Another Run

Sunday October 14th was the annual Great Columbia Crossing 10K Run. This is better known in Astoria/Cannon Beach as "The Bridge Run." I had never done this before but Jody Lampi, a member of our HTC team, suggested that I try it. 10K is not my thing, but, what the heck, so I did it. What a beautiful race this is! It begins on the Washington State side at Dismal Nitch, crosses the Megler Bridge continuing to end at Astoria High School. Elisha Garry, also a member of our Hood to Coast team, ran as well. She has won this race in the previous 3 years, but this year had run the Portland Marathon the previous Sunday. She ran that (her first marathon!) in 3:47!!!!! So, this year Elisha "only" took 3rd among the women with an average of 7:44 minute miles. So sad!!! Jody Lampi, who also had run the marathon ( in 4:11) ran and posted a 4th in her age category with an average of 8:06 minute miles! Great runners both of these ladies.

I managed to take just a few photos on this run. There were about 4000 runners and walkers in total. The day was perfect. It was cool but sunny and, thankfully, no wind. I think everyone was grateful for the conditions. Last year it rained for this race, but it was still well attended. Of course the best part is the clam chowder feed at the end! At Astoria High School everyone was given a bowl of delicious clam chowder, a roll, butter, salad if you liked and a drink. It was delicious!!! I don't know who makes the chowder, but it's quite possibly the best I have ever had!! I believe I will do this run again next year.

Yesterday, October 17th, was "the day" to register for the 2008 Hood to Coast race. I delivered the application to the St. Helens post office at 8:00am on my way to work. We can only think positive thoughts that we will, once again, be chosen to participate in next years relay. I will keep you posted.

A Golden Morning

Today was one of those golden mornings that, if you have any sensibilities at all, make you grateful to live in NW Oregon.

As I drive to work in the morning I usually listen to my radio, either to KINK or 105.9. Both stations were sounding like "blah, blah, blah" this morning, so I turned to 89.9 All Classical. Chopin's Violin Concerto #1 was playing. As I looked East (to my left) I saw a beautiful sunrise. Mt. Hood was silhouetted against an orange sky. There is very little opportunity to pull over, but when I arrived at Scappoose I made a U-Turn and parked. I could not resist the photo opportunity. I could not begin to capture the beauty of the moment but I have included here my feeble attempts.

As I continued toward Portland another very beautiful scene unfolded that was not attainable to my camera due to highway construction. The Multnomah channel was calm and reflective in the morning light. As I gained Sauvie Island bridge, not only were the golden Fall trees reflected in the still waters, but so was Mt. Hood. Oh, to have had the room to turn around and park!!! But, I took in the scene in my mind's camera and enjoyed the music to match as I drove. I doubt I will ever forget what I saw.

I have been here almost five years now and I still marvel at what I see on a daily basis. This must be one of the most beautiful places on earth. I feel so privileged to be living here. I enjoy my drive to work each day. That must be, I am sure, something that not everyone can boast. I truly appreciate the beauty here. I only wish I had the talent to record it accurately with my humble camera lens.

One Bird, Two Birds, How Many Birds???!!!

No photos tonight, just an update. At last look when I came in the door this evening I had three, possibly four little birdie tenants. Each has claimed his/her own little section of my rafters and watches me come & go through my front door. None of them have made a move to leave, even when I climbed up on the chair to see if that was a fourth little head I saw. I couldn't tell for sure, but I think it was.

It's surely a season of birds. The sound I heard coming in from my truck was the call of many, many geese flying overhead. I'm sorry it was dark and I wasn't able to see them, but I love the sound they make calling to one another as they fly. Thankfully the birds that chose my porch are not that big!

Avian Update

Sooooo, this evening, after I attended a really fun party at the office, drove home, fed the kitties and talked to Mike, I thought to check on my wee bird tenant. As I looked around the rafters on my porch I espied my bird and then....another bird! Hmmmmm. I think my birdie has invited a friend to stay the night. I cannot discern which of these is my "original" bird, but one is in the far right and one towards the left. I guess my porch roof is a good shelter for these feathered guests.

Perhaps you and I will grow bored of these avian updates, but for now it is fun to see how this will evolve. I wonder how many feathered guests I will collect for the winter. I suppose it may depend on my supply of birdseed and suet. For now I am enjoying the presence of the birds. I have never hosted these guests before. I love creatures and perhaps will enjoy continuing my avian hotel.

Wee Critter Still Here

Well, the jury is still out on what kind of bird my new resident is. Mike and I still think he/she could be an immature owl and Rachel is thinking it could be a fat house sparrow. But whatever it is, he/she returned this evening.

The bird has chosen the opposite corner of my porch roof this evening and is in the NW corner where it is even more protected from the elements. When I checked, at about 8:45pm, the little bird was active and aware. The NW corner seemed to be a nice refuge. Right now, at 10:40 the bird is quiet and resting. Perhaps I have a new "roofmate" for my porch. That would be fine with me, especially if this avian creature would do away with the ever larger spiders that seem to inhabit the upper regions of my porch roof. I know that many birds feed upon insects and that would be a great symbiosis as far as I am concerned. I am totally willing to feed and clean up after birds in exchange for the demise of the insect population explosion. Especially the arachnids!! They should live and be well outside, but they can't seem to stay outside.

I will update the residency of my bird as it happens. And I hope it continues to happen.

A Critter

Late this evening I went out to put a load of laundry in the wash. It was raining lightly and as I came back up my front steps I noticed a wee small face peering at me from under the eaves of my front porch. I looked closer-my porch light was on-but I couldn't tell if the face belonged to a small, fuzzy bird or to something that looked like a very furry hamster. Not wanting to disturb the little beast, I went for my camera with a telephoto lens. I figured that I could enlarge a photo and perhaps see what he/she was.

I have looked at the pictures and enlarged them. It is clearly a bird. I am wondering if it could possibly be a baby owl. We have owls across the street that I hear at different times of the year. What ever this is, it remains still on my porch. It seems to be awake and watch me when I come & go, but has made no attempt to move. I hope it is well and comfy and does not present a problem. It would be really cool if this was actually an owl. Perhaps someone at work or Mike will recognize the little face. I wonder what it would like to eat?