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Sunday   April 29   2007

So, on this spring like day, which finds gardners in the garden, hikers on the trails, and poets in the sunshine, we are pleased to share some feedbacck. "Why is walking/hiking one of the best, yet most under appreciated activities available? Because it doesn't make millions of dollars for those who need it most, the bean counters. Walking/hiking not only makes good sense for health reasons, it is still one of the best ways to find and develop meaningful, helpful and delightful social and personal relationships. Thank you Elaine for the time you put into keeping Whidbey walks going and interesting. " And thank you for your comments, Leroy. on Saturday April 28, 2007 Jan writes from Langley, Washington: "The swallows are back: they were making graceful sweeps around All Washed Up, the Langley laundromat, at 9:30 this morning. My heart thrilled to see them, for last summer they nested in the crossbeams under the porch roof. [Four little babies' heads bobble over the edge of the nest as I sit watching. Mama sweeps in to bring food and four mouths open, little yellow beaks framing a cavern out of proportion to the size of their little bird bodies.] Filled with joy at the prospect of seeing the swallows again, I walked down the hill via the alley, and behind Star Store four more were chittering and chattering and conducting aerial acrobatics just above our heads." And a succinct summary from northern friends, across the border in B.C. on Saturday, April 28th, Ralph said "A brisk morning walk today in invigorating near-freezing temperature. Global Warming is doing its thing elsewhere, but here approaching May Day its Area Cooling. No complaints, it could be a lot worse." So, here is my Spring quandry: IS IT REALLY TIME TO PLANT THE PUMKINS AND BIG SQUASHES ALREADY? If you've got some in the ground, let us know ! And our thanks to all our contributors.  04:36 PM - link -

Saturday   April 21   2007

Here is the SATURDAY WALKING CLUB SPRING CALENDAR April 21, hike at The Kettles Trails, Coupeville April 28, South Whidbey Intermediate School hiking trail May 5, monthly Off-Island Trip: the Glacier Creek Trail on Mt. Baker May 12, a visit to the Penn Cove Festival, and a walk around Coupeville May 19, A walk at the labyrinth on the Chinook trails May 26 A walk at Meerkerk Gardens June 2 monthly off-Island Trip: Sauk Mt trail near Marblemount June 9 Deception Pass, Cranberry Lake June 16 the Tahoma Monastery Retreat Center Trails June 23 Garden Walk June 30 Hike and Picnic at Libby Road Park Give us a call and come and join us!  10:24 AM - link -

Friday   April 13   2007

This is a time of year when the world seems to waver between Winter and Spring. We have feedback from two of our Early Morning walkers. Walking this morning I saw frost on roofs and newly mowed lawns. No April showers. Who's complaining? from Ralph in B.C. And from Clinton on Good Friday. 5:30 A.M. It was magical. A trail of silvery phosphorescence was undulating on the silent Sound. Venus and two stars of Orion’s belt were bright enough to be visible alongside the pearlized pendant of morning moon. A ghost wisp of whiskery fog cloaked Possession Point, shrouding in mystery the passage to the sea. A shaft of moonlight cast a silver disk and the wind riffled the surface, giving the water a cobbled finish. A moist breeze caressed my check as powerful turbines propelled us through the fifteen-minute crossing. Lights, orange beads in the distant dark, delineated the shoreline of Edmonds. I could see the dark hump of Whidbey Island meet the water with twinkling toes of house lights and dock lights. Jan Hughes So thank you both for these different glimpses of early spring mornings! For those of us who are up and about a bit later in the day, this is a whole new world!  06:12 PM - link -