The headline read “100 Miles in 100 Days”. I knew I had to try as I had started walking daily for my health, and you also got a t-shirt. Who does not like free shirts?
The object was for people to come visit and explore Ridgefield WA and the Wildlife Refuge Center. I did not drive to Ridgefield but stayed in my neighborhood and used the early morning before the heat took over. It was awesome. I met so many people, saw animal life and just experienced the wonders of the world.
The first few days were just before the sun made an entrance, but the crows let me know that I was intruding into their time, quite loudly in fact. They could be just downright obnoxious before they figured out, I was going to be there every day, so just shut the beak up (and I told them that quite a few times). In the beginning, the other objectionable birds were the parents trying to organize a new home and ready the place for the babies. Their dive-bombing became hazardous at times. But we eventually came to terms after a couple of discussions. There was the owl that greeted me each day; I am still not sure if he was saying ‘Good Morning’ or ‘Good Night’, at least he cared. My favorites were the deer as I watched the little fawns learned to prance, loose their freckles, and become beautiful members of the Mother Nature Family. There was a moment that I wished I had had my phone with me as one morning there made the perfect picture. Mom sitting in the shadow of a tree, Dad standing over her and on watch for whatever, (possibly me) and the little one (with ears bigger than his head) playing in the field. A Bambi moment and me with no camera.
There was also Murphy and his owner, a walker from down the block who did three miles every day. Never got her name but there was always a “Good Morning” or a comment on the weather. The runner, who I could spot down the street because of the day-glow vest, that said hi when we passed. Or the neighbor who was also walking for his health. Other people like me who found that the outdoors is a great place to see the world.
As I walked the last few days in the security of my home, doing circuits around the house; I could not help but think about the ‘friends’ I had made and what the air was doing to them. So, I watched through the windows and noticed the birds were not flying but using the water in the pan I had set up. In fact, the only flying birds were the hummingbirds to get food from the feeders outside the windows.
As I have not heard the owl, not sure of his outcome. The rabbits have come out from under the bushes to get the food but still prefer to hide. As for the deer, yesterday is the first time I have seen them since the apocalypse setting, we had for a week. Mother Nature will prevail but at what cost.
Thank you for the incentive with the ‘100 Miles in 100 Days’. My total was 279.03, a few days with only one mile but some over four miles. I now know I can do and that makes this seventy-year-old lady quite happy. It will keep me going for another 100 days.