Seattle Runs

So...back in Redmond. Trying to prepare for a big race next year - ideally that Imogene Pass run. My two buddies are sticking with their plans and making good progress - Chuck Howarth is now signed up for the Leadville 100 and Michael Kirk should be signing up for his Mount Rainier climb any day now. So - especially now back at sea level - I need to try and run over 30-miles each week

Monday I did 10-miles on the Sammamish River / Burke-Gilman Trail. It remains one of the best trails anywhere

Here is my start in Redmond at 116th





Heading towards Woodinville



The Sammamish River - Columbia Winery is in the distance



Still some farmland - probably worth millions (?)



Overpasses in Woodinville - the second one was used for the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train



Heading towards I-405 and Bothell





A cool stretch in Bothell about 1.5-miles from our old house





Valhalla - our old neighbourhood



The least fun stretch through Kenmore - along 522





Kenmore Air, a local seaplane company



A favorite bar happens to be along the trail



Log Boom Park



And my run ended as the trail begins to wind through residential areas




Tuesday I took an hour break from the idiocy of work and went for a 6-mile run in the Redmond Watershed Trail, just a short trot from the house













Tomorrow we'll run somewhere with Hudson - he did over 17-miles last week and is all rested from the 24 hours of driving this weekend

800 Miles to Redmond

The good news was we would "get" an hour going to PST and we "got" an hour with DST. The bad news was it was raining so we didn't get so many photos

It started off well - sunny in Utah and the usual cows, horses and old barns







Then we hit Idaho (and soon the rain)



It seems we always see aviation parts in Idaho



Maureen took over the driving - just as the dark clouds rolled in



Hudson was not pleased



Entering Oregon



Cool - Satan's car



More stormy weather





Sun - hours and two mountain passes later



Not sure - looks like a kitchen on wheels



Horse sculptures



Pretty sunset (not sure what this is in the distance)



McNary Lock and Dam at the Washington border - just before darkness quickly fell



The drive took 14 hours - Washington State may want to think about buying some lights as the final hours were relatively miserable and in the dark

500 Miles to Hooper, UT

Saturday we loaded up The Grumpus and began the 500-mile drive to Hooper, Utah (north of Salt Lake City)



West on I-70...



...through Glenwood Canyon above the Colorado River...





...always lots of cows and horses...





Our first stop was Parachute, CO - population 1,290



On through western Colorado





All sorts of fun in Colorado...







Bye Colorado





Eastern Utah has very little except interesting rock formations - and fun billboards







We made a stop in Helper, UT. It was once a railway town but seems a bit down on it's luck - although they are all set for Christmas (or never take decorations down)













Then it's over Soldier Summit Pass



Hudson still was in Grumpus mode







We will always remember this wind farm - it was where we pulled over last August when we got an offer on our house (from the people who eventually bought it)



This to me this is Utah - beautiful, except where the people are (and ugly houses, though it works fine for them)



Next is the 800 miles to Redmond