Countdown

It was nice to have a few quiet days at home after Christmas. We didn't do much. Not that there is much to do anyway 😉😂 Temps dropped about 20 degrees between Christmas night and Saturday morning, but it was still warm enough that things hadn't completely frozen over. I headed out around 7:45 for a run out in the Cathance. All the snow was gone. Crazy. Instead I found a roaring river, the waters swollen up over the banks, flooded trails that required some creative bushwacking, sketchy bog bridges, downed trees and very wet feet! Some good sloppy fun! (8.0 miles)

Later in the day, the three of us got out on the powerlines for a walk. A bit blustery and cold, but good to get out for some fresh air together. (1.9 miles walked)

The fridge was overloaded with leftovers so Mom and Dad came over for dinner in an attempt to assist us in eating things up. We managed to polish off the rest of the blueberry pie but there was STILL lasagna left after dinner 😂

Sunday morning dawned cold and clear. I was a bit nervous that there would be too much ice out on the trails given all the rain that had fallen and all the puddles I ran through on Saturday, but I couldn't resist heading out to find out! I ran the cart paths and then out to Head of Tides. A lot of needle ice underfoot, still a lot of standing water, this time topped with thin layers of ice, and the water had risen even more up the river banks. A good meander in the woods, and slowly chipping away at my remaining miles for the year... Only 27 to go... (12.2 miles)

Foam pancakes!

Raccoon prints

After lunch we headed over to the Commons for a walk. Nice to get out and fun to explore some of the side singletrack trails. (2.0 miles walked)

Monday was a return to work for Ryan and I. And Sam might have lounged around all day under her cozy new soft turquoise blanket on her bed, if we hadn't prodded her to come out for an afternoon walk with us 😉 Ah, to be a kid on school vacation! It was rather dreary and overcast as we headed out for a walk around the school block. Good to get some fresh air, and good we got out then too, as it started to rain shortly after lunch! (2.0 miles walked)

I probably would have normally just rolled over and gone back to bed on Tuesday morning, as I didn't sleep well, but as I'm counting down the miles to 2,200 for the year, I knew I needed to get at least a few miles in so up I got. Ran a random route with some road, a loop down to the river and a few cart paths. Black ice on the sidewalks and darkness all around. (6.1 miles)

Then it was into work for the day and up to the Y late in the afternoon for Sam's swim practice. We are grateful that after a team sport restriction related pause in practices due to Covid regulations from mid-November to mid-December, the team has been able to get back to the pool! So good for Sam. 

Took the rest of the week off from work - hurray for extra extra long weekends! - so got out a little after 7:00 this morning, just in time to catch the tail end of the sunrise along the powerlines. Trails had firmed up and mostly dried out, leaving fairly decent early winter conditions. Cold, calm and overcast. Ran the powerlines and looped around on the Foreside trails and on a short stretch of the Gone Fishing trails. Only 10.8 miles to go tomorrow to hit 2,200 miles for 2020! (10.0 miles)

Later in the day, the three of us headed over to the Cathance for a walk. It was overcast and rather raw out, but we enjoyed a lovely loop with interesting ice formations, frozen foam pancakes and quiet trails. (2.8 miles walked)

Foam pancakes!

Such cool ice formations

Lots of needle ice

Mom and Dad came over for pizza, and Mom and Sam had a marathon puzzle session with one of Sam's Christmas presents from Grammie & Grampie - a puzzle filled with rows and jars filled with candy. Fun! 🍭🍬