Walking now

Walking now, not biking--ugh. Discovered people living behind each of the pillars in the photo below. There's much needs doing.

Six Years Out

Did another anniversary ride this evening, the usual 15 miler. The migratory geese in the Blackwater Refuge are greatly reduced in number this year, apparently due a poor breeding season up in Canada's Ungava Peninsula.

The soundtrack was The Briefs, Hit after Hit and Bach's Goldberg Variations, adapted for strings by Dmitry Sitkovetsky and performed by Rachlin, Rysanov and Maisky.

Blackwater Refuge
Wildlife Drive
N 38.441489, W -76.093014

Evening Harvest

Was surprised by a huge sika doe breaking from its bed and bounding across the trail during the evening's ride (N 38.441691, W -76.098862). It was the usual 15 miler.

The sound track was Larry Coryell, The Golden Bear, Huntington Beach, CA, March 30, 1980—not something to spin to.

Harvest almost finished for the evening and the season
N 38.45831, W -76.139781

Herron double shot

The wind was merciful on the evening ride, especially after the last two days—30 mph and more!. It was the usual loop.

It's the same bird in both shots below. The flash shining in his eye for the first shot pushed him off a short distance. The second shot is immediately before a successful strike for his dinner. Both shots are worth a click to enlarge.

The sound track was The Pretenders, Universal Amphitheatre, Los Angeles, March 7, 1984. That rock 4/4 can sure make a fella pedal square!

Blackwater Refuge
Wildlife Drive
N 38.444245, W -76.123667

Blackwater Refuge
Wildlife Drive
N 38.443573, W -76.12607

Armillaria tabescens!

Found some of the good ones today in the neighbor's front yard—ringless honey mushrooms, a variety of shitake.

Armillaria tabescens

Dead skunk

Found a dead skunk in the middle of the road. It was very near a previous encounter (N 38.465913, W -76.096871). Facebook readers were spared the picture, but not here.