Running on ...

2012-01-02T17:51:00.000-08:00

A week or so after the surgery, I availed myself of one of the electric grocery carts at Albertsons. It was kind of fun.

Recovery's going well; walking cast works. I may take a page from colleague Erin Madison's book and look back at some faves from the past year. Not on this computer, though.

Success, I think, and great news

2011-12-15T04:03:00.000-08:00

I suppose I should put this on Facebook, too, but here's the latest.

After an almost 2-hour surgery yesterday, I now have a cast from almost the knee to over my whole right foot. There are four pins, 1 big one and three little ones, and who-knows-how-many stitches, but it's all covered.

I'm taking some pain meds, which have proved increasingly necessary as the major "blocker" that was used in the surgery wears off.

The doc said it went well and he seemed pleased. He also -- and this is huge -- says there should be no reason I can't run once the healing is over. In fact, when I described what I mean by running, he agreed that my shuffling gait probably is less stressful to my feet than walking.

Right now, of course, it's really sore and I expect that'll be the case for weeks. But I'm thrilled with this prognosis. I've been driving to the river at least once a day in the past month and looking wistfully, if not tearfully, at some of my old routes, wondering if I'd get on 'em again (on a bike, to be sure, however).

So, all's well that might end well, right?

B'de b'de b'de That's All Folks!

2011-12-04T19:16:00.000-08:00

Well, the second opinion is in and the surgery will occur on Dec. 14. In one of the saddest things I've ever confronted personally, the Missoula doc informed me compassionately that my running days are over. When I told friend Cushman that my dreams of an Olympics marathon apparently are dashed, he said, "Oh, and after all that practice!"

I still harbor a little hope, considering the nature of my "running" — more of a shuffle than a "run." However, the plan is to reassemble the right foot, including fusing the big (bunion) joint, which she said will preclude running and cross-country skiing. Walking, hiking, biking, swimming all are OK, but the thing I've done for 36 years, to the tune of 1,000 miles a year give or take a couple of hundred, appears to be in the past.

I'll refer my handful of regular readers to this website, one of the most brilliant and entertaining blogs I've ever seen on the web. Sadly, Allie's top post (about depression) is one that applies to me in this running context.

I don't know exactly what the regimen will be post-op, but it sounds pretty grim for a few weeks. I'll put a post or two up here to update — maybe dozens, come to think of it, because I won't have much else to do.

Keep running!!!

Nothing new, except that ...

2011-11-27T18:42:00.000-08:00

... Thanksgiving in Helena was its usual treat — Charlotte's and my ninth together, if you can believe it.

No news on the foot front, other than feeling crippled and depressed after ... let's see ... going from 36 years of running an average of more than a hundred miles a month, to running not at all.

I had a small epiphany today: I'm bummed not only because of the foot, but also because of going, in the past year, from an average of 1.5 hours a day outdoors — seeing the stars, sunrises, winds, clouds, eagles, deer, and an infinity of smaller things — to only the time outdoors (and in my way meditating) I get from my car to my office or home.

I must figure out an alternative, and part of that is learning what will be doable if and when the surgery occurs. Sigh.

Foot update :-(

2011-11-22T17:50:00.000-08:00

So a surgery is scheduled in a few weeks, but before then we'll go for a second opinion to a different orthopedist in Missoula, recommended by sister-in-law Joan. I have the records from my doc here in town and will forward to the Missoula doc.

So, barring big change based on her recommendation, I'll probably be in a cast from mid-December until sometime in February, with the hope that by spring I'll be sufficiently ambulatory to run (?).

Sure hope so. Happy Thanksgiving, friends and family.

Out of action

2011-11-08T05:54:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm back in the boot and shopping around for a surgeon. There are quite a few options for the foot, but surgery, I believe, is the only one that involves the possibility of running any more. The doc I visited can do it, and may be fine, but I'm going to get a second and/or third opinion, probably in Missoula. Stay tuned. I'd put a picture of the foot on here, but I don't think you really want to see it.

Long story short, I guess this blog is suspended for a while until I figure out what happens next.

dire news

2011-10-31T17:36:00.000-07:00

Well, the foot is back causing me problems that are not surmountable by any footwear I possess, so here I am, going to the doctor again tomorrow to see what's up and what can be done about it.

I'm not particularly optimistic with this doc, an orthopedic surgeon who has dealt with my smashed toe, my hairline fracture, etc., but I'm thinking there's more to this than has been evinced so far, so, cross my fingers (my toes already are crossed) and dive in. Who knows when I'll be running again. Soon I hope; the gym may be my immediate sweat future.

Sore foot; easy trot

2011-10-29T16:31:00.000-07:00

Nora and I went to Giant Springs Heritage State Park and parked near the trail, then trotted eastward into the area where I've been running all week.

Unfortunately, my foot is getting increasingly sore, and I had her turn around at a half mile or so and just went short.

Several folks out walking/running dogs; did lots of housework and cooked a big pot of chili during the Husker game, which turned out relatively well (NU 24, Michigan State 3).

Breezy, chilly but not cold.

1; 12.5; 42.5; 200.5

Repeat performance III

2011-10-27T06:39:00.000-07:00

I went to the same route and did it again, only this time I went all the way to the footbridge.

I felt good. Karma on this run was good and I hope it all works. In the meantime, I'm starting to stretch out a tiny bit. Still being bothered by my right foot, however.

I'm going to have to deal with it if I'm going to get my distance going. Not sure what can be done, but I know a doc will suggest surgery.

It was warmer today — 37 and breezier. There was a strange convoy of cars and trucks that came down the road as I was finishing up (6:45 or so), then came back up it 10 minutes later and gathered in the upper GS parking lot. No idea what they're doing. Six or seven cars and trucks, moving as a group.

4; 11.5; 41.5; 199.5

A little longer

2011-10-26T05:26:00.001-07:00

I went to the same lower GS road parking lot as yesterday, and repeated the start by going to the near-tunnel access.

From there, though, I went east almost to the bridge and back, covering a chunk of the area where C went for her soul walk on Monday.

Gorgeous morning — clear as a bell, no moon whatsoever so a million stars. Cold, though: 26 degrees and a light breeze. I felt good; probably could have gone farther, but wanted to get back to get cleaned up, eat and go to work a little early.

Had an accident in the yard beforehand. Heard suspicious rustling in the leaves toward the west side of the house as I was headed to the garage, so I went that way to investigate. In the dark, I didn't see a wire tomato cage that I had cleared out of the garden Sunday, and I got tangled in it and went down hard, including against the side of the house.

When I got home from running, I seem to have several abrasions and a couple of puncture wounds on my leg, and a badly skinned elbow where I hit the brick house. Soaking the pants and shirt in cold water now. Crap.

3; 7.5; 37.5; 195.5

Dark loop

2011-10-25T05:22:00.000-07:00

Drove to the lower Giant Springs Road parking lot and did a loop from there to the upper tunnel, then back east to the FWP headquarters. I took the east coulee trail under the road and then into the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center parking lot.

I did a big loop in there, then went back the way I came. It was chilly (low 30s) and fairly dark, but overcast.

2.5; 4.5; 34.5; 192.5

Out with Nora, plus pics

2011-10-24T10:47:00.000-07:00

The view out our kitchen/dining room window over the weekend.

The mid-morning view out east window, across the valley to the Swan Mountains, with sun breaking through the clouds.

There is home sweet home for the better part of a week. It was once again peaceful, beautiful and ... just fabulous.

The pot of gold at the end of my rainbow (Really? Did I just say that?)

View from the fire lookout a couple of weeks ago. This was early morning before the fog burned off.

Today, we ran from a parking area down to the Black Eagle Memorial Island (Tailrace), which we circumnavigated before returning. I'm night reader tonight, so had time midday to trot with Nora.

Nora goes faster than I do naturally, especially downhill, so I was pretty well shot by the time we got back to the car (which was parked a quarter mile or so UP a hill).

My right foot is starting to give me issues again. Not sure what that means; hope it'll pass.

2; 2; 32; 190

Under the fence

2011-10-23T10:33:00.000-07:00

An unusual view of Black Eagle Falls and dam.

These old excavations put me in mind of castle battlements.

I just thought this was a pretty scene, what with the light and all.

I penetrated the defenses of the old ACM property again, mainly because of a misunderestimazation of my size (or of the size of the hole I wanted to squeeze through). I was following a high fence line and found a hole that seemed adequate, so I tossed my camera under it. When I tried to squeeze under it, the hole was too small (I couldn't be too large).

It was fun. I just explored around a little, slowly, seeing if any of the weird sheep of a year ago were around.

It was a beautiful, if a little breezy, day. I collected the camera, shot a few pics, went back to my old entry point and back to the car. The only excitement was a sheriff's car slowing by mine for no reason I could detect.

4; 10; 30; 188

Two on the bluff

2011-10-22T10:29:00.000-07:00

Did an uneventful one on the narrow trail above the trail, toward Black Eagle Falls. It was a little wet; the weather was good. Nora used her new shoes, too and we successfully navigated to about a quarter mile short of the high overlook turn-around point.

A crew was grinding up tree branches on the trail below us. The shoes are working, it seems.

2; 6; 26; 184

Back to the cemetery...

2011-10-19T09:59:00.000-07:00

... for the first time in about a year on Tuesday. I didn't do it from home, however. I drove to the area of the clinic and went from there, up to the monastery, through the cemetery and back by looping around the high school.

It was dark and cold, and because of a small construction project near the hospital, I was faced with fairly heavy detour traffic despite the early hour.

Bright half moon straight overhead, too. And cold: 28 or so. I set out to run yesterday as well, but found upon getting out of the car by the river that I was way underdressed.

Today, I didn't even try because we slept in a little too long and I had stuff to do at work.

2; 4; 24; 182

Nora's new shoes

2011-10-16T09:55:00.000-07:00

We got Nora a new pair of Asics Aztecs (she's been running on some really old shoes that she's used for hiking for about five years), and we took 'em on a test run Sunday down around the Interpretive Center and Giant Springs.

She likes 'em a lot, so we'll try to get after it again here in the coming days. I've been really busy, much of it at home, lately so running has taken a bit of a backseat. I'll dive back in this weekend, I suspect.

It finally froze here. I rescued the last dozen or so tomatoes from my garden, and still have a bunch of potatoes to dig. Otherwise, it's time to winterize. Still a gorgeous fall. I'll post pictures from the yard and from our week in the fire tower in the coming days. Look for them — some are spectacular.

2; 2; 22; 180

No hunters today

2011-10-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

I was a little late today, but I did squeeze in a short one before sunrise. Parked at the hunters' parking area above the trail, ran down and east to the East Coulee Trail.

Went through that tunnel and wound around on the way back. Did the south bluffs trail back nearly to the lower parking lot, then up to car. Nice out, 49 and breezy. Rained more overnight.

2+; 13.5; 20; 178

Repeat distance but farther down

2011-10-06T10:14:00.000-07:00

In an effort to avoid being shot, I parked farther east and ran behind the Fish and Game Headquarters. No hunters there, although I wouldn't be surprised to see some of the jerks that were out yesterday take a shot or two at the Halco bronze of a gaggle of geese out front of the building.

Rained all night; stopped just in time for my run.

2; 11.5; 18; 176

So much for serenity

2011-10-05T10:08:00.000-07:00

The excitement of today's run occurred at 30 minutes before sunrise as I headed back eastward to my car after running west from the GS Road to a point past Black Eagle Falls.

My reverie was shattered by eruption of gunfire below me along the river. Some manly assholes apparently are goose hunting right in the middle of the frickin' town. They must have synchronized their watches because the atmosphere went from silence plus the flow of water to the crescendo of a 4th of July show. There's no possible way they were shooting at flying birds — it was still little less than pitch dark out. That tells me they were doing what we used to call "Arkansas-ing 'em" (i.e. shooting them on the ground. Sick, scary and unsportsmanlike. It does explain the little cadre of pickup trucks that had moved into my usual parking area the past few days.

Anyway, I figured my run totaled two and a half. It had rained overnight and the trail was wet, and there was some mist. The overcast is probably why the predawn wasn't lighter.

2.5; 9.5; 16; 174

Eerily warm

2011-10-04T07:41:00.001-07:00

I ran in the dark this morning, the time being early and the moon having set hours before. Went to the lot by GS Road and ran the trail all the way east to the bridge and back. I know I'm going slower than normal, but I'm still going to round the times into miles — the rationale is the amount of foot-pounds of work I'm doing (hehe).

I heard a few rustlings in the grass, and there was an odd gathering of vehicles (four of them) in the upper lot (where I've been more typically parking of late). Couldn't see who they were or where they went, but at that hour it seemed a little odd. Probably just walkers, though.

I met one runner who was coming back west as I went out. Said good morning. And the crowd of workers on the Rainbow Dam project was flowing in earnest by the time I was getting back to my car, probably 6:45-ish. Felt pretty good. What was oddest was the temp. Two days ago, there was a hint of frost on the grass. Today, it was 70 degrees and breezy in the hour before dawn.

4; 7; 13.5; 171.5

In the hoods

2011-10-03T07:46:00.000-07:00

I wanted to leave a funny note for C having to do with the silly story in Monday's paper about a dark spot on a communion wafer in Poland being interpreted as part of the tissue from the heart of Christ, but in order to do that I had to ramble around while she went to the coffee shop to get her morning mocha.

So I went north to 8th Ave N and around and back to the school in order to leave the note. It was silly, but not unappreciated.

And it got me an extra mile on the school roundtripper.

3; 3; 9.5; 167.5

Pleasant loop

2011-10-02T09:52:00.000-07:00

This is an older picture of the L&C+S statue along the River's Edge Trail. The dirt path I've been mentioning on a lot of recent runs (from a parking lot on Giant Springs Road) empties onto the main trail across from this (these?) statue.

Today I went alone (Nora opted out) to the parking area near GS Road. I went west down to the trail, then took a bike trail down to the lowest point where there's a L&C Overlook on a gravel trail. I took that onto East Coulee, then up over the pond.

There were lots of people out there today. Amazingly, there were multiple people fishing from all of the little platforms over the pond. No idea but there must be fish there. The entire Missouri River is about 29 feet behind them and not a soul was fishing there.

Anyway, went through the upper level of GS Park, then across the road and three the Heritage Park to the trail. Took that all the way back, through the GS Road tunnel and to the little trail up to my car (across from the triple statue pictured above).

Felt pretty good, but don't have stamina to go much farther than this yet. I'll keep working on it.

3.5; 14; 6.5; 164.5

Saturday morning bridge to bridge

2011-10-01T09:56:00.000-07:00

This is a run I used to do from the Tribune, only a little shorter. We parked at the dog park and ran north over the 9th Street Bridge, then around to the new federal courthouse on the West Bank. We ran speedily for 15 minutes, then walked 5 to the grizzly bear statue, then ran 10 more to the high trail east of the skate park.

We ran the last half mile or so to the car. Another bizarrely warm day, headed into the 80s. Nebraska-Wisconsin is tonight. C to Helena this afternoon.

3; 10.5; 3; 161

Pre-work with Nora

2011-09-30T09:53:00.000-07:00

Friday we drove to the same spot as I went to in the dark Thursday, and we did a variation of it. We went down, past the Interp Center, up over the pond and into the GS park, then back along the road on what they're calling the "bluffs trail."

We felt good; it was pleasant morning before work.

2.5; 7.5; 53.5; 158

Beautiful loop – and chilly; summer pics

2011-09-29T06:07:00.000-07:00

Nora and the tall man below the round barn at my mother's family farm outside Lincoln, Nebraska. Cousin Don showed us around in what was one of the highlights of our visit to Nebraska.

Our leonine buddy Henry relaxes on a warm summer day. He's also known as the fuzzy pig.

Sister Jo in front of her would-be Montana summer home.

This unflattering pic of the tall man was about 6 days into his summer vacation. I think this was taken while picking wild raspberries at our secret garden.

Nora chugs up the trail in the Sulphur Spring vicinity during a recent run with her tall dad.

I drove to the parking area near the Giant Springs Road tunnel, and ran a nice loop down around the Interpretive Center, through the F&G HQ tunnel, and back with a few little detours thrown in.

I was passed early on by another runner, who graciously warned me he was approaching on my left. It was pitch black out, and the lights from the center made it hard to adjust. Fortunately, the sky was beginning to lighten by the return trip.

Also, it was unexpectedly cold — 36 degrees to be exact. That was not predicted. I hope no more such surprises are coming soon, because my tomatoes need all the time they can get.

I'm posting a small collection of pictures from this past summer.

2.5; 5; 51; 155.5

Predawn loop

2011-09-27T06:35:00.000-07:00

Went north then east, around C's school (where I left a note)and back this morning, feeling pretty good.

Beautiful morning, probably 55 and clear. Light breeze. I'm in the final fourth of Book Five of the Game of Thrones series by George R.R. Martin. It's entertaining, but beginning to plod.

2.5; 2.5; 48.5; 153

Mass posting

2011-09-21T10:43:00.000-07:00

I was on the road last week (to Nebraska) and did several nice trots with Nora, but also did a couple here in town before we went.

I'm going to say 7 for the three pre-trip runs (two down by the river and one a loop from home).

Then, we got to Lincoln, Nebraska, on Friday night. Saturday morning, Nora and I ran from a parking place near the Capitol down to the campus where we saw the massive tailgate setup for the NU-Washington game later in the day. Beautiful morning, overcast and cool.

3; 10; 30.5; 135

Sunday we ran again, this time over to the East Campus from a parking spot near my grandparents' old house on 38th Street. It started raining on us as soon as we started, so we were soaked by the time we were done. Nice little tour of an area I knew well in my misspent youth.

3; 13; 33.5; 138

Monday we went to Wilderneses Park, where it was too muddy to go on trails. I had a bout of asthma (long story related to a scraping taken in my esophagus last week during a EGD scope job), so we cut it short. Drove to Buffalo, Wyo., Tuesday and on to GF Wednesday. If I ever get this computer working again, I'll post some pictures.

1; 14; 34.5; 139

I'm doing something I never do

2011-09-12T05:01:00.000-07:00

And posting before I run this morning. I'm doing it because my old computer is working, and I don't know that it will be by the time I return.

I'm going to the spot above the three-figure statue on the Trail and running along the path on the cliff-tops, like I did at least twice last week.

2; 2; 20.5; 125

Good measure

2011-09-11T04:58:00.000-07:00

Sunday, Nora drove to Lincoln, and we stopped at Rogers Pass and made an attempt on "Remember Me Ridge," the forget-me-not garden atop the first ridge north of the pass. It's about a mile and a half to the first peak, and it's probably 1,500 feet straight up.

Nora chugged right up; I chugged about 13 minutes, then had to walk most of the rest of the way to the top. We gawked on top for five minutes or so, then ran all the way back down. Gorgeous day, in the 60s with a light breeze. A little smoky from fires in the area. It was a great measure of how far I've got to go to get back in the flow. Less than a year ago, I ran not only right to the top in 15, but on to Louie Peak, 5 miles beyond, with nary a stop.

Because of the extreme aerobic going up, I'm calling it:

3; 18.5; 123

Dang ... gotta keep up

2011-09-10T04:51:00.000-07:00

I've waited too long and don't know if I'll remember all the runs. I'll try a few anad post date them, then put the first of this weekend's pair here.

On Saturday, I worked a while, then heard from Nora and she'd already run. I went to Farmers Market and bought, among other things, 15 lbs of Roma tomatoes, which I canned later in the day (7 quarts).

In between the market and canning, I drove to the hilltop across from Rainbow Dam and ran across a summerfallow field down to the upper end of Whitmore Ravine. I followed it down a half mile or so, then turned and retraced my steps back to the hilltop. I ran in this un-peopled area so I could go shirtless and get a little sun on my poor white back. It worked, and I felt good.

3; 15.5; 15.5; 120

Runs from Labor Day until 9/10

2011-09-09T05:03:00.000-07:00

I'm reconstructing these because I could only post occasionally (my computer is dying).

On Sept. 1, I did another round-tripper to C's school, uneventfully: 1.5

Saturday (Labor Day weekend) I worked all day, but first I did one across the RR bridge from the paper, and a big loop on the west bank, checking out new parts of the trail: 2

Sunday didn't run, but Monday Nora and I went to the DNRC land on the east edge of Lincoln — it's a Folf Course now and a nice one — and just wandered around in there, looking it over. It'll be a good one for future reference, because there's FS land east of it that's also runnable. Maybe I'll find the source of Spring Creek yet! 2

One day this week, Nora and I ran from the high Giant Springs Road parking lot and took the little path down to where it gets on the trail. We then ran on the trail to the fence just below Black Eagle Falls, and back. 1.5

Another day this week, Nora and I went to the same lot and ran on the clifftop trail all the way down to where we'd run the day before, then back. 1.5

One morning I went alone to the Black Eagle Park lot, and ran in pitch blackness down to the powerhouse and back. Moon had set, so it was really dark. 2.

Finally, I repeated the clifftop run of earlier in the week, only I went farther. 2

Altogether 12.5; 30; 117

The plodding continues

2011-08-31T13:22:00.000-07:00

Tuesday Nora and I went to the River's Edge Trail and ran from a high parking lot, down to the trail and a little more than half a mile west toward Black Eagle Falls, then back.

Beautiful morning, probably the last day of real summerlike wither (90 or so later in the day).

Today, I did about the same distance, in a roundtripper to C's school and around and back. Much cooler today, just 60 or so.

Nora and I plan to try again tomorrow morning.

3; 18.5; 18.5; 104.5

Well now ... a coupla weeks of running short

2011-08-28T08:09:00.001-07:00

I'll have a picture or two later, but am happy to report that I've gotten through the various foot, cold-bug, toe and other problems and am happily at it again, though it's going to be a slow recovery.

I started while on vacation or just before. Nora and I went a mile one morning in GF, and I went 1.5 another morning. Then, in Lincoln we did another 1 miler, I did a 1.5, then a 3.5 (very slow, looking for the source of our Spring Creek). I heard herons and a small coyote pup to the north one of the mornings, then Nora and I did a 1.5 in the same spot and actually saw the pup. Let's see, that's a total of 10 from Aug. 8 to 20.

Back in GF this past week, I did a 2 (to C's school and back, roundabout), and a couple of ones from a parking lot out to Tail Race Island, one of them with Nora.

Finally, this morning I did a 1.5 from the office, over the RR bridge and in a loop on the new west bank stretch of trail, including right on the bank. That brings me to a total of 15.5 so far in August. Holy cow! That takes me over 100 for the year (horrible, but better than nothing).

15.5; 15.5; 15.5; 101.5

I am accursed!

2011-07-12T19:56:00.001-07:00

SO ... I recovered from the broken foot, the series of work pressures, the trips to Scotland and West Virginia, and came back "ready to run."

The rivers are at flood level, the weather cool, etc. So I took off and ran, one day earlier this month (or was it last?), two whole miles, viewing the awesome rivers.

The next day, I came down with a very sucky sinus infection. Every time I run I seem to get sick; injured; preoccupied.

But now I'm good. I just finished a 5-day z-pack of antibiotics, I feel good, I've moved my office and I'm dying to get into the mountains on a trail.

Tomorrow, I fumble shortly on the river. I'll continue that and diet, too. By August, I shall once again be a mountain runner!

2; 2; 2; and, holy shit: I haven't even run 100 yet this year: 86.

This must be rectified. I'm not old!!!

Back from the Tall Man European Tour

2011-05-02T07:42:00.000-07:00

This one is posted earlier, but I liked it: Tall man greetings from high in the Castle at Dunnottar, on Scotland's North Sea coast. This was last Friday.

C looks more lovely than terrified as she gazes out a window at Dunnattor Castle south of Aberdeen in Scotland.

Howdy from the West Sands Beach of St. Andrews on my last day of running there. The tide was out.

This one also was posted earlier, but worth repeating: Howdy from a fairway bunker on the Old Course at St. Andrews.

Hello from the West Sands Beach of St. Andrews, Scotland, site of the opening scene in the film Chariots of Fire and the acquaintanceship of Will and Kate.

This isn't a short woman, it's C, standing before the enormous Roman Gate in Firenze, about half a block down from Brandimarte's silver shop.

A different tall man, Clinton Kelly of What Not to Wear fame, stands just ahead of our spot in the queue at the Pitti Palace to see, among other things, an exhibit on high-dress costumes over the ages (mostly 20th century, and a few taken from the bodies of a Medici family from almost 5 centuries ago).

Greetings from the battlements of the "castel" at Certaldo, southwest of Florence in Toscany.

Went to the north shore and parked above Black Eagle Dam and did a sneak run into the ACM property, staying on pavement when possible because
of mud. It sleeted a lot yesterday, and it was in the 30s today, but sunny. Supposed to reach into the 60s.

I was going to stay away from work until afternoon because I'm night reader, but in light of Bin Laden's death, I'd better wrap up here and head on in, unpacking later.

We got home uneventfully around midnight Saturday and did chores and napped most of the day Sunday. Probably take one more day to eradicate the jetlag.

I managed to secure my tickets to attend Elizabeth Swi's wedding in less than three weeks in West Virginia. That'll be fun; I'll have to work hard to get into some kind of shape to run in the hills of the Virginias with Bert.

4; 4; 4; 84

One last time

2011-04-29T06:20:00.000-07:00

The tall man says howdy from the North Sea, harbor of Castle Dunnattor, on the eve of the holiest of weddings, that of Kate and Will. Ooh hah.

A rare sighting of the tall man hisself, as well as the even more elusive C, his lovely wife, on the cliffs near Dunnattor Castle in the Scottish Highlands.

Watch for this. An obnoxious bunch of Americans were at Dunnattor to shoot pics of bitchy looking women wearing Scots jewelry. As we watched, an attendant yelled at some pounds-paying tourist to get "out of the shot." If I'd been that tourist, I'd have yelled back: "Eat a bowl of fuck."

There'll always be an England (and Scotland).

Don't know who she was, but a woman atop a horse, trailing another, penetrated the fog on Thursday morning. Nice.

The large and archless print of the tall man on the Chariots of Fire beach of St. Andrews.

This is a tall man on the old course, one of the famous sand potholes.

In the tidal wash, there were quite a few of these, which must be related: perfectly symmetrical holes with a little worm-like pile of sand next door. Were I a proper sea person, I'd know what the hell they are.

I have added a handful of pictures from the beach runs and our visit to the Castle Dunnattor; I'll put up more when we get home.

I truncated Thursday's run to a mere 3 miler, thinking to go longer this morning, but the Will and Kate craziness was already ramping up three hours before the blessed event, so that, coupled with the cold onshore wind, prompted me to bag it today.

The wedding was fun to watch ... we staked out a table at a pub and watched with a couple hundred of our best friends. I'll have a picture or two from that, too.

We get up at the crack of dawn to head home in the morning, so am cooking ravs and salad for "the last supper."

We get back to GF on the late (11 p.m. or so) flight.

3; 11.5; 11.5; 80

Did it again

2011-04-27T10:58:00.000-07:00

I went half a mile farther today, and still feel good.

The weather is unbelievable: today is well into the 60s and clear and sunny ... not like GF, I hear.

I will post more pictures when I get back, but probably just in a lump when I get some time -- maybe on Sunday when I'm recovering from jetlag.

Tomorrow I'm going to spend a little time visiting the Old Course, the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, et. Just to say I did, more than anything.

I'm getting good at driving on the left side; running the manual shift with the left hand is a bit interesting, too.

More to come;

3.5; 8.5; 8.5; 77

And again

2011-04-26T02:02:00.000-07:00

I was able to photograph a tall man this morning on the same beach, because it was sunny. I actually went half a mile farther on the way out, so made a total of 3 today, very comfortably. Hooray.

I'll post the picture when I get a chance to download it, probably tomorrow. I shot one over one of the pothole-like bunkers on the 18th fairway of the Old Course. There were golfers out there this morning.

3; 5; 5; 73.5

Back with a splash

2011-04-25T02:51:00.000-07:00

Imagine the tall man in a gauzy white blouse and slacks, running barefoot with a bunch of other Anglo-Saxon hunks along this strand. That's the opening scene of Chariots of Fire, which was filmed on this spot more than 30 years ago ... the movie debuted 30 years ago in about a week. Now imagine the tall (and overweight) man in his North Face zip-off shorts and a yellow t-shirt, slogging along with a smile on his face. The latter image is the more accurate in reality, but not in my mind.

The beach behind me as I head out has the village of St. Andrews as a backdrop.

The sea was moderately wavy, at mid-tide. A tanker lies at anchor off Dundee.

The prints of my big, flat feet on the West Sands beach of St. Andrews, there being no sunlight with which to line up a "tall man."

On this day within a week or two of the 30th anniversary of the date on which the film Chariots of Fire debuted, what better place to resume my running regimen (after about two months with a broken foot and a major vacation) than on the beach at St. Andrews, Scotland — the exact spot where the famous opening scene of the movie was shot.

It's a gorgeous (for Scotland) day, probably 55 degrees and slightly overcast. I didn't bring my running gear on the trip, wanting to preserve my feet for the not-inconsiderable walking that Charlotte and I had planned. But miles of flat beach with some of the finest, powdery sand I've ever seen was too much to resist. C has a sore throat and is wanting simply to relax for a few days, so I'm going to run in the mornings and take day trips to Culloden, Pitlochy (home of a fine single malt), and the North Sea coast (hurt me!).

I will have lots of pictures upon my return, but I will post only the day's run for now. The beach lies just north of the village of St. Andrews, between the North Sea and the Old Course of the world's most famous golf links (hurt me again: I didn't bring any clubs).

Not wanting to hurt myself, I ran a mile north to a point, then back to the car, which I left along the golf course.

FYI the trip is going great and, of course, ending too soon (we fly back on Saturday, the day after the royal wedding, to which we've had to RSVP in the negative, not wanting to tire ourselves before the trans-Atlantic flight).

2; 2; 2; 70.5

Feeling guilty

2011-03-02T18:32:00.000-08:00

I don't despair of my exercise, what with almost daily shoveling of walks, etc., but I do marvel at the steady upward movement on the counter on my blog — I can only assume that you, my three regular readers, check in whether I've posted anything or not.

That makes me feel guilty, because I'm not keeping up my end of the ... bargain? Anyway, the weather continues abominable, work is oppressive because of furloughs and illnesses (I've gone to work at my usual 7 or 7:30 a.m. every day this week, and wound up working an early night shift to boot to fill in for the absence of a "night reader" at the paper, which means two 12-13-hour shifts out of three shifts since returning from my own unpaid furlough.).

I'm not running, not because of the weather (it's not ridiculous, just extreme right now — highs in the teens or 20s and lows around zed), but because of the foot ailment I mentioned in my last post. Fortunately, I'm seeing a doc tomorrow about that and we'll see, as sister-in-law Joan says, is the sitch.

For your entertainment in my running absence — it's painful, I know — let me direct you to what is quite possibly the best blog on the entire World Wide Web, which you can find right here.

In addition to Allie's wonderful stories, I highly recommend the "Awesome Button" on the right side of her posts. It's not an inaccurate name. The last one I clicked on was "Super-useless Superpowers" and it was an absolute hoot.

Enjoy; I'll report on what the doc says.

Stifled

2011-02-26T15:49:00.000-08:00

For the three of you who follow this on occasion, I'm quite "let out" by the weather and, I'm sad to say, a mysterious foot ailment that imitates a broken bone.

The weather has been abominable for a runner, too cold and too much snow. Breezes, near-record lows (in the vicinity of 25 below) and snow in the 1-foot range, of course totally unmelted and therefore irregular and slippery in the streets. Nevertheless, on furlough, I've been on my feet for the whole time, working in the garage, the kitchen, the house and the former storage unit (which I've emptied and canceled, our bank account be praised).

The foot thing is bothersome, especially with the prospect of running in Scotland and Italy in April. I plan to visit an orthopedic doc as soon as I can to see what's up.

I warn you that my language is apt to make a change for the flowery in the coming months as I'm listening, courtesy of the Montana library system, to the much-loved Patrick O'Brian novels, read by none other than Simon Vance, one of the very best of that trade.

I'll check in again in the next week or so, depending on my foot.

Mose

Ugh

2011-02-18T06:55:00.000-08:00

A one-hour dumping of six inches of snow Wednesday night precluded a run Thursday. On my way home last night, I cruised the river to see if they had the trail open yet, and they do. So ... today I tried to repeat Wednesday's nice little jaunt from the LCIC to the overlook. It quickly became evident, however, that it was a mistake.

The 5 degree temperature wasn't a problem; the 20 mph east wind and heavy snow were. I followed the Wednesday route to the RET behind the Fish and Game headquarters, but sense got the better of me and I returned to the car. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.

I forgot to mention that there sounded to be a family of owls in the area just south of the aforementioned F&G HQ. It'll be fun to keep an eye on that as the season progresses.

1; 9; 29; 68.5

Still dark, cooler

2011-02-16T08:27:00.001-08:00

I parked at the gated entry to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and got on the trail there, looping around, going under GS Road on the east coulee spur trail, then going on the trail all the way to the crossing by the Upper Rainbow Overlook.

It's a good route, quiet, a little hilly (mostly on the "out" portion) and slightly scenic. It was pitch black again, being overcast and a little ways out of town, so I again used the headlamp.

About the only things I saw were the prework traffic over on the other side (new powerhouse ... hundreds of workers, coming in at 6:30 or so) and one tiny mouse that skittered across the trail in front of me.

Felt good.

4; 8; 28; 67.5

Really dark

2011-02-15T05:39:00.000-08:00

I set out to run yesterday down in the Giant Springs-to-Black Eagle Dam area, but it was too dark without a headlamp — the moon was down and the sky a high but thick overcast. I could barely even see my feet, much less the path.

Today was a little better (the 2/3 moon set just before I got started ... bodes well for the next couple of days if it stays clear), and I remembered my headlamp. I ran from the parking area just east of the Giant Springs Road tunnel to a spot somewhere just short of the 9th Street Bridge.

It's a gorgeous morning, about 40-45 with a light breeze and no clouds to speak of. The setting moon was pretty ... and I hadn't paid attention to its track this time of year. Last night when I saw it sometime before bed, it was due south and fairly high in the sky. This morning it was setting a good 30 degrees north of west. I'm used to seeing it set more or less in the due west (autumn "harvest" moons).

Anyway, felt pretty good.

4; 4; 24; 63.5

Reprieve

2011-02-10T05:35:00.000-08:00

After several days of deep snow and very cold (below zero), the chinook arrived yesterday and this morning it's in the high 20s. I put on my fleece and went to the dog part lot and ran around the bridge-to-bridge route, clockwise.

Even with wool and fleece, it was chilly going into a 25 mph wind, but it was toasty going with it.

Run was uneventful except for a) being passed by another runner in the vicinity of the grizzly bear statue — he went about to the waste treatment plant driveway, then doubled back on the parkside road, where I saw him again, and b) a small adrenaline rush when the ducks huddled beneath the streamside bushes burst, all at once, out of the water as I passed. I should be used to that, but it surprises me every time.

4; 4; 20; 59.5

Free morning

2011-02-04T09:18:00.000-08:00

The old stack just below Giant Springs was catching early morning sun as I started out on today's little jaunt.

The scene at the construction site for the new Rainbow powerhouse hasn't changed much lately to the untrained eye, but it's still impressive. This is, presumably, the flume from the dam to the site of the powerhouse.

Between the construction at the Rainbow Overlook, where a small landslide undercut the viewing platform, and the remnant drifts from the snows of the past month or so, this little stretch of trail through the overlook requires some careful stepping.

Crooked, aka Horseshoe, Falls at about 8:30 a.m. Friday.

The Highwood Mountains look a little wintry. This was shot from the easternmost point on today's run.

A small flight of geese passed right over me when I was on the hillside above the tunnel.

I'm working the night shift today, so I slept in a bit, then drove down to Heritage State Park and ran eastward on the trail. It's a beautiful day, overcast but the sun was peaking under the cloud cover when I began. Thus the picture of the old stack bathed in golden, winter sunlight. The temperature is about 45, but there's a stiff wind from the southwest that makes it slightly uncomfortable when running into it.

I went through the tunnel, then up the hill and through the Rainbow Overlook, east to the point at which the trail goes more steeply downhill to the Crooked Falls Overlook. I bushwhacked across to the upper, and somewhat muddy, road to get a clear shot at the Highwoods. Then I simply returned.

I met one older fella (my age? I can't tell anymore) all bundled up and walking his old yeller dog. He commented that he's been searching for a stretch of trail that's downhill both ways. I laughed and agreed with him as I passed.

Pleasant run, and felt pretty good.

4.5; 16; 16; 55.5

Bridge to bridge

2011-02-03T05:17:00.000-08:00

Today, I remembered to park within the circle of the bridge-to-bridge route — at the dog park lot, in fact. From there I ran the short distance to the 9th Street Bridge, then went across it and turned west into the teeth of a strong wind (24 mph, according to the NOAA).

Fortunately it's not that cold — also 24. I once again spooked the large gathering of mostly ducks (a few geese) on the small piece of water along the bank near the refinery and the waste treatment plant.

Met one person of indeterminate gender in the vicinity of the grizzly bear statue across from Sacajawea Island. He/she was walking a large Labrador who broke from her to come check me out. Friendly, though. The master was so bundled in coat, scarf and hat that I couldn't make out much of anything about him/her.

Nora and I went to Black Swan last night. I would describe it as ... interesting, one of those life paralleling art stories with some madness and fright thrown in for good measure. One result was a later-than-usual bed time, and thus less-than-usual sleep. I may nap before work this morning.

4; 11.5; 11.5; 51

Staying on north bank

2011-02-02T05:53:00.000-08:00

... because it seems to have less snow and ice on it (more direct sun, I think). I drove to the parking pullout east of the 15th Street Bridge and ran westward in the dark, getting around to almost the parking lot where the rowing club used to have its boathouse. I was considering a bridge-to-bridge route but then realized I'd parked about 2/3 of a mile east of the loop, and didn't think I was up to a 5+ run. It was upon that realization that I turned around instead of going down to the Central West bridge.

Anyway, needless to say no one else was out. It was about 10 degrees when I started, with a breeze that took the wind chill to about 10 or 15 below. I wore my old ski mask, a stocking cap, woolen mittens over my thin gloves and a moderately heavy fleece pullover, and I felt fine.

I think the wind switched while I was out, to being stronger but from the southwest, which meant warmer. And indeed my car thermometer showed 15 when I got back to the car. Felt good.

4.5; 7.5; 7.5; 46

Couple of dull ones

2011-02-01T05:46:00.000-08:00

Monday I went to the gym and the actual gym, where I like (like being a relative term) to run around in circles, was filled with some kind of bootcamp group doing all sorts of disruptive exercises. Also, I was feeling a bit like I was coming down with something, so I went to the treadmills and put in a routine couple of miles before bailing out.

Tuesday, I went back (Did I mention that the temp outside both mornings was in the 15-25 below zero range? That's why I was going to the gym.) and the gym was empty except for Becky Nelson, who's doing an incredible training regimen in preparation for the Boston marathon. So while I trot slowly around, let's see... today it was 51 laps, she's standing long jumping, squat thrusting, jumping jacking, hopping backward on one foot and running from station to station — all while carrying a five-pound (at least) weight in each hand. It's humbling!

2; 2; 38.5; 38.5
3; 3; 3; 41.5

Oldie but goodie

2011-01-29T19:30:00.001-08:00

I did an old route shortly after sunrise today, what I used to call the "bridge to bridge" route. I park somewhere between the Central and 9th avenue bridges, then run to a bridge, across down to the other bridge, across and back to where I parked.

Today, I parked in the new lot north of the new federal courthouse and ran downstream to the bridge, across, and back to what's now called the Weissman bridge (because that family had bought it for scrap, then donated it to the city for, presumably, a nice tax break).

Anyway it was pleasant enough — 20-25 degrees, a breeze and overcast. The weirdest thing was that I spooked a ... covey? flock? ... a group of rooster pheasants from the streambank bushes adjacent to Sacajawea Island. They all flew to the island. Have to bring a shotgun with me sometime.

4; 13.5; 36.5; 36.5

Completing the trail

2011-01-27T05:46:00.000-08:00

Today I started at the Rainbow Falls overlook and went west to the Fish & Game headquarters, including crossing the flooded/icy patch that turned me around yesterday. By so doing I've now covered the whole trail from the cabooses to the overlook, in small pieces, since resuming my outdoor runs.

It's a little warmer (43-44), but still windy, so today I wore a stocking cap instead of the ear/head band I've been wearing (and freezing my bean). Again, no one else was on the trail, but the workers on the Rainbow powerhouse project were showing up. There was more activity today than usual, including a small busload of hard-hatted workers arriving at the dam on my side of the river.

I saw a deer at the upper end of Giant Springs Road; otherwise, no wildlife. This is the stretch in which I've seen porcupine and fox in the past, but not today.

Continued my incremental distance increase.

3.5; 9.5; 32.5; 32.5

And again...

2011-01-26T06:10:00.001-08:00

Today's stretch of trail, run in the dark, was from a pullout near the Giant Springs Road tunnel. I ran back to it, then got on the trail and went east, past the Lewis and Clark Center, the F&G HQ, the park and the old smelter stack. Finally reached a patch of flooded trail.

It was frozen, but not solid, so I chose that spot to turn around. I wound around on the Heritage Park roadway/parking areas until reaching its entrance. I went out through it and returned, against the substantial wind, on the road itself. Only met a couple of cars.

The temp was in the high 30s, and so was the wind. A few gusts on the return trip literally stopped me in my tracks (as slowly as I'm running, that's not saying much). According to the NWS, the guests are only in the low 30s, but that one was stronger, I'm sure.

Felt fine; distance similar to yesterday (3+). I am not surprised to note that I didn't win our "Chopped" game at the office — some of the other entries were truly excellent; mine was eminently edible but excellent? Nah.

3; 6; 29; 29

Different stretch

2011-01-25T05:04:00.000-08:00

Today, I drove to the same spot as my first outdoor run of the year (parking space east of 15th Street Bridge), got on the trail east of there and ran west, past the refinery, the waste treatment plant, Sacajawea Island, etc., then back.

Felt good; disturbed some geese and ducks roosting in the bankside rushes, and spooked a bunny in the vicinity of the refinery. Footing was a little touchy, because although the temp was in the high 30s, there was a sheen of thin ice across the trail in spots. I was very careful.

Today is the "Chopped" showdown at work. Should be fun. I'll report back later.

3; 3; 26; 26

Back to the river, with pics II

2011-01-23T09:43:00.001-08:00

Tall man is back! This is howdy on the new stretch of trail beneath the bridges on the West Bank of the Missouri River — a very icy place right now, as you'll see.

Grinding from the ice jam is removing some riparian foliage, but this piece of work on the west bank was done by Bucky Beaver.

If this isn't a winter riverbank scene, I don't know what is. Amazingly, it wasn't cold — probably 40 degrees (but a little breezy).

This west bank bench is an island in the ice in front of the Missouri River Federal Courthouse, looking east toward the old Milwaukee Road depot.

The footing beneath the Central West Bridge was, to put it mildly, slippery. This is about a 1-foot thick, clear sheet of ice where the river, with the ice jammed, has left its banks a bit.

This fat old goose was hiding in a bush on the ice below the railroad bridge.

Went to the West Bank and the new stretch of trail that goes under the Central West and railroad bridges. Parts of it, especially under the bridges, were overflowed by slick, rolling and sometimes sloped ice.

Gorgeous day, though, 40 and windy. I felt great; worked my way up to the next integer of distance.

3; 11.5; 23;23

Coldfinger ...

2011-01-22T20:13:00.001-08:00

... he's the man, the man with the slimy touch, the ...

I'm going to call these little beauties coldfingers. The row on the left is stuffed with black-bean refritos; the next is Runza ala Mose (kicked up a notch); the third from the left is the teryaki whale snot (tofu); and the fourth is a straight refritos-stuffed fingerling. The bread is made of the usual stuff, but with a couple of varieties of beer instead of milk and water.

It's all part of an in-office version of "Chopped", a food network show in which people make food out of unlikely ingredients. My drawing called for Pabst Blue Ribbon beer and tofu. I'm happy with the results!

No run today, btw. I've been having fun with food.

Woo hoo: Back outside

2011-01-21T07:24:00.000-08:00

The streets are still no good, but the boredom of the treadmills, combined with temps in the low 30s and an almost-full moon, drove me to the River's Edge Trail this morning for my first outside run in several months.

I felt great, but kept the distance to something consistent with my progression of the past couple of weeks. I drove to a parking area on the north end of 15th Street Bridge, and ran on the north shore trail from there down to the turnaround at the island park below Black Eagle Falls.

It was beautiful, I felt good and the trail was in pretty good shape (only a few icy spots). I'm revisiting the Belgariad series, having finished a dozen Bujold books that I and my sister in Nebraska enjoyed immensely. I have no book credits at the moment, so decided to go back to the world of Belgarath, which I enjoyed once before. If I get a chance, I might check this weekend into the possibilities on the Library's free download books.

2.5; 8.5; 20; 20

On track with a short pause

2011-01-20T12:29:00.000-08:00

I did a rather uncomfortable 2-miler on Tuesday, and was unaccountably off my feed for about 36 hours — OK to the point of working, etc., and no coughing or anything, but just ... queezy, with minor hot flashes. I suppose it was flirting with something, but it passed and I progressed today all the way to 2.1.

What made today's nice was that I got off the blinkin' treadmill at 1.6 and did the last half mile in loops around the gym. I like that a lot better. Tomorrow, I think I'll do the full 2.2 (or more if I feel like it) in the gym. In fact, it's windy and warmer today; I might even venture out under the nearly full moon (which was spectacular as it rose last night, btw) on the River's Edge Trail Friday morning.

4; 6; 17.5; 17.5

Why I'm on a treadmill

2011-01-17T05:31:00.001-08:00

Here's the view of the street from the area of the front gate, about a week ago.

This was the view of the house from the street about a week ago, and more is predicted. It was warm (50) yesterday, but short-lived. It's 8 this morning.

Just try to walk on this wet, rounded ice. This is my driveway outside the garage on the alley.

And of course dishes such as this potato, cheese and cream casserole don't help.

Running outside still impractical and unnecessary, I've worked my way up to 1.9 on the treadmill, which means I enter the realm of "2" this week. I skipped today (MLK day) because we (I) inadvertently slept in.

That means in the Tuesday-Friday visits to the gym (I skipped the weekend in favor of working on a family budget), I covered a grand total of 7 miles (1.6, 1.7, 1.8 and 1.9).

7; 8.5; 13.5; 13.5

Chug chug chug ...

2011-01-10T16:50:00.000-08:00

... said the little (OK, the big, overweight) engine that could. Today, with outside temp around zero and windy, and with a dusting of dry, dry snow over glare ice, I did a mile and a half on the treadmill.

Might have been able to go more, but I am determined to stick to my slow and easy steps. The only variation from that is that I kick it up beyond even my in-shape pace for little bursts on the machine. For example, I did a quarter today at a 7:40 pace, not a blisterer by the standards of my youth, but quick nonetheless.

Will be back tomorrow. BCS championship game tonight. Go Ducks! (I hate the SEC)

1.5; 1.5; 6.5; 6.5

A little more

2011-01-09T08:39:00.000-08:00

I let the stiffness of renewal pass (a couple of days), then did 1.2 on Friday and 1.3 on Sunday, all on the treadmill. I tend to get bored on treadmills, even listening to books, so I wind up screwing around with the speed and slope, often wearing myself out sooner than I'd wanted to.

Today, for example, after slogging 8 or 9 tenths of a mile at a moderate-to-slow pace, I kicked it up to 9 for a couple of tenths and to 7:50 or so for the last couple. That gets the old heart rate up.

As usual, the gym was not crowded on a Sunday morning. As noted before, these posts are going to be boring (even more than usual) until I get back outside, which ain't gonna happen for a week or two anyway. The streets, walks and trails are as treacherous right now as I've ever seen them — thick, bumpy (or glazed) ice everywhere, with a skiff of new, dry snow over the top. Walking is a challenge; running might be fatal.

2.5; 5; 5; 5

Easing back

2011-01-04T07:35:00.000-08:00

The two readers of this blog who noticed that I hadn't run in three full months should note that I'm easing back into it after an autumn of sloth. Not entirely, of course — I had a pretty severe sinus infection, did a little traveling, and was coping with having a household completely torn up for the kitchen remodel, all of which teamed up to give me a three-month case of inertia.

Happy to report that I've broken it, but the comeback will be slower than previous hiati (hiatuses?). That's partly because I'm older, but mostly because I'm carting an extra layer of tubbiness, compounded by a right foot whose lifelong flatness is coming home to roost. I'm planning a visit to a reputable foot doctor (no more orthotics, please) in the next month or two to size it up. In the meantime, I need to wear my shoe a little on the loose side. Hope to be back on the trail by February, however.

Oh, my other excuse (and it's a good one) is that we've had more than a foot of snow, including variably ice, slush, and potholes, on the ground since Thanksgiving. And on top of that, for a few weeks there it was awfully cold (though not by my usual standard).

Anyway, I did a mile and change on a treadmill both yesterday and today, and felt fine but out of shape. I'm going to add a tenth of a mile or so every day — more if I feel up to it. I'll have pictures as soon as I start running outdoors again.

2.5; 2.5; 2.5; 2.5 (that was easy)

Ta-da. The Christmas Kitchen

2010-12-24T14:22:00.001-08:00

Our kitchen was finally completed on Thursday, two days before Christmas. It's been about two months since we had a stove, sinks and refrigerator. We like it. (As usual, click on the pictures to see in more detail)

Much better than "There's no place like home," this sign is prominently displayed in the new kitchen. Thanks Den!

Looking over the island toward the back door, with the coffee bar, fridge and Charlotte's gingerbread people in the works.

Over the island and to the ... woods? Anyway, check the size of that sink in the island. A 21-quart canner fits in it easily.

From the middle of the living room over the island toward the stove and east wall.

The view from the back door toward the island and the living room picture window. Note the cold-looking snow outside. Still there.

The cupboard door pulls are like little door knockers.

Drawer pulls on the cabinets.

Dormancy and an excuse

2010-12-09T04:11:00.000-08:00

Tall man (he's ba-a-ack) says howdy from the trail below the Giant Springs Road.

Now that is hoarfrost.

Nora, Sacagawea, Lewis and Clark: A statue.

We went straight down to the river from the statues and followed the informal trail there toward the L&C Interpretive Center.

The excuse mentioned above is for a New Year's resolution — I'm over my cold (finally) and the only thing keeping me from pounding the streets is sloth, busyness at work and a foot of snow.

I really will get back to it, but this has been one of the longest non-injury breaks of my running career. Amazing how inertia reaches up and grabs you when you give it a chance. I've been going to work at 5:30-6:30 a.m. and getting a lot done that way, which is good because it seems there's always more to do.

I'm thinking that, too, will calm down a bit. The kitchen's nearly done, but we got bad news yesterday: the countertop won't be done until during the week before Christmas. That means the kitchen won't be quite ready to dazzle the returning girls. Damn.

The pictures above are from a lovely weekend walk along the river with Nora. The hoarfrost was about as thick as I've ever seen. Gorgeous day.

Ho boy

2010-11-17T19:10:00.000-08:00

I've been active, but not running for the past month and a half — lots of small travel, major projects at home and at cabin, and, for the past couple of weeks, a rather severe sinus infection/cold/flu.

All the same, I'm still chipper, working hard, enjoying life and, when possible, exercising mildly.

I post here a few pictures of some of my (or our contractors') activities in the past month or so. I swear I'm going to be running before the end of this month.

Mose

Here's the hole where our kitchen used to be. It will be splendid when done, in a couple of weeks we hope!

Here's what the construction has done to the living room, which, under the plastic, is also our main food-staging area (refrigerator and microwave, plus cutting boards and some utensils).

In Lincoln, Montana, here's the nearly completed shower end of the new, capacious bathroom of the cabin, complete with glass-tile lighting.

This is little Julia with Big Chub, during Jules' too-short October break before leaving for Chile, where she's now kayaking her big heart out.

Here's C's new "home office" during construction. She likes it, and it IS rather scenic.

What Swi and I could see from our seats at the NU-Missouri game early in November. It was a great game to attend, a watershed (so far) for the Huskers.

Routine loops

2010-09-29T05:35:00.000-07:00

Nice morning, half moon, 45 degrees, no wind. I ran loop-the-loops around the general neighborhoods, including passing by the school as C arrived for work. The school and my office both have been miserable the past couple of days, because of no AC and outside temps of 85 or so — with the autumnal sun cooking the windows. My particular office has no air vent in it, and the south wall is all window, so it's like a greenhouse. Even my computer has been objecting, with a blinking monitor.

The forecast is looking good so far for our three nights in a fire lookout. In fact, if the daytime wind continues we could well spot a fire or two up there.

Anyway, today there was a little traffic, but it all seemed to coincide with my needs to cross streets, so that I wound up waiting about four times. It doesn't seem like a lot, but considering that it's between 5 and 5:30 a.m. and there are NO other vehicles in sight, it's odd.

Saw several pedestrians, some just walking in pairs, and a couple out walking dogs. Most notable today was five streetlights blinked out — none of that blinking and fading today — they blinked flat out just as I passed beneath them. Bizarre.

Felt good; peeled and quartered 25 lbs of roma tomatoes last night (bought from Cal at Fairhaven Colony). I'll can them tonight, some with onion and oregano, others just plain old tomato.

I'll have a similar amount of my own tomatoes to do this weekend.

5; 5; 52.5; 661

Indian summer

2010-09-24T05:44:00.001-07:00

Now that it's fall, we're finally going to get some of the hot weather that my tomatoes have been yearning for. As I ran today, the temp was a balmy 54 with a stiff SW breeze. I did a full, reverse cemetery route.

Probably the oddest thing today was that, despite the normal hour, I encountered almost no traffic, anywhere. I know it's always just a fluke of timing, but lately it has seemed like traffic was much heavier than it used to be. Not today. Even 10th Ave was deserted.

I encountered a guy walking just south of the school, and another near the clinic. There was activity around the McLaughlin Center, including someone walking a pair of huge dogs.

About the only other thing passing as "excitement" on the run was that Mercy Flight revved up and took off as I passed. Always kind of cool to watch, especially in the dark. It headed out of sight straight south. Surprising how long I could watch it (that's the direction I was running).

Moderated a combined forum for sheriff and county commissioner candidates last night. It went as well as could be expected. Probably about a hundred people in attendance.

5; 15.5; 47.5; 656

Routine

2010-09-22T05:44:00.000-07:00

It continues to be intermittently rainy, with almost a quarter inch over night and mist still this morning. I slogged in the neighborhoods, uneventfully by any standard.

I met a couple of pedestrians, one walking a dog. Also there was quite a bit of traffic this morning throughout the route, which took me to school, over to a one-way, east to 40th and south to 10th Ave, then stair-stepped back home. It's pleasant out, 43 degrees and calm. Actually had a little problem with glasses steaming over.

I've been despairing of my tomatoes, because it's been so cool and wet. I have a million of them, but only a handful ripening each day. Hope springs, however: I see the forecast for this weekend is for highs well into the 80s. Bring on the Indian summer!

I had a call from Cal at Fairhaven Colony, asking if I wanted any tomatoes (I bought a couple of boxes full from him last year). I think I will, if only to can the tomatoes by themselves. And if the forecast holds, I'll have a bunch of my own to boot. Hooray: better late than never.

5; 10.5; 42.5; 650.5

What a difference

2010-09-21T05:33:00.000-07:00

What a difference the wind makes when the temp is in the high 30s. That's what the temp was Friday when the wind was blowing 15-20 mph from the northeast, and I was cold in spite of wearing gloves, a headband and a long T-shirt. Today, it's 39 and calm, and I went bare-headed and gloveless and was perfectly comfortable.

I did a reverse version of the west River's Edge Trail route, stair-stepping down to 11th and River Drive, then following the trail around to the cop shop. I returned via the History Museum and 5th Ave S.

I saw a bicyclist on that last stretch and one person walking near the police station. Four street lights went out overhead, so I must be getting the old magic back.

My experiment of running sans-orthotics seems to be working. I felt good today and the foot that's been bothering me was better.

Speaking of ailments, I started the oral fungicide last night; I hope it acts quickly to remediate the incessant, full-body itching that has befallen me since the patch of itch that started under my watch two months ago went systemic a week or two ago.

5.5; 5.5; 37.5; 645.5

Called on account of rain

2010-09-20T05:42:00.000-07:00

A big thunderstorm blew through here a couple of hours ago, and it's still sprinkling. I am using that as my excuse for not running this morning, but the truth of the matter is that I am skipping on account of sleep... I tried a Benadryl before bed last night to see if my systemic itching might be squelched. It isn't, but I was more than happy to roll over and go back to sleep this morning.

Looks as if we got another quarter inch or so, so the storm's bark was worse than its bite. Still, it continues the string of wet, cool days and nights that has to have farmers on the brink of madness (significant amounts of crops, especially spring wheat, are beginning to sprout in the soggy fields).

Sunday we delivered some construction materials to Bill, the friend who's remaking the bathroom and overall plumbing at the cabin. Progress is being made. We've had even more rain up there than down here. Weird late summer.

I'm enjoying my breakfast, however — steel-cut oatmeal, huckleberries and banana.

Chilly, followed by a treat

2010-09-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

It's in the high 30s this morning, with a 15 mph wind from the northeast. It is, fortunately, overcast, which means it isn't apt to freeze this morning. It rained a fair amount overnight, and more is predicted today — snow in the mountains, including Lincoln.

C and I are thinking of running up to Lincoln this evening for a quick overnighter, to deliver some plumbing supplies and a few other odds and ends, and to bring back my bicycle, which I've left up there for the summer.

Today, because of the earlier rain, I stayed on pavement, just going south and east to 9th Ave S and, about 42nd St. I felt good, and my foot felt better — tried it without the orthotics that I've used for 10 years or more. I think that I've just bruised the ball of the right foot and the orthotic aggravates it, not that the orthotic caused the problem.

I met three or four people out walking, which is moderately surprising (I got an uncharacteristically early start). A couple exchanged greetings.

The treat I mentioned in the "headline" is that C made a big batch of steel-cut oatmeal last night with a little cream and maple syrup in it. This morning I nuked a small bowl of it, then added a handful of huckleberries and a sliced up banana. Oh my!

5; 20; 32; 640

Full cemetery

2010-09-16T05:48:00.000-07:00

Clouded over last night so was fairly warm this morning — 55-60 depending on locale — with a fairly stout southwest breeze. I felt great except for a sore right foot. I'm thinking that it gets that way from the hard-soled sandal-like shoes I've been wearing to work in the past month or two, and that perhaps some of Dr Scholl's gel soles might help. I know my feet are more comfortable in Crocs, but they look so silly that I daren't wear them to work.

Anyway, in spite of that I did a full cemetery run and felt otherwise good. Exchanged greetings with one guy walking toward me as I was on the northerly leg. Otherwise saw no one else except the morning shift arriving at Centene, a medical records business.

Forecast is to be much colder and rainy tomorrow: high today 70, tomorrow 44. Lows the next few nights might reach the 30s — risky to the garden if it happens to clear off. I'll have to gather the old blankets, etc. There's actually a winter storm watch on the northern Rocky Mountain Front.

Heard at least one owl in the cemetery.

5.5; 15; 27; 635

Not exciting

2010-09-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

I skipped yesterday to do my regular, monitoring blood test. Today, I did a routine, slightly shortened route that looped me through GF's medical "campus."

It was actually the equivalent of the cemetery route, only I bailed out about half a mile short of the cemetery. I saw one other runner and several walkers. Traffic seemed heavier than usual for the 5 o'clock hour. Maybe everyone had trouble sleeping. Or maybe there was some loud noise that woke up half of Great Falls. Don't know.

It did look like it rained sometime in the night, because the streets were slightly wet. Oddest thing was a small crew of people out mowing and trimming the landscaping at the new orthopedic center at 5:30 in the morning — in the dark. Must have a busy day ahead of them.

4; 9.5; 21.5; 629.5

River roundabout

2010-09-13T05:42:00.000-07:00

Another perfect morning, 43 degrees, calm and mostly clear. I went west to the History Museum, hooked up with the trail south of the police department, and looped around on the trail to 11th Street, where I stairstepped back home.

There was a curious lump in the dark recesses beneath the Central Avenue West bridge. I didn't stop to investigate (the usual lights were out, oddly), but it was about human size. A homeless person? A pile of garbage? Dunno.

It was a very dark morning — no moon and lights were out in some places (like the above) where usually they're not. On the high trail between Riverside and Gibson parks, I met a bicyclist. I was glad I wore a white t-shirt today, because he was unlit and sped past me. I didn't even see him until almost upon me. I was also glad I was keeping to the right. He did say good morning as he passed.

Also spoke with two women, one getting in her car at the beginning of the run not far from home, the other walking a dog in the 'hoods near the end of the run. Both said hello, and I reciprocated.

Anyway, felt good. Didn't run on the weekend again. I worked Saturday morning, then canned 12 quarts of super-good tomato salsa. C says it's the best she's ever tasted, and slathered it on a quesadilla. Nora and I then had the same for lunch Sunday.

5.5; 5.5; 21.5; 625.5

Owls are back

2010-09-09T05:59:00.000-07:00

I did a full cemetery run this morning, slowly. It was pitch black most of the way, and overcast. It rained some overnight, so the ground in some stretches was a bit muddy.

It actually was a reverse cemetery route, going first to the school, then cemetery, then back via UGF. I felt OK; not great but good enough, considering the weekend of unusual physical activity. In the cemetery, I heard at least one owl hooting like crazy, and if it was just one then it was moving around.

Probably because of the overcast, it was relatively warm — 50 or so. A couple of lights went out overhead (?) and I saw little traffic. One small oddity was someone in a pickup going past, then parking at the east end of the avenue that goes by the Catholic high school. Killing time? Who knows.

Met a guy walking two old dogs next to the gym at UGF. Said "good morning."

5; 8; 16; 620

Short trot, pics from Lincoln, salsa verde, etc.

2010-09-07T05:17:00.000-07:00

Here's what the outside of the room looked like after I had gutted parts of it but before Bill and I (mostly Bill, to be perfectly accurate) engaged in heavier destruction. This is the view from the bedroom doors; the wall is where the washer and dryer used to be.

Here's more or less what it looks like right now, from the same point of view. The old room is basically gone, and the toilet reoriented. The vanity (below) will go on the far wall, and larger shower nearer on a new wall.

Here's the new vanity that will occupy the east wall of the new bathroom, once it's done.

Here's the 20-something year-old bench that was on my little acre when I bought it. I patterned another, less successful bench after it and put it by the creek (see below).

The creekside bench after I sat on it with the computer in my lap a few weeks ago (and subsequently flipped it over to inspect the problem, which turned out to be a few rotting rails in key positions).

After a Sunday morning of nail pulling (among other things), this is what was left of the creekside bench. I'll replace a few rotten rails and reconstruct it sometime this fall.

Here are jalapenos on the grill, about halfway done. I also grilled Anaheims, Bulgarian carrot peppers (super hot) and one other, large chile. Mmmm.

The halved and broiled tomatilloes from my garden. I still have dozens more.

Here's the finished, very hot, product, before canning.

And here's what's awaiting me later this week. Canning, salsifying, saucing.

The pictures have nothing to do with today's run, except that they kind of explain why I didn't run over the weekend. The considerable bending, carrying and squatting associated with such a project kept me a little shorter today, too.

I just went to the school, then north and back in a big loop. It's chilly out, 37 or so, and calm. Should be able to go longer tomorrow.

3; 3; 11; 615

Made it!

2010-09-02T06:38:00.000-07:00

I did a full, reverse cemetery route, the first one in more than a month. It's a beautiful morning, 39 degrees, mostly clear and calm.

Got a late start (a little after 6), and still beat the sunrise. Saw no critters, and only one other runner, a woman with two huge dogs. She was about a block ahead of me for a block from the house before I bailed off to the left to go toward the school.

The best part was that, after a little queasiness at the outset, I felt great. Too soon to say "I'm ba-ack" but definitely headed in the right direction.

I see the nuns at the monastery have put up a couple of small windmills.

5; 16; 8; 612

Storing up

2010-09-01T05:44:00.000-07:00

I shortened my run by a mile today in preparation for going a little longer (not a lot) tomorrow. It's an odd morning, overcast and therefore warmer than the past week or so — 57 when I headed out.

It's also on the cusp of spitting some rain, and I think rain, even thundershowers, is in the forecast for later today.

I did a simple jaunt to the school, then east and once around inside the hilariously named Forest Glen subdivision (when it was about to be constructed, there wasn't a single tree in the 4-square-block area). After that (I went around inside of it because, apparently, there's only one street into the thing, at 33rd and Central) I just meandered back home.

I'm almost done with my second time through Follet's cathedral books. They're pretty good, if a little raunchy (he can't seem to resist putting gratuitous sex in his books, even if they're "serious").

Nora got back from San Francisco last night, and we're going to lunch today.

3; 11; 3; 607

And again ...

2010-08-31T05:47:00.000-07:00

Did a different route but same distance today — 4 miles. We slept in a bit because I worked last night and C was up chatting and watching old Daily Shows with the girls. They leave for school on Saturday.

It was a great night for sleeping and a great morning for running. Got down to 42, and that's about what it was when I ran. Wore gloves for the first time this season.

I went west, past the history museum, my office, the cop shop and Civic Center, and returned most of the way eastward along Central Avenue. Great Falls' downtown is really kind of pretty, especially the lower end, and at that time of day. The trees are growing and it looks good.

The rest of this week should be more routine. I had a bunch of administrative/accounting things to do yesterday, in addition to the daily editorial and page AND being the night editor. I hope to get ahead sufficiently to afford three full days off this weekend, because Bill is going to be at the cabin destructing the old bathroom, and I'd like to help.

We'll see.

4; 8; 27; 604

Inching up

2010-08-30T05:26:00.000-07:00

Cool today, 47, and cloudy, but not raining. It did rain overnight, to the point that the rainbarrel is full this morning.

I added a mile to the route today, and will duplicate it during the week. By next week I'll be back to what passes for normal for me: 5- or 6-mile daily runs, with approximately one day off a week, and an occasional longer one.

I ran my regular cemetery route, except that I cut it off half a mile short of the cemetery. It would have been wet out there, anyway.

Spent yesterday (post run) hauling stuff from the house and the storage unit to the garage in preparation for a yard sale in a couple of weeks. The girls went through their junk and kept what they wanted. Everything else is in the dumpsters or the sale. It won't be as profitable as the last one ($1300 or so), but it will sparsify the contents of the house and garage — important in light of the kitchen rebuild that we're planning this fall.

All reports are that Julia is comfortably at home with her new schoolmates in Ottawa.

Click here to see the school's website and some pictures that show the first day of orientation, etc. The shot of Dave talking to the group in a sunny room shows Julia back in the corner with a couple of other girls. Note the school's acronym: NRA.

4; 4; 23; 600

In the mists

2010-08-29T10:43:00.000-07:00

What an odd day. It's like Seattle rain ... a mist. I drove to what's called Heritage State Park and parked. I ran down around the springs and west to the Interpretive Center, then back, up the East Coulee trail to the high path above the fishing pond (where a guy was actually fly fishing!), back through the grass of the springs.

I went back up to the car and once around the big loop. It was short, but wet. Pretty out. It'd be snow if it were colder.

2; 11; 19; 596

On schedule

2010-08-27T06:22:00.000-07:00

I just did more or less the reverse of yesterday's run, and felt better. I'm going to continue a very slow ramp-up in order to avoid getting too tired or injuring something. (I'm not getting any younger, after all.)

It's a very different day. Yesterday tied the record high for the date (96) and it didn't cool off nearly as much last night as it has been doing. Temp when I ran this morning was 68, compared with the mid-40s on the previous two mornings.

Also, it's smoky, because multiple fires started up and exploded in the heat and wind yesterday. One is in the Stemple Pass area near Lincoln, and apparently evacuations of some places have been ordered. I'm going up there today (working Saturday instead of today), so I'll check it out. I'll take the camera in case there's anything to see.

The forecast is for the 70s today and 60s the rest of the weekend. Strange weather.

3; 9; 17; 594

Nice morning

2010-08-26T05:35:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous day — clear, 54 degrees, no wind. Only downside is that it's supposed to hit 97 today. I'll be inside most of the time, fortunately. I'm thinking of taking tomorrow off and working Saturday instead in order to haul some stuff to Lincoln and bring some stuff (painting materials) back here. I might even find room in there to fish a little.

Today I replicated yesterday's run, except that I went south instead of north from the school area. Uneventful ... saw only a couple of people outside watering plants.

Feeling pretty good, although I can feel a tinge of stiffness in the thighs and calves. That's what a month off will do for a guy.

3; 6; 14; 591

Away we go

2010-08-25T05:08:00.000-07:00

Well, I said I'd restart on Aug. 25, and that's today. We were up at 4:30, and I was running by 5.

In the interest of not starting too fast (sort of like I'm doing with the guitar, which Nora is suddenly interested in — two days of picking gave me blisters!), I just did an easy 3-mile loop down to 8th Ave N and around to the school and back. I felt good, and the distance was about right. I'll be back to 5s and 6s by next week, I'm sure.

It's cool — 50 — and calm, and the full moon was spectacular. Nora's in San Francisco, Jules leaves for Ottawa in a couple of days, and the others head out in a week or so for Scotland. We'll be empty nesters, just in time for a sizable kitchen makeover here and bathroom makeover at the cabin.

I'm eating my favorite breakfast as I write: garden tomatoes on toast with cheese melted over them.

3; 3; 11; 588

Been a while

2010-08-05T05:04:00.000-07:00

I'm post-dating a couple of short runs I took in Lincoln while on vacation earlier this month. One was a four miler on Sucker Creek Road. I drove to the trailhead that would take you up Stonewall Mountain, and just ran along the road for two miles — all uphill, but not steep. Then back to the car.

It was a pretty, foggy day, and of course I didn't bring my camera.

A couple of days later, I did a short one up the Continental Divide, getting to the saddle before heading up Nora Mountain, but turning back there. I saw a woman hiking as I sat down on the cliff chair on the way down. Otherwise, saw no one on either run.

I decided to bag running for a few weeks, not really for recovery but rather because our summer routine is just too chopped up — and the needs of going to work early pressed for a few weeks. It's abated a bit now. I vowed to restart the routine when C starts school again, on Aug. 25.

8; 8; 8; 585

Slow but short

2010-07-22T05:35:00.000-07:00

Instead of the tall man this morning, I was the tin man, before he was oiled. I creaked around several blocks and decided that this was not a good day to die ... erm, run.

After less than half a mile, I came back home and now I'm going to shower and go to work early. My thinking is I'll skip tomorrow (probably) and go for a nice one in the mountains Saturday and/or Sunday.

1; 7; 16; 577

After the recovery

2010-07-21T06:17:00.001-07:00

It's not the tall man; it's Lewis, Clark and Sacajawea looking upstream toward the uppermost of the great falls of the Missouri.

They've got the reservoir behind Black Eagle Dam drawn way down for some reason. I wonder if it's related to the Rainbow Dam construction project downstream?

The light on the General Mills elevator was pretty cool. It was on the return trip.

The baby's breath east of the caboose has spread and is, well, breathtaking.

By "recovery," I'm not talking economics. It took me a couple of days to recover from Saturday's orgy of exercise. The running wasn't the problem, it was the 5-1/2 hours of slogging upstream in the Blackfoot River (and, truth be told, probably the four-mile bike ride, too).

Today I went straight to the river, viewed the surprisingly drawn down reservoir behind Black Eagle Dam, and went on east to the Giant Springs Road. I met three groups of two each, two running and one walking, and all on the trail segment of my run.

I went up and back through the golf course, where a near record was set for golf balls found: 8. I hope the neighbor kid appreciates this. I've probably given him $100 worth of golf balls this summer.

Anyway, I felt pretty good, though the calves are still a little stiff. That'll be the upstream wading, I'm sure.

6; 6; 15; 576

Well I'll be durned

2010-07-17T12:52:00.000-07:00

I was alone at the cabin and decided to see how the ankle was holding up after a three-week hiatus. Turns out it's great.

In fact, I probably overdid it on Saturday -- running all the way to Nora Mountain on the Continental Divide, then going on a mega-fishing trip in the afternoon/evening. More on that in a moment.

The divide weather was unusual. It was sunny and clear in Lincoln, and on the prairie to the east, but there were wet clouds hanging on the ridges and peaks of the Divide. It reminded me of one on which I took a video last year, but it wasn't cold this time. I was kind of wet by the time the sun burned it off, thanks to the 100 percent humidity. I could see only a hundred yards or so for the first half of the run, and the clouds were scooting by me at 20 mph or better. It finally burned off about halfway on the return trip, and oh my was it gorgeous: sunshine here and there (including on a shirtless me -- there's an image you don't want to dwell upon), but also clouds blowing all around me.

Also tons of wildflowers, this time of the bigger sort: black-eyed susans, harebells, windflowers, paintbrush, etc. Also saw lots of incipient huckleberries. Should be a good, but late, year for them.

Most surprising was how good I felt. I got to the cairn on Nora Mtn faster than I have in a couple of years, and I kept it up on the return.

Then, I felt good enough to undertake a long solo fishing trek, more than I should have, it turns out. I parked my car at Stemple Pass Road's bridge over the Blackfoot, then road my bike almost 4 miles to the Dalton Mountain Road bridge. I ditched the bike in the bushes and set out. I caught one decent (12-inch) cut right off the bat. Had quite a bit of action, including catching one lunker, a 16- or 17-inch "cutblow." Managed to unhook it without touching.

The clinker in the plan ... make that plural: clinkers ... were, first, that high water and beavers have rearranged the "furniture" in the middle of this stretch of meandering river since I last did this, so that there was no easy way through a quarter-mile stretch of it. I managed, but not before being eaten alive by mosquitoes (to that rarest of points where they don't really bother you) and getting pretty thoroughly scratched up on branches and rosebushes. After that, I fished a little more, but mostly just hiked. That's because of the second clinker: It's pretty far for starting out in midafternoon. I was out there and moving solidly for 5-1/2 hours before getting to the car. The last half-clinker was that the water's still slightly high, which makes the upstream wading a little more strenuous than it will be in a week or two.

Still, a nice day and a nice workout. Got in a little skinny dipping at one remote pool, and caught half a dozen nice fish, and excited quite a few more. Not bad for midday on a river best known for its evening fishing.

Oh, and along the way I saw ducks, an osprey, a blue heron, several deer, a coyote and a large set of relatively fresh grizzly tracks in the mud. Unfortunately I left my camera in Great Falls, and after last week's debacle I didn't bring my phone (I fell in while fishing. Long story)
9; 9; 9; 571

Worth a try

2010-06-26T05:59:00.000-07:00

I ran on the Continental Divide Saturday morning, as much as to determine how the ankle was doing as to go far. I split the difference, running a little more than halfway to the cairn at Nora Mountain. The ankle felt ... OK, but not great. I then worked the rest of the day on cleanup at the cabin, raking needles and cones while listening to the U.S. loss to Ghana on the satellite radio.

It was a gorgeous day, sunny and breezy (of course). I took lots of pictures, but all of flowers. The flowers are in full bloom on the Divide, and the sights (and smells) were spectacular. As good a crop of forget-me-nots as I've seen, and lots of anemones in one area. Just about everything is blooming now, from strawberries to arrow leaf balsam root.

I mowed when we got back to GF, and worked on a little weeding in the garden. Today (Monday) my ankle is more sore than it was on Friday. Damn.

7; 7; 59; 562

One more day

2010-06-24T05:53:00.000-07:00

Well, the ankle improved the first day, a lot. But it seems to have plateaued there. I'm going to skip at least one more day while doing some old therapies I learned a few years ago when I sprained it much more severely. I want to be able to run in Lincoln this weekend; we'll see.

It wouldn't be spring...

2010-06-22T06:51:00.001-07:00

... If I didn't injure myself at least once.

This time, it's a singularly unromantic gardening injury. I skipped the two mornings in Bozeman over the weekend in favor of sleeping and getting to early meetings. Sunday night, I was doing some cleanup in my garden, and putting up a chicken wire "trellis" to give my pea plants purchase on the nearby fence, when a foot became entangled in a stray piece of chicken wire. In my recovery from a trip, I misstepped on the wooden border to the garden space and rolled my left ankle, the one I've sprained badly a time or two over the years. It wasn't good, but now, two days later, it's almost back to its normal status of "just mildly annoying." I figure I'll be able to run by Thursday, but it'll be too late to make my hundred for the month. Seven days to go 48 miles? Not bloody likely. I've done more in seven days, but not often, and not so far this year. I think my best week in 2010 probably is in the 44 range, and that includes a 14 on the Divide.

Oh well. The garden is looking spectacular, anyway.

More rain

2010-06-17T06:10:00.000-07:00

It was pouring rain again Wednesday so I skipped; today it was raining lightly and I went ahead and did a short-ish run, just to loosen up. Felt pretty good.

Nice weather, in a way. We're going to Bozeman tomorrow night for a meeting, so maybe I'll get some longer slogs in around there Saturday and Sunday.

Today I just did a big loop out south, down around the school and home. It's 48 degrees and drizzling. The rainbarrel has been filled four times so far this week, and it's filling again now. I'm going to get another one for the front of the house to water the aspen and maple out there.

3.5; 8; 52; 555

Singin' in the rain

2010-06-15T06:02:00.000-07:00

It was sprinkling very lightly when I set out, aiming to do a big loop that would take me by the coffee shop where C was heading when it opened, but I miscalculated the timing and had to tack an extra half mile on the west end in order to do it.

By the time I got there, it was a steady downpour, and I was thoroughly drenched. Fortunately, the high-tech dry-fit fabric on my long-sleeved T-shirt was keeping me comfortable, despite being soaked. It actually is kind of fun, once you resign yourself to having soaked feet.

When I got to the coffee shop to say howdy, I was too wet to go in. C and a couple of other patrons were on the porch, waiting for it to open and commenting on how heavy the rain was. When I approached, running, on the other side of the street. She said one of them commented to the effect of: "Now there's a diehard!" And she responded: "That's my husband." I heard them all laughing from across the street as I waved.

I slogged on back home and was able to wring about two cups of water out of the shirt. It's 53 degrees out, BTW, and my garden loves that it's still raining.

5.5; 5.5; 48.5; 541.5

Two long mountain runs, with pics

2010-06-13T13:36:00.000-07:00

Although you may not feel like it when you're soloing on the Continental Divide, you are never alone. This is probably the best grizzly track I've seen up there, and it was fresh (in flat mud near a freshet). Other, less distinct tracks continued right down the trail for a couple hundred yards before (thankfully) veering off to the uphill side.

This is what I call the "backside trail" to Anaconda Hill south of Rogers Pass. It's a little-used trail through timber and rocks, and it peters out before you get up to the Divide from the Dearborn side.

I didn't go up the CD trail from Rogers Pass, but rather around on the microwave road that circles around into the South Fork of the Dearborn. It's longer, but more interesting in most ways. This is the view that greeted me as I emerged from the east side of the mountains onto the Divide itself. In the distance that's Red Mountain (now white), the one Carlo and I climbed last summer.

A little farther south on the Divide trail, this is the view across the new snow, past a cairn and to the same Red Mountain

I got to the saddle past the point in the middle of the picture. As you can see, it had snowed in the past day or so (the pics all are from Saturday's longer run south from Rogers Pass).

The forget-me-nots were in evidence on Saturday south of Rogers Pass, but they were downright dazzling Sunday to the north — on the first ridge up from the pass, in fact, the one Nora and I call Remember Me Ridge.

One of the rare moments of sunlight on Saturday's run backlit this clump of phlox, where were more plentiful on that side (south) than forget-me-nots. Those are in plentitude on the north route.

And the phlox were thick on the south route.

Today I went the other way from the pass, up to Nora Mountain where I managed to get the jar lid replaced. I brought home the small handful of notes that were in the jar, soaked. I've dried them at the cabin and will take them back up next time. I replaced the old rusted (and apparently leaking) metal canning lid with a good plastic one; we'll see how impervious it is to moisture. Also put in a new pencil and pad.

The flowers were, indeed, in profusion, but unfortunately I forgot my camera in the car. I shot some with my phone and will post eventually if I figure out a fast way to do it.

The weather was spectacular, if a little difficult to accommodate clothes-wise. It was 31 when I left the car at the pass, and 51 when I got back. And it was very windy on top. Remember Me Ridge was aglow with forget-me-nots, as were other more or less level, open areas on the Divide. Also plox, shooting stars, buttercups, pasques and many more.

I surprised myself with how well I felt, considering the length of yesterday's run the other way from the pass. I was the usual times to the "peaks" and actually handled the ups better than usual, I think.

9; 40; 43; 536

Way long south of Rogers Pass

2010-06-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

All of the pictures above Sunday's run above actually were taken on Saturday's run. I went on the dirt road that circles around the mountain and heads up to the relay towers you can see from MT 200 after passing east of Rogers Pass.

It's a longer route, but more fun. A nice trail snakes up the back until you get to the rocks, where you have to kind of scramble on up to the Divide.

It was a blustery day, with squalls around, shifting but strong wind, many clouds and chilly. Once I got to the Divide, I went on south for a few miles to a saddle where I shot some flowers, then turned back. Also called C from up there, and tried to call Swi and Nora. Kind of windy and cold though, so I headed back quickly.

I went down the usual trail, to the southside CD Trailhead. Lots of flowers, and lots of bear and elk sign (see picture above). Very nice.

14; 31; 34; 527

Lots of water, with video and pics

2010-06-10T05:41:00.000-07:00

I'll be darned. A new Lewis and Clark sculpture has popped up on a little promontory a quarter mile or so below Black Eagle Falls. Never seen it before, but it's kind of cool.

A solitary Canada goose stands on a partially submerged log about 10 minutes before sunrise. This is the calm water (it's probably not big enough to call a reservoir) behind Black Eagle Dam, the uppermost of the five hydro dams in the Great Falls area.

Went to the cabooses and the trail before sunrise, then did the full loop out to the Giant Springs road, up to the golf course and back along the tracks.

As you can see in the video above, there's a ton of water coming down the river right now. I've also heard the wildflowers on the Front are in rare form, which cements my plan to head up to Lincoln tomorrow evening so I can run on the Divide Saturday morning.

Anyway, I didn't see a soul on the whole run today, walking, running or biking. Odd because it's a spectacular morning — high 40s, no wind and only a few clouds in the west.

I felt pretty good all the way, and I found one golf ball. Big whoop!

Will run tomorrow, too, but shorter, anticipating a longer one Saturday.

6; 17; 20; 513

Dressed up cemetery

2010-06-09T05:41:00.000-07:00

The cemetery to which I've been running regularly for the past few years is still decked out for Memorial Day. I'll actually be there in daylight for the next couple of months.

Some poor underclassman probably lost his shoes on the last day of school last week. This is not far from the gym at GFH.

Went to the cemetery today, a nice, overcasts morning. Probably 55 and calm.

Saw one pedestrian, and heard one cat fight. There was a meeting of the gulls on the lawns at the University of Great Falls. I photographed them — probably 100 or more — but for some reason the pictures came out fuzzy.

I was pretty tired for some reason but got a bit of second wind for the last mile or so.

Nora's birthday was Monday; we're taking her out to dinner tonight to mark it.

5; 11; 14; 507

Back to the grind

2010-06-08T05:49:00.000-07:00

After a week of busy-ness related to gathering photographs for a new coffee-table book, I finally was able to get back to it today. I'm hoping to go a fairly good pace the rest of the month so I can get the monthly average up to where I want it.

Today, I ran to the office in order to secure a company car for another photo-scanning trip. I was able to do so, then went on the RET around to 9th Street, then I stair-stepped my way back through the neighborhoods to home.

I saw several cyclists and one other runner, but he was crossing the river and I wasn't. It's a drop-dead gorgeous day, sunny, cool and crisply clear. Also election day. Since I'll be working tonight, I figured it was a good window for the picture trip. I'll try to take one more later in the week. Today Chester; tomorrow Stanford!

6; 6; 9; 502

No runs, spring garden pictures

2010-06-04T19:18:00.001-07:00

Well, not a garden, unless you consider Montana to be the Garden of Eden. This exemplifies Big Sky Country: A random view coming down toward Fort Benton from Chester on MT 223 at midday. Took my breath away.

This is the primo herb garden: inside the box are varieties of oregano, the tall stuff is taragon, and at the far end are regular and Greek chives (I'll need to separate the bulbs and spread that stuff in a month or so, when the edible blooms subside). The bushy stuff outside the box is oregano galore. Anyone wants oregano, let me know! I have a lifetime supply for many households, right here in this picture. And it's good stuff!

This is the cilantro bed. I'm going to plant some basil seeds in it, and there are a couple of basil plants, plus a dozen or so sickly marigolds that may or may not make it ringing the edge (they were forgotten in the corner of the garage back when the tomatoes, etc. were obtained). But mostly this bed, besides being a favorite digging spot for squirrels and cats, is where there's a ton of self-seeded cilantro (that's what's visible as small green things).

This is the "old" bed, the one in which I stuck onion sets and seed spuds back at the beginning of May.

This is one of the tomato beds, looking diagonally. In the back is the bed for carrots, radishes, a few more (Yukon) spuds and eventually lettuce — the kitchen bed. The big old rhubarb's in the back.

This is the pea box, next to the fence. I'll in the next week or so put strings or a wire grid to let the little buggers climb. Also note there are onions around the rim.

Oh ... and here's the rainbarrel. It's full here. I need to get a hose to run out to the trees in the back. It's a great idea.

Loosening up

2010-06-02T05:53:00.000-07:00

I went short in Billings this morning, mostly because I need to do some serious work before going to the library for more photo scanning (Tribune's history book, volume III).

I drove to the Rimrocks, and just did a simple up and back. I took a couple of pretty pictures, and I'll post them sometime in the next day or so. Nice morning -- partly cloudy and 50 degrees.

It rained again in Great Falls, I'm told. Because of continued scanning this week, I'm afraid June will get off to a slow start. I should be able to pick it up when I start running in earnest on the Divide later in the month.

3; 3; 3; 496