In the pink

Kathy, me, and Mona

Just by chance, when I went to exercise class today I noticed that these other two ladies were wearing the same shade of pink that I was wearing. Now, I didn't have on nice black pants like theirs, but the coincidence was one I wanted to capture by asking another person to take our picture. I almost decided to cut off our legs so we'd look more alike, but it seemed like a good picture nonetheless, so I am showing the whole thing. Aren't we cute?

Kathy has just recently finished chemo and is a proud cancer survivor (I'm not sure of her age, but she's at least old enough to be on Medicare). I just turned 75 last year, but Mona is well into her eighties and exercises every day. It just goes to show you how much of a difference it can make in one's ability to keep going well into our golden years. Or should I say that we are all "in the pink"?
:-)

The R word returns

Lily taking a picture of me taking her picture

Today fifteen women met at the Lake Whatcom North Shore trailhead to walk six miles on a mostly very flat trail. The forecast was for, what else, a little rain. I figured it wouldn't be very much rain, and I was right. But the light precipitation fell the entire time we were out today. The two of us turned around and started back to the cars before the others, deciding to take it easy on the way back and not have to walk too briskly.

Walkers with their dogs

We saw the tail end of our group once we turned around as they headed toward us and we headed back. After telling them not to worry if the others didn't see us when they returned to the parking lot, Lily and I decided to head off for breakfast a little early.

Stinging nettles

I noticed that the stinging nettles are just at the point where they are best picked and steamed. Peggy, one of our walkers, likes to make nettle pesto with them. You do have to be careful as you harvest them, because they do pack quite a wallop until they are steamed. I had a taste of this pesto at one of our potlucks, and it's really delicious!

I sure wish I could get out in my garden and start preparing it for planting. Although we've had a bit of sun here and there, it hasn't corresponded with my time to get out there. Soon, I'm hoping.
:-)

Two Dollar trail to Gates Overlook and back

Two Dollar trail

Fourteen Senior Trailblazers decided to change our scheduled hike (which was supposed to take us to the Deception Pass area) to a closer venue. The weather forecast suggested that wherever we went, we'd be getting wet, at least a little. Nope. Our hike was dry and delightful.

The season's first trillium

We started our hike at the Two Dollar trail and went up to Fragrance Lake, then over to the South Lost Lake trail and up to Gates Overlook. The first part of the day was cool and wet, since it rained during the night and, as you can see in this picture, there was plenty of moisture still around.

Waterfall on Two Dollar trail

We crossed this lovely waterfall, which is pretty robust because of all the recent rain, and at about this time, we began to see signs of sunshine peeking through the clouds. We headed up the Rock trail until we had climbed the more than 150 steps to the Overlook, where we stopped for lunch.

Bellingham Bay from Gates Overlook

You can see the clouds beginning to lift, and when we stopped for lunch we were able to enjoy a few moments in full sun. The light breeze was a little cool, but overall we were very comfortable as we ate.

One of three picnic tables we used during lunch

I myself thought that it would be a short-lived break from the expected rain, but it just kept getting better. From here, we returned to our starting point making a loop hike, going down the road to the Fragrance Lake trail and then walked around the lake before heading back down the Two Dollar trail.

Fragrance Lake

By the time we made our way around the lake, there was more sun than clouds, as you can see here. Everybody was in a good mood, happy to be out together, with lots of banter and laughter. A couple of hikers that we haven't seen for awhile had joined us, so it was good to catch up with them.

It was a really good day, having covered nine miles and 2,100 feet up and down before it was all over. And we didn't have even one raindrop, so I guess I can call this another "no rainer." When you have as much rain as we do, it makes you really appreciate the sunny days. Wonderful place we live, isn't it?
:-)

Celestial painting

Astronomy Picture of the Day 4/7/2018

I was simply captivated by this Astronomy Picture of the Day on Saturday. I've always loved the way Jupiter's massive storms look in pictures, but this one is a closeup of Jupiter taken last December by the spacecraft orbiting the planet. It's been doctored a little:

The creative image uses actual data from the Juno spacecraft's JunoCam. To paint on the digital canvas, an image with light and dark tones was chosen for processing and an oil-painting software filter applied.

Isn't it beautiful? I look at APOD every day. It gives me a chance to gain a little perspective when things seem depressing and weird down here on Planet Earth. These days, I'm not sleeping all that well if I read the news before I go to bed. So, I'm trying to take a longer view of things, like gazing at our solar system's lovely Jovian giant.
:-}

Laughter is the best medicine

Wonder what was so funny?

My friend John sent me this picture along with some others, all from Texas, some funny and some that I would call groaners. This one is so much fun to look at and think about that I thought it would provide a perfect Saturday chuckle for all of us.

The wind and rain this morning accompanied the ladies as we walked on the university campus. Today must be when the students who are getting ready for next semester show up, because they were everywhere, being led from place to place in groups of several dozen at a time. What is it about students that marks them as such? I wondered if some of them are from out of state and wondering if today's weather is typical. Yes, unfortunately, it is.

We have quite a spell of unsettled weather ahead for the next week. I am so ready for warm spring sunshine to take over!
:-)

Burnout Point in the rain

Kirk, Mike, Frank, me, Chris, Al, Richard, Rich, Jim (Mel's pic)

It never fails to amaze me that I am not the only one who shows up on wet and rainy days. Today ten (!) Senior Trailblazers showed up in light rain to hike up to Burnout Point, one of our usual winter hikes. We did indeed have rain all day, but we were dressed for it, as you can see here.

Not much view from the Point

Fortunately, it wasn't cold, but occasionally we'd have a gust of wind that reminded me that it sure wouldn't be much fun to stand around for long. We made it up these soggy logging roads in fairly good time. I did get everyone to let me take a picture before we headed back.

Frank, Chris, Mel, Kirk, Jim, Rich, Al, Mike, Richard

It wasn't the sort of day when I had much to take pictures of, with little to no view, and having to haul my camera out from under my rain pants wasn't easy. This hike, led by Mel, was a loop trail, with us going down from this point to the South Lost Lake trail for our return trip. I was glad we had a different view on our way back, hoping for something a little more scenic.

Beautiful tall trees

Sure enough, Frank pointed out a stand of beautiful straight trees all in a row, and the people in the picture show the relative size. It's my favorite picture of the day.

Waterfall

This one isn't bad, either. We see this waterfall every time we walk this road, but it changes dramatically, considering the amount of rain and the time of the year. Sometimes it's almost nonexistent, but today it was magnificent.

Discussion about whether to go to Fragrance Lake or head back

At this point, we could continue on to Fragrance Lake and then take the two-mile trail back to our starting point, adding perhaps another mile to the hike as well as some more time out in the elements. We decided to head back down the road and skip the lake, since the rain had not let up all day and nobody was really interested in having lunch on the trail today.

Six of us having lunch at the Senior Center

Six of the ten of us pulled out our lunches at the Senior Center and enjoyed a warm and leisurely lunch inside. The others took off for home, and we decided that it was indeed another wonderful day in the wilderness, having covered around eight miles and 1,600 feet up and down.

I got what I came for: good exercise in the outdoors and great company. I am glad I went, but I am even more glad to be dry and warm inside. Funny how being uncomfortable for awhile can make comfort so much more enjoyable. Hoping for better weather next week!
:-)

A quickie

From the march last week in Washington, DC

Yeah, I forgot again. I just don't know how I'm going to remember my Tuesday posts. I keep thinking about that Dr. Seuss quote about "how did it get so late so soon?"

P.S.  I thought today is Wednesday. I’m losing it.
:-)