It's Snow Wonder

I went to visit Mom in Vermont recently!  We enjoyed each other's company and I got to experience real winter for the first time in... well, let's just say a long time.  The northeastern US got (is getting) a bunch of snow this year.  It was rather hard for me to fathom what that's like without actually being there.  For someone who enjoys getting out and exploring on foot, happily there are a variety of things to do.

For example, I believe I was on Mom's snowshoes in this picture, in the radio tower field near her house (with a cap that represents my normal winter habitat):

Down at the reservoir I saw ice fishing shacks, including this little trailer that made me laugh for some reason (probably trying to imagine living in it on top of the ice):

Way in the background I believe I could make out a couple sled dog teams - that's neat!  I wonder if they give rides:

Another mode of transport - I rented a pair of cross-country skis!  Yep, I still remember how to use them, although my downhill technique needs work.  It was fun gliding (or sliding) around on them for a couple hours.  This is the only picture I got from that excursion, but at least I have proof:

An iconic Vermont structure at the far end of the Stowe Rec Path (which was nicely packed with perfectly crunchy snow for running on with regular shoes):

And... more snow.  This was the biggest pile-up of all the car coverings:

Back to the reservoir on a sunny day, with snowmobile tracks across the new snow:

Apt names for local coffee flavors:

I ventured over to the trail network on the east side of town just to see what it looked like and discovered what would be the highlight of the outdoor adventures - groomed bike trails!  I did not know this existed and now I am a huge fan.  Especially with the amount and quality of snow at the time, plus the cold temperatures.  Perfect conditions.  The trails were solidly packed, I could run on them without sinking at all (no damage to the tracks), and I saw almost no bikes on the days I went out there.  It was great fun climbing up switchbacks and then swooping down the hill.  Thank you to whoever decided that winter fat tire biking should be a thing, and then created these:

Clad in my much-used balaclava, warm cap, and neck fleece (and of course my cactus cap):

Another good running path, along the lake in Burlington, past the Stonehenge-like "Earth Clock" sculpture:

Ice towers, with some kind of connection system to keep them from falling over (also, the lake is looking mostly frozen):

A much taller tower, made of filing cabinets for some reason (I've seen it before but it never gets old.  Well, just a bit rusty):

Taylor came to visit!  Hello my friend, it was great to see you again.  Mom enjoyed her company and also meeting her dog Oy.  Then we did some snowshoeing - and you gotta love this hat:

I was heading to the train station coffee house when the daily Amtrak just happened to pull up:

Not sure what Mr. Duck is dressed as, but I generally can't resist a duck picture.  Especially when there's also a heart rock and tiny dinosaur:

Back to the groomed bike trails and I took a moment to look at the groomer.  I think the sled on the right folds down for someone to stand on.  They hold onto the bike handlebars (complete with brake levers that I assume work) and guide the groomer ahead of them.  Would be interesting to see this in action sometime:

In the woods near Mom's house, where a large owl flew right overhead and landed on a branch ahead of me.  An unzoomed photo of the owl staring at me from up high - hello owl!

Zoomed and cropped, not great framing but Mom ID'd it as a barred owl.  Super cool:

One last stop at Trader Joe's in Burlington before flying out.  It was so good to spend time with you, Mom, love ya bunches!

January in Tucson

We got a holiday gift of a free waffle, yay!  It's a fun destination (and snack) for a run, occasionally:

I'm seeing more year-round tall skeletons, and I guess if you go to the effort to put it up, why not decorate it for the other holidays too?

I have so enjoyed organizing a team of orienteers for the RAT (Run Around Tucson) Relay these past 3 years.  What a fun bunch of people who also like to run, and more importantly, like to cheer on their teammates.

RAT Relay photo credits include Cristina, Yvonne, Annie, Alan, and John

Friday evening gathering and obligatory group photo that most of us can't take seriously:

We just happened to step outside that evening to see a SpaceX rocket come across the sky after it was launched from California on its way into space - cool!

Race morning gathering for an early start at the Rillito Racetrack:

Billie is camera-aware and photogenic (plus I see from Cristina's phone that it was 47 degrees out):

And they're off!  Sam is somewhere in here, possibly behind the woman in the fluorescent shirt:

Sam nailing the handoff to Gavin, with early morning sun making the Catalinas glow:

Alan did accept the wristband from Gavin, but I don't think it changed the status of their relationship:

Sending cheers and motivation and humor through the RaceJoy app (which is also helpful for runner tracking):

Alan finishing his leg and about to hand off to Billie:

Gavin, John, and I pulled over mid-leg to cheer on our fastest runner - go Billie!

If we were really coordinated, we'd do a running handoff like a track and field event - maybe we'll practice that for next time, just for fun!

I covered the section not far from where we live, so I knew all the crosswalks and underpasses.  A safety bike lady rode past me a few times as she was adding chalk arrows to supplement the signs.  Recent rain prevented the organizers from adding chalk until that morning.  We got to chat a little while waiting for traffic lights to change - I was stopped by all of them this time, no luck in that timing (but also nice to get several breathers).

Pete was up next - go Pete!

If you happened to click on the YouTube video from the December blog post, you might recognize the song in this 5-second clip of Gavin in our truck:

Hanging out and waiting for John's turn:

See, John can do a moving relay exchange!

As opposed to whatever this is (like there's an invisible line we can't cross or something):

I did manage an upgrade in my setup this year, using a headset to hear the Racejoy cheers instead of turning my phone volume up way too high.  Much less intrusive on surrounding trail users.  And easier to hear all the fun songs and silly random facts that my teammates sent my way!

My handoff to Yvonne didn't get captured on film, so we're moving on to the next exchange.  Where we took advantage of some Arizona shade:

Yvonne had an excellent run, improving her time from 2 years ago.  Cristina is ready for the penultimate leg:

We found another opportunity for a mid-leg in-person cheer, so we pulled over to yell "Go Cristina!"

Near that spot we found a cute little rock garden and rock concert:

The other side of the purple rock is adorable:

Back on the course as our team is about to make the turn onto the home stretch, where Billie gets the baton once more:

Another angle of the same moment, because it's such a pretty spot on a lovely day:

On the way to the finish line, and look who's in the next car!

We had a mis-planned car shuttle (something else to work on for another year) and weren't sure we would make it to the finish line before Billie.  Happily we just managed to get there - here she is crossing the final bridge:

Katy made it in time to applaud all of our efforts - thanks Katy!

A somewhat normal finish line photo:

Which invariably devolves...

...and we're back to our natural state (which apparently is also slightly blurry)

Thank you teammies for another super awesome day running around Tucson!  O Rats!

Admiring a horse sculpture and the Catalina mountains during a morning run:

John captured a photo of a rainbow smiley face in the sky!  Upside-down and without any raincloud in sight, what a phenomenon:

I just recently noticed this crested saguaro in Robles Park, another (slightly less rare) phenomenon:

Animals usually scatter when I bring out the camera, but this hawk hung around for a half-decent photo, much appreciated:

Unusual (for Tucson) lighting from the top of Tumamoc Hill - but no rainbows to be found:

Roadrunner!  One of my favorite feathered friends:

I went on a scouting mission for the Lost One Standing event in April (disclosure - this is a bit of advertising - come play!), and the snow on Wrightson was really pretty on the horizon.  Less lovely is the bunch of catclaw in the foreground, but it's mostly not TOO prevalent on the course:

John has his own train car:

Be Kind - the theme of much wall art around town - yes please, let's do that:

Linda Ronstadt's downtown mural:

Early morning run in Saguaro East, with yet another view of the Catalinas (I've been looking at them a lot lately, apparently):

A body of water - not particularly common around here - aka the fishing pond at JFK Park:

My Mom's favorite mural, of all the pictures I've taken at least.  I'm partial to it as well!

And that brings me mostly up to date, for now!  Thanks for following along!