Last summer, my guy and I escaped for 90 days of exploring America. He rode his bicycle many miles a day while I grabbed my camera and walked exploring the back roads and the small towns of America as we crossed the continent. I had a marvelous time shooting pictures and posting them on Facebook or my blog, www.wheresloisandclark.us. But now we were back home and the thrill of sharing my discoveries with friends and families was in the past.
Or was it? Could I now explore some great local spots and share what the casual eye might miss?
So here goes. Come along with me on a humble little trail that skirts along the Snohomish River in Everett, WA. Called the Lowell Riverfront Trail where it leaves Rotary Park, it is a favorite spot to walk dogs, jog and take a quiet stroll. On a clear day, you can catch a glimpse of Mt. Baker to the North or the Cascades to the East. During the warm weather days of July and August, power boats churn up the water creating wake that glistens like a thousands diamonds. Beyond the river, the rich farm land of Ebey Island spreads out. Immediately across from the park, an old settler’s rustic home long graying with age, has been spruced up with bright yellow paint while the barn got a coat of turquoise. I’m not sure what that’s about! I loved the aging desolation of the place sans paint! Nonetheless, it adds color to the natural pallet, even if it is somewhat reprehensible.
This past Tuesday I set out to find a dry hour for a walk on the trail. Now a Puget Sound afternoon in October can be chancy. Fortunately we don’t generally get tornadoes or thunder and lightening that rockets through the sky cracking and exploding. Yet, heavy clouds are commonplace and frequently they just can’t hold onto their moisture until they reach the foothills. Too full, they dump over Everett, Washington, my hometown.
Such was the case on my Tuesday walk. I had nearly reached the turn around point on the trail when I looked up to behold this cowering beauty! We laughingly tell out-of state company that Seattle kindergartners can identify 32 shades of gray. I do believe they were all mostly represented in this humongous cloud. Not to be bullied out of my walk, I hurried on wondering if I could make it to the end of the trail and then hi-tail it back to my car before being thoroughly drenched. Not being a sissy–you can’t live here very long and be a rainy-day sissy, I pressed on.
No such luck! I ended up drenched, but laughter filled my soul!
It rained and it poured, but some giant force ripped the cloud asunder and the sun shone on me the whole time. I couldn’t help but giggle in the rain. This was a saturating, yet delicious experience that filled my heart with laughter and brought out my inner joyful child. I pulled my hood down over my face. Occasionally I whirled around quickly panning the sky to see if the rainbow had appeared. Nothing. Yet, I knew one had to be nearby.
A few minutes later, I called to a passing runner heading north. “Have you seen the rainbow?”
He pointed beyond. I turned and to my delight gasped at the double rainbow! The second time I had seen a double rainbow in one week! But it wasn’t just the rainbow that caught my attention. The vibrancy of the foliage wet with rain caught the rays and sent my heart dancing.
Thrilled, I hustled to the car where I immediately flipped on the heated seats. Such was my walk on Tuesday.
On Sunday afternoon, we gave it another go hoping for a whole hour’s walk free from such ferocious elements. Where everything had been macro on Tuesday, it was all micro on Sunday.
A colony of snails had taken up residence in fall flower pods trailside. Nesting. Waiting.
Hanging out.
Like someone arriving at a hotel too early for check in, this one appeared to be waiting for a pod to open up. Perhaps the maid was still tidying up, getting the spider webs extracted and such.
Two walks in one week deep in October. One expansive with a voluminous clouds and double rainbows dominating the sky and the second requiring an attentive eye to see the little fellas bedding down for the duration.
Flourishing! That’s all you can say! Open your eyes and behold the beauty of this season as it deepens and winter paces impatiently beyond the near horizon. Grab an umbrella or choose a coat with an ample hood and explore some October beauties–macro or micro!