Headed into Summer

Summer decided to rear its head a few days this week. Whew! From 40s to 80s and then back to 50s later in the week is just way too much!

Yet another week when the running week started on Wednesday... this time with a 6:25 am run to loop around Topsham Crossing. Warm and heavy out there even at that time of morning. Rhodora in full bloom. (6.0 miles)

Thursay was a 4:00 pm afternoon run down to the river and back. Rhodora blooming in the Heath and a lot of Cala lillies, starflowers and fringed polygala! 🌸❤️ (6.1 miles)

Friday was a morning outdoor dedication event at work so I was out the door at 6:45 to get there to help set up. Then after a few errands, I headed out a bit before 2:00 pm for a run, looping out through Topsham Crossing. Definitely feeling a bit drained. Nice warm and bright. (6.0 miles)

Ryan was off in NH playing golf with Neal and Sam headed down to OOB with Lauren for the long weekend, so it was quiet evening at home with Gigi snoring, Ted Lasso on TV and my book on the couch 😆

Saturday, I got the grocery shopping done right when the store opened at 7:00 and got some cleaning done around the house before lunch. Then after some relaxing and reading on the couch, I finally headed out around 2:45 pm. Nice, breezy afternoon - not too warm and not heavy and humid. Lots of flowers. First ladyslipper, jack in the pulpit and bunchberries of the season. (9.0 miles)

Meanwhile, Sam and Lauren were having fun at the mall 😄😎

Sunday, I headed out for a run around 9:00 am, parking over at the Pennelville fields and doing two 6.5 mile loops with a stop back at the car in between. The first loop took me out through the Commons and Landing trails. Some beautiful patches of fringed polygala, painted trillium, starflower and 195 laydslippers counted. Many photo stops, although couldn't stand still for too long as the bugs are out in force now too! After a stop back at the car, for the second loop, I went back into the Commons and then cut across the neighborhoods to the extended Commons trails before coming back via the dirt road and a bit along the fields, where the bobolinks were flitting and calling. Humid, overcast and cool enough that just having my small flask of water in my pocket was doable. (13.1 miles)

Ryan got home from NH shortly before I got home from my run and after lunch, we headed into town to have a drink at Moderation's new home in the old fire station. Very cool spot and fun to see the place so crowded with so many people enjoying the afternoon! 

They were only open until 4:00 so after a few drinks, we headed across the street to Ram & Bull for some food before heading home. A fun end to the day!

Mid-May

Tuesday was an afternoon run to the river and back. Azaleas and daffodils blooming in the garden, and fiddleheads and false hellebore coming up along the river. Warm and breezy. (6.0 miles)

Thursday was an afternoon run to loop through Topsham Crossing. Another warm and breezy afternoon. (6.0 miles)

I seem to not be managing to get in a long or early run on Fridays these days. After work and errands, I finally headed out around 3:30 for a run down to the river. Overcast. Trailing arbutus in bloom, one patch of mushrooms and calla lilies coming up in the Heath. (6.0 miles)

Saturday I got out around 9:20 for a run on the powerlines. A cloudy, quiet morning on the trails. First goldthread and anemone of the season! Five deer seen. (10.0 miles)

Sunday was a run out through Coleman Farms, Landing and Commons trails. Many stops for flowers. Always love these trails in the spring 🌸 Wild oats, trout lilies, daffodils, so many patches of goldthread, wild ginseng, two beautiful red trillium. Also two bobolinks chattering in the brush along the Pennelville fields, and one deer. Cloudy and damp. (12.0 miles)

Also, a female oriole out back!

Last week was a slow running start, with first run of the week on Wednesday. 6:00 am run to loop out through Topsham Crossing. Overcast with lots of birdsong. Legs felt a bit clunky. Blueberry bells in bloom out on the powerlines! (6.0 miles)

Miracle of all miracles, Thursday was another 6:00 am run, this time out on the powerlines. Damp but nice out. Hobblebush in bloom, and saw the magenta from the fringed polygala but didn’t stop to take photos as I was trying to get out of the way of the friendly early morning golfer on the hole. (6.0 miles)

Friday was a 3:15 pm run looping out into Topsham Crossing. Damp. Rhodora buds out but not yet in bloom. Can’t miss that magenta! (6.0 miles)

Saturday I headed out around 9:15 out through the Cathance to Head of Tides. Went out on the trails and came back on roads and powerlines. Very squishy in the woods, and river is roaring and overflowing its banks. Lots of greenery on the forest floor but not a ton of blooms. Got warm. Should have worn my pack so I’d had more water than my 6 oz bottle 😂 not to mention the allergens, so not the smoothest run but nice to be out in the sunshine! Goldthread, anemone and a blanket of lily of the valley not quite in bloom out at Head of Tides. Also bleeding heart is going nuts in the back garden 😍 (10.0 miles)

Sunday was a mid-morning wander on the trails and roads around town. Heat and pollen definitely giving me a run for my money this morning 🤪🥵 but a nice breeze. One garter snake, and first of the season rhodora in bloom! 🤩 (12.0 miles)