the flower garden; I wasn’t sure what I’d see there since most flowers have died off, but I smiled when I saw two flowering plants still in late blossom.

They are not ready to bow out of the Fall Party spectrum, yet.

This Floribunda Rose is fading slowly - hips are showing, but she's determined to age gracefully 😊

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

A Black-eyed Susan - in full dress - is peeking shyly around the deadheads.

About now, I was a little over the half-way mark along the hike route.

Footbridge across from RA Long High School - this bridge leads into the 15th Avenue hiking loop.

Locations of Sacajawea Statue & Japanese Garden Island.

Sacajawea Statue at the school end of the footbridge.

Gorgeous maroon hued tree at the side of the footbridge.

I spent a few minutes reading the names on the brick pavement: I was trying to find the brick a friend of mine had bought and dedicated to his mother after she had passed – I never did find it, but I’ll look again, next time I walk the hike.

I started walking again, and sipping my latte, when … oh, my!

I came across a colorful spectrum of leafy bonanza!

I love color: and here was a carpet of Fall’s bejeweled colors, at the toes of my hiking boots.

My eyes were happy 😊

BONANZA!

A tiny bit of Elk Horn Moss - a pretty powder blue contrast to all the scattered jewel-toned leaves.

Senses rocking-and-rolling with sensory overload, I practically skipped along the trail as I moved forward.

The fanciful carpet of color – coupled with the spiced latte, was adding zip to my day; and making my steps pretty spritely 😉

Sighting signs of abounding wildlife was an added bonus.

These birdhouse columns are new; to me, anyway. They weren't here last time I was here, in July.

A flock of mallards, and a lone seagull.

Dark purple leaves - they leaned heavily towards black-hued.

A scampering cutie ...

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SRUrz4I54A)

Beaver gnawing activity ...

A beaver's fanciful romantic declaration?

Nearing the upper end of the Lake, I saw that the Japanese Garden was open, again.

And I saw geese, too; meandering around, and totally ignoring the background sounds of the busy traffic behind them.

The footbridge to the Japanese Garden - around the upper end, and on the opposite side of the Lake.

The simplicity of this just caught my eye ...

Canadian Geese at the upper end of the Lake – undisturbed by the busy activity on Ocean Beach Highway.

I startled a Great Blue Heron that was hiding in the tall grass along the lake's edge.

Ocean Beach Highway - upper end of Lake Hike.

Making the bend at the upper end of the Lake, I was in the final lap.

I turned at the Japanese Garden pathway: Bob always liked this side tour, and I do, too 😊

It’s pretty any time of the year … but it really vibrates with life in the Fall.

Ironic: isn’t it?

The Japanese Garden is open for foot traffic.

Entering a soothing zone.

Beautiful burnt orange foliage.

So relaxing.

This stone slab appeals to me.

I really enjoy strolling through this little habitat.

Exiting the Garden, I noticed that the gray clouds were effectively closing out the sun … and there was a definite nauseating odor drifting over from the mills on Industrial Way.

Time to beat feet for the car … and get my lungs safely home, away from the {environmental asthma} causing hazard.

Gray clouds were moving in; and the mill odor was getting strong. It was time to call it a day.

Industrial Way is at the riverside end of Washington Way that runs past the Lake Sacajawea Park.

Nearly 4 miles. That's a pretty fair hike.

I had spent 4 hours dinking around at the Lake, before the mill stench drove me back to the car.

The day really did unfold well; and ended well. I was glad I went 😊

Calories burned by the Mile (https://www.verywellfit.com/walking-calories-burned-by-miles-3887154) 

DISTRACTIONS

I still have a sore throat from that chihuahua dog that was a Bingo a week ago (I am seriously allergic to dogs); so last night I took a small swallow of Nyquil … and woke up at 10:30 this morning.

After dressing, making the bed, and washing my hair; I thought I’d drive to Vader for lunch. I like the Little Crane Café, and this morning seemed like a good time to revisit: gotta satisfy my gypsy bone as best I can 😉

It would be a short hop: about half an hour … but I’d be out of the house, and out of Longview for a bit.

Little Crane Cafe from Heron Pointe; via Delameter Road & Westside Highway - 35 minutes.

Junction of Delameter Road & Westside Highway.

I figured I’d have my big meal in Vader – and eat a salad later tonight.

I’ve shed 4 pounds this week eating calorie counting meals, and walking on my treadmill twice a day 😊

Passing through Lexington, I saw that the construction there is moving along at a quick pace.

Lexington is up-and-coming. 

Quickly.

A lot of new building has begun dotting the land since we had lived there from 2013 –2017.

In 4 short years, Lexington is practically unrecognizable.

Construction in Lexington – on Westside Highway, near Aaron Drive, is picking up in pace ...

Construction site sits in the large area; streetside of Ventura Dr., and Ponderosa Drive.

When I arrived in Vader, I noticed detour signs.

As I neared the café … I noticed that the road was seriously blocked: and detour signs were several blocks from the rail line.

Well – shoot!

I really did not want to turn back to Longview … I wanted to eat lunch in Vader ☹

So, I thought I’d give the Winlock access a try: maybe I could get to the Little Crane Café through the back door (so to speak) 😉

I backtracked to S Military Road.

S Military Road from Vader; 6 minutes.

Winlock from S Military Road; via Nikula Road; 9 minutes.

It should have been a simple thing. 

I have driven these roads many times.

But there were detour signs and road blocks, placed haphazardly, everywhere.

I followed the orange arrows.

I kept wondering where the heck the signs were leading – I was on roads that were not familiar to me.

Miles and miles later, when I stopped at a stop sign at a four-way junction, a memory came to mind and I recognized the locality … Bob had driven this route on our Yelm meat run 4 years ago (we bought from a butcher, there): I had not been on this forgotten road route since Bob drove it, in the Fall of 2017. I realized I was on the way to Centralia!

Centralia is nowhere near Winlock.

Centralia is seriously out of the way from where I needed to be.

WHY were the detour arrows leading people waaaaay out of the way?

So, making sure there was no traffic coming at me from any direction – I made a U-turn, and backtracked … looking for familiar landmarks.

Another Learning Experience ...

I'm going to be thankful for every Learning Experience this year.

On a hunch, I turned onto a road going in the general direction of Winlock – and had an (((aha!))) moment, when I saw a brown wooden road sign pointing to Winlock’s Winolequa Park. I was happy to see that sign, for two reasons: it was familiar, and I needed to make a quick pit stop at the Park’s Restroom 😉

Backtracking; turned at the roadside brown Park Arrow. FAMILIAR TERRIRORY!

I was pleasantly surprised to see that the Park had undergone a serious overhaul … but I also was wondering, “Where are small towns getting all this serious $$$$$ for major overhauls?” These are dead-end, back-county towns – with little to no job opportunities: where are the funds coming from????

The Park did not look anything like this cleaned-up version, when I was last here with Bob in 2018.

I’m more than a little afraid to let my thoughts wander down the path that is being highlighted – and played out in DC’s communist/socialist House chambers; and big cities across America.

I didn’t want to contemplate too deeply, the poisonous tentacles that are forcing their way into every aspect of American life.

I did not want to give place to anger today. 

I wanted to pee … and be on my way.

Happy to see the sign 😊

WOW. Fancier than the restrooms available in 2017!

All that was here before, was a shanty style restroom, the playground, and the old gray table ... there was no picnicking covered area.

There's a 'Park Host' now, parking is no longer a mud fest affair - and the game fields have been upgraded, too.

MAP Rhoades Rd, Winlock.

Coming into Winlock from Rhoades Road.

I made tracks for Vader.

I was hungry; all I’d put into my stomach since last night, was a mug of coffee … 1½ hours ago.

Thankfully, the backroad into Vader from Winlock was not in shutdown mode: I was able to access the café 😉

Little Crane Cafe - 7th Street, Vader.

The road was seriously closed; no one would be trying to sneak through.

A half hour hop had morphed into a 1½-hour ordeal.

1½ hours since I started from home.

My stomach was growling to be fed; it was not happy with the delay.

I saw my table as soon as I entered – a small table: perfect for a solo lobo.

I could have done without the witchy pumpkin ... but I was in no position to be choosy.

Liver & Onions; I needed the fortification after all the detour stress – 885 calories: staying on target 😉

Relaxed, and fat and sassy; I paid my lunch tab, and headed home – backtracking through Winlock.

Railroad contractors that had no local sense of the region they are directing detour routes.

I was thankful for the memory that kicked in and prodded me to turn back and find my way to my destination. I am thankful those memories helped me stay calm in a distracting situation. I am thankful that those memories are a part of me.

I was thankful for Bob's 101 ways to get to 1 place! Jarring those memories has saved my bacon more than once. LOL

But I will be 100-percent on my own, when I go out of State ...

Gypsy Soul Ambitions.

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8T79QmeSEcs)

Nearing Castle Rock, the car dash pinged … and glancing at it, I saw a notification that needed addressed – I use windshield washer fluid a lot. I decided to nip over to Dick Hannah’s in Kelso and see if I could get it refilled before the maintenance shop closed.

Another distracting detour ...

So, I cut over to N Pacific Highway, and merged with S Kelso Drive: this route is a nice country drive 😊

The shop crew was accommodating, and a gallon of washer fluid was replaced. I was thankful.

I topped the gas tank off in town … and drove the backroad, Pacific Way Highway, home.

Pacific Way Road, Longview.

And was not happy to see that that abandoned trailer had been torched.

Apparently, vandalism has been notched up, to a more violent action.

A shameful eyesore.

WHY is the city not removing this eyesore?

WHY has this abandoned trailer, and car, been allowed to remain in this spot for a least a month; probably longer?

Any other car or trailer in any other locality, would have been promptly impounded and hauled away by a tow truck on the city’s payroll.

The city should have removed them a month ago. It's clear/obvious vandalism abandonment.

The “city officials” here are worthless.

Is it any wonder than I escape Longview as often – and as long – as I can?

Jenner Weeps Talking About God & Access To Heaven

HE (Bruce Jenner) should cry …  backhanding God by blaming God for his mental instability is a serious offense.

Jenner is a media whore, who has ruined his life – and is purposefully leading others into ruination: and his {pastor} is a wolf in sheep’s clothing.

Selfishness is questioning the Creator.

Selfishness is “scientifically” redesigning the Creator’s design to fit a personal agenda.

“Doing the right thing” in Jenner’s case is CHOOSING SELFISHNESS.

 Crocodile tears will not open the Pearly Gates.

“Being true to self” will not gain you access to Heaven.

“Feelings” will not garner salvation.

Finding a worldly {pastor} to agree with your personal issues will not gain you access to God.

The WORD of God, spoke by Yeshua tells us again and again that the ONLY WAY into Heaven (and access to Almighty God) is to acknowledge Yeshua as Savior, repent, DENY SELF, and bury the old man (aka, SELF).

A worldly mind (which is against God) revels in self worship … which, ultimately leads to destruction:  personal destruction, and a willingness to destroy others in self quests.

“Being myself” is NOT “the most important thing”: Lucifer found that out when he chose self, and was cast out of heaven.

OBEYING SCRIPTURE, AND CHOSING TO OBEY GOD, IS THE TICKET.

Jenner Weeps Talking About God & Access To Heaven (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbptydwbO6U)

WOKE UP TO FREEZING WEATHER!

35-degrees this morning!

I was not prepared for that; and my initial reaction was a little panicked – since dealing with man stuff on my own the past 3 winters, I make sure everything is taken care of the way Bob would, before the first touch of Jack Frost arrives. But this first frost caught me by surprise. I was not expecting the overnight temperature to surge this low, this early in the season.

Knowing that pipes can burst if water is rushed through them at this freezing level, I waited until the temperature warmed up before washing my hair … then I dressed and went out to put the faucet covers over both outdoor faucets: one is under the carport, so I didn’t worry too much about that one – but, the other is in the open elements, near the garden area: that one concerned me.

My White Christmas Cactus is blooming.

Faucet Covers in place; this is the 1 that really concerned me, this morning.

The covers will have to be lifted next month when Jared comes to wash the exterior windows, skylights – and clean the gutters before winter sets in.

It was 48-degrees at noon when I drove into town and paid for new car licensing tabs: and it’s supposed to dip to 40-degrees tonight. It looks like Jack Frost is going to start skulking around pretty steadily.

While I was out and about, I decided to drive to Kalama to grab some Chinese suppers to break down and freeze: if I have to be housebound earlier than expected, I need all the enjoyment I can surround myself with 😉

'Happy Family' meal from the Lucky Dragon in Kalama; most of it came home with me.

Deep Chill is arriving earlier than anticipated. Pardon the rice on my shirt! It must have dripped off the plate edge as I was boxing the supper up ...

Spencer Creek Rd from Lucky Dragon, Kalama; via N 2nd St & Spencer Creek Rd - 5 mins.

I'll take the high road home.

Road work on Spencer Creek Road - laying pipe, it looked like.

When I got back to Longview, I stopped at Winco and picked up some mushrooms and peppers; it’s soup weather, and these things are needed – plus, I wanted some fresh sliced mushrooms and peppers for this week’s salads: I am serious about weight loss, and salads (and the daily treadmill pacesl) will offset the calorie-laden Chinese suppers 😉

Driving home, I found myself actually enjoying the seasonal shift; it felt good to be looking forward to the changes Fall & Winter will bring.

And I didn’t choke up or tear up when Warren Zevon’s song, Werewolves of London was played on the radio every 10 minutes … all day long.

Bob always hated halloween with a passion – but he always liked this song, and would howl along with it 😉

‘Werewolf Of London’: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qae25976UgA)Official Lyrics Vid: (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4lOlydXPGQ)

And my thoughts are already thinking of new places I can explore when Spring 2022 arrives 😉

Getting 'in the mood'; seasonal & personal.

Getting 'settled' on every level.

Make peace with what life throws your way.

I have options; those options make my life easier. Not perfect ... just easier.

I'm already planning 2022 mini vaca's.

Hey, I gotta do something to occupy myself when the weather traps me indoors … researching mini vaca spots (somewhere new – someplace I’ve never been with Bob) will energize me, and give me something to look forward to 😊

I did my final driver’s license paces … and my driver’s test drive in a Cadillac (that was a tank!), and I figure if I can do that with confidence – I should be able to travel a bit further than home base radius; I can travel quite a bit further 😉

When I got home, and parked in the carport, I sliced/froze the mushrooms and peppers: I’ll do the Chinese suppers tomorrow.

I sliced mushrooms & peppers when I got home.

Bagged and ready to freeze for winter soups ... salad fixin's in the forefront.