Fire Season

 Fire season is a thing and it's here about a month early.  The Chuweah Fire started during an isolated thunder and lightening storm near our small town of Nespelem.  Fire fighting efforts are amazing and most were spared the loss of property. Three occupied homes lost the first night, no human losses, numerous animals succumbed to the blaze or had to be put down due to injury.  

We are lucky in that the fire is a bit away (7 -8 miles as the crow flies) and the winds have been keeping the smoke out of our little valley for the most part. A vivid reminder, however, of our very close call six years ago.  So, for the next month or two we will keep our eyes on the sky and be attentive to the sound of helicopters and spotter planes. We keep a bag packed with basic necessities and important documents, at the ready.

I had to skip a few days of walking due to the smoke and heat but have been able to get back at it.  This past week and a half I enjoyed a couple short bike rides and a swim - first one in a year!

I walked a nice six miler at home yesterday. At mile five I looked up (always a good idea) and spotted a very handsome black bear coming towards me.  He was walking right up the middle of the road, about 100 yards ahead, minding his own business until someone very rudely shrieked....oh wait, that was me. 

I surprised him as much he surprised me, judging by his abrupt about face and dust-throwing sprint back up the road. I added a few of my best very-large-meanest-dog-ever-barks to make sure he continued north and I did my best about face and headed home.

Total miles: 54.5 (a couple of miles north of Rosalia, WA on my map)

Miles remaining: 405.5

Lesson Number One

I am sure I have already had numerous opportunities to learn lessons at this point, and yes, it has only been two weeks. However, this past week I had a huge AHA! moment. Isn't this what is important? 

I was feeling great, racking up the miles and then WHAM! (just like in the old Batman show) I was in serious pain. Pain that was reminiscent of pre-surgery. Self: "What if surgery didn't fix the problem? What if I'm stuck with this and can't walk, hike, bike, kayak, play? What if... What if...."  Stop it, Mary. What is the truth here?  A Still Small Voice.

The problem: too many days of the same exercise in a row and a tendency I have to push and push and overdo. My PT encouraged me that my back and all the nerves involved are still healing, I should mix it up with a little cross training. How did I forget the importance of this?  

I was quite tentative to get on my bicycle; it's been over a year. Four miles later, I felt great. No pain.  Self: "Do those mile really count on your adventure? You planned on walking this.  A bike moves much faster. It really doesn't count." Ugh.

Here was the beautiful AHA! What is the point of this adventure? To get stronger. To celebrate life and enjoy all that God has given me as well as the challenges that I come up against. To glorify Him. It will take time, I must practice patience. What am I fussing about? Biking, swimming, walking, hiking. It is all a gift and I will be enjoying any of it that I can do, as long as I can do it.  Thank you, God for this lesson. And, thank you to my husband and sister who wholeheartedly remind me to enjoy the journey.

If I were out walking on the route I would be just a bit north of the tiny town of Garfield, WA. If I turn to the west and look across the horizon I would see Steptoe Butte State Park. The butte stands about 3600 feet and provides impressive 360° views. Evidently, the geology up there is something out of the ordinary.

Total Mileage: 31 miles

Miles remaining: 429 miles

Rolling, rolling, rolling along

The last stretch of June proved to be the hottest on record in many places here in Washington.  I believe our average high temperature was about 111 degrees over twelve or thirteen days. A few substantial fires started over the holiday weekend, but none nearby and we have avoided the smoke as well. Keeping firefighters and those affected in prayer.  Wildfire has become the new norm in the west, and it's no joke.

My friend, Elizabeth, who is joining my sister and me on this adventure, drove out to the ranch on Saturday and we had a glorious hike in the cool mountain air. Wildflowers, birds, serviceberries ripening and importantly...no bears. Plenty of sign but they must have been finding their cool spot for the day. Six miles!! Wahoo!  That may not sound like much but I have not been able to walk that far in over a year.

I took in a 3.5 mile walk Monday morning before physical therapy and then had a great 4.5 miler this morning. I have a very low tolerance for the heat so early morning is my favorite time to walk. Lots of critters out today, another benefit to walking early. I saw a cedar waxwing in her nest. She must have been sitting on eggs because she didn't budge when I walked by, giving her a little room of course. 

Others hanging out in the neighborhood: red-winged blackbirds, many families of quail with babies just learning to fly (they are adorable!), the ravens were telling interesting tales in the aspen grove, a pileated woodpecker found a really great tree to broadcast his message, mourning doves, and a couple of red-tailed hawks looking for breakfast. The highlight was a doe and her two teeny, tiny, spotted fawns. 

Today's walk puts my grand total at 19 miles, which puts me at waypoint 5 - Kamiak Butte County Park. This was a favorite getaway when I was going to school at WSU. Why? It is a beautifully forested high spot with great walking trails. I love the forest. You can check out specifics and see photos here:  Kamiak Butte County Park

Most of my childhood was spent in Bellingham, we moved there from Pullman when I was about four. Bellingham has amazing trail systems that wind all around and through town, most with tree lined paths. Kamiak Butte was a little reminder of home out in those rolling wheat fields. 

I try to see the landscape around me, where ever I am, with appreciative eyes. If I were standing on top of Kamiak Butte today I would see rolling fields for miles. Different planting times and crops create a pattern across the landscape like an heirloom quilt. If you watch for it, you can see the wind blow through the wheat like waves at the ocean, switching directions and cresting the hills. Occasionally, there are 'eyebrows' at the crest of a hill, planted with fir and pine trees or shrubs. However, Kamiak Butte is much bigger than an eyebrow and is an enchanting little forest and I am thankful for being able to enjoy it.

Off I go! North on Hwy 27 to Rosalia and then north US 95.  Next waypoint 65 miles away: Riverfront Park, Spokane, WA. Hope to see you there!

Where it All Began

Pullman, WA. It is absolutely a destination.  OK maybe not for most; however, it is for me in this adventure.  This is where it all started, for me at least, and then popped up again later in life. 

June 11, 1971 I was born at Pullman Memorial Hospital, three weeks late.  Mom tells a funny story that the new Veterinary Medicine Hospital for the WSU vet school opened up that spring and they offered tours. Mom was wondering if they would let her deliver there instead of the really outdated and unassuming human hospital.  Twenty years later I found myself back in that hospital as a candy striper (I don't even think they have an equivalent now days).  Infobloom.com explains: 

"A candy striper was traditionally a young, female hospital volunteer - a concept that originated in the 1940's.  The unique job title referred to the candy cane look of the red and white-striped pinafores worn by the volunteers. Traditionally, the girls sewed their own pinafores."

No, I did not sew my own pinafore...but now I'm intrigued....maybe I could.... OK, back to the story. Part of the prerequisites for the nursing school program I was preparing for at WSU was to volunteer at the local hospital. So, there I was, back in the building.  A little taller.  One afternoon a nurse that I was shadowing asked if I wanted to see the newborn nursery, learning that I had once occupied the space. It was then that I realized why my mom joked about delivering at the shiny new veterinary hospital.  It was a closet, with a window, maybe large enough for 3 or 4 babies.

I kicked off this adventure by persuading my dear sweet husband to drive us to Pullman to walk the first few miles in person. 

July 1, 2021:  Here I am in front of what used to be Pullman Memorial (behind the trees).  Then I realized that further in the distance is one of the residence halls I lived in and worked as a resident advisor while I was a student at WSU. 

We had a great evening, including a delicious meal at a local the South Fork Public House and then walking a 2.7 mile loop through some of my old stompin' ground.  Some highlights:

Ferdinand's Creamery where they make ice cream and amazing cheese from cream from the university herd. I might have stopped in there a time or two when I was there for university. However, in those days the shop was tiny and in the back, back, back hallway in Todd Hall. Unfortunately, Ferdinand's was closed. 

Bronze statue of a cougar - when I was a little one there was actually a real, live, Butch the cougar that lived in a pretty small enclosure on this spot. I'm glad they realized that was not the best idea.

Holland Library - I love libraries.

My first dorm room, I had the second story corner room shown in the photo below.

The two homes that we lived in. I have more distinct memories of the Opal Street house (see below). My sis and I made the coolest snow caterpillar ever in the front yard of that house (shown below, current day).

July 2, 2021: We are early risers and the Palouse did not fail to provide one of my favorite memories: sunsets and sunrises across those beautiful rolling hills of grain.

We walked another 2.3 miles this morning and found the Presbyterian church where I was baptized as an infant by my dad, an ordained minister. I had forgotten how hilly WSU's campus is; it makes for a great workout. Whew!! We made our way to Starbucks for a little coffee and saw this great bit of history:

Thank you Pullman, you did not disappoint.  So many memories that I had forgotten or was not ready to remember pleasantly.  God is so good and gracious.  

As we drove out of town we passed the "Welcome to Pullman" sign where my childhood best friend, JJ, and I stopped to get our photo during a campus visit. We had talked about attending together but she chose another university.   

                                       

I am so grateful for the times we did have together, fun memories and lots of birthdays; I feel she is with me in spirit for this 50th birthday adventure. Love you, J!

5 miles down, 455 miles to go.  I have my walking shoes and am ready to go!

Nifty Fifty Adventure

In celebration of my 50th birthday and as a motivator to get moving again after spinal surgery, I have designed a little adventure.  Over the next six months I will virtually walk across the state of Washington, diagonally.  I intend on making onsite walks at least once a month and otherwise walking/hiking around home or where ever I happen to be. Pullman to Bellingham, a grand total of 460 miles.

There is a method to my mission here, I promise.  In addition to wanting a challenge to get me moving again, I figured it would be fun to trace 50 special places across my home state. It just so happens that this trail winds from the southeast corner to the northwest corner, capturing so many of the diverse landscapes Washington State has to offer.  Some may think that certain areas are a little dry, on the wet side, a little barren, too crowded, or insert your opinion here. My experience in recent years has been that if I slow down, breathe, and try to see my surroundings through the lens of an amazing, loving Creator, it is all breathtaking.   

The route is mapped, the miles calculated, off we go.  Life is a gift and none of us knows how long we have to experience the breadth and depth.  I will be thinking of two very special women on my adventure, JJ and Lynn. Both were so very full of life and love.  I miss them but am confident I will see them again.

Join me if you wish.

Map: mapcustomizer.com