Sunday Miscellany

Here we go again. The wind is blowing at about 25 mph this morning. From the north. This is the usual condition for the Planet Orland. The good news is that when the sun rises, we will clearly see the snow capped mountains that surround us on three sides. The wind clears out the smoke from the ag burning that goes on at this time of year; huge piles of pruned limbs going up in smoke.

And yesterday; a good time. We went to see Karlee playing basketball and surprisingly, to me, we were soon absorbed in the game. Her team won, 24 to 20. Then, after lunch, we were back at the Plant Barn to see ‘Superboy’ Colum, our 14 month old great-grandson. But I was without a camera! While grandson Zack shopped for plants, I got to carry Colum around. What fun! But…he’s heavy! We could have let him walk but since the ground at the nursery is covered with appealing but non-edible gravel, we decided that being carried was the safest method of transport for him.

Starting at the beginning; as I should have…I wanted to get in some training time yesterday, so we drove to Bidwell Park and as I prepared to turn in at One Mile, I noticed that the road was blocked. What? OK. It was the day for the running of the Bidwell Classic and I had forgotten all about it. Probably because, for the first time in some years, I hadn’t entered the race.

Since the park isn’t closed for the event, just the parking lot, we decided to find another spot to park the truck and then I could still get a few miles in. I chose the trail route that runs along the north side of the park and it was fine, though a little bit muddy in spots. And since it’s also a horse trail, there are some un-natural obstacles in places. Also, the trail wasn’t that far from the paved course and I could watch the racers through the trees and reminisce. Next year!

Some observations; some people shouldn’t race. It’s supposed to be fun and I saw plenty of people who were in pain. According to their facial expressions; great pain! And I also saw a lot of people I know from my time on the trails at Bidwell. Lin Jensen was doing the 5K in his usual style as the premier racewalker in Butte County.