First perambulations of 2026

New Year's Day was relatively temperate and snowy which meant I got to start 2026 with a morning walk without having to bundle up too much.

The sky poured generally large flakes down on me but, since it was only around 22, most were quickly blown off my coat and hat by the gentle breezes. Highway 30 provided its usual annoying automobilic ambience but it wasn't too busy as many people were still at home sleeping or nursing hangovers. Starkweather Creek was frozen over in some spots. 

Once on the north side of the highway, I again pondered how to photograph a bike trail bridge. Their mixes of curves and Wrightian straight lines seem full of potential but I still haven't discovered a way to take a good photograph of them that somehow captures the way they fit into their environment.

A nearby oak tree had decided not to shed its leaves and the brown & tan hues added a slight hint of color to the otherwise white and grey landscape.

I took the creekside path where I saw one woodpecker plying its trade and heard another. On a tree that had fallen into the creek I spied a blue jay taking a break from bullying the other birds in the area.

By this time the din of the highway was inaudible and it was only the occasional plane that disturbed the serenity of the scene.

Once onto the bike path again I hoofed it for a little while before deciding to veer into the woods and follow the off-road bike path, something I hadn't done in 5 years or so.

Immediately I saw that I was not alone as there were bike tire tracks from those big, knobby winter bike tires in the snow. This meant that A) I was not alone and B) that I could avoid any "To Build a Fire" incidents by simply following them. I eventually made my way east to try to find that Blair Witch area with all the Barbie dolls in the trees that I ran into last time I was in these woods.

As I was walking along the trail at one point I heard a squeal from behind me. Turning to look, I found that the sound was from bicycle brakes and that there was an intrepid rider back at the last curve. It turned out to be a gentleman in his late 20s, methinks, who proved to be quite amiable as we ended up chatting for a few minutes.

He explained that his New Year's resolution was to get out on his bike more often and he figured he'd start on day 1. In addition, he told me that there was another biker out as well and I surmised it was this person's tracks that I had followed into the woods. Before long my interlocutor was off and I continued my trek down the path.

It wasn't long before I ran into ruins from the Truax air base. 

I cannot remember what these fire hydrant-like things are called - they are to open or close valves that are underground.

Bits that were off the path and shrouded in leaves the last time I was in these parts were now revealed.

Some Norwegian had visited since the last time I was here as there were trolls at a couple spots where the trail split.

I eventually found the area that had had dolls, a beer bottle, and so on hanging from branches. Barbie had fled and all that was left was the head of a turtle from a plush thingy that had been whole on my last visit.

With my mission accomplished, I continued along the trail until I reached the paved bike path and headed home. There I heated up some coffee and reclined on the couch where Piper curled up on my lap. 

A splendid way to begin 2026. Quality time amongst the trees as the snow crunched beneath my feet and the chilly breeze licking my cheeks. And I got to chat with someone new. Walks like this are a big reason why I adore winter.