At noon I walked eastward on the Tolt Pipeline trail. I hadn't previously ventured more than a mile east on it, but today I continued to the end and beyond.
My mom retuned from her cousin's funeral in Shasta, CA last night, and I happened to ask about her dozen aunts and uncles. She told me they were all dead, most due to heart problems. The last several months of reading the web for exercise have not done wonders for my physical fitness levels as I had hoped, so her statement made my need for exercise even more pressing.
The temperature was over 80° F, and I was hot, even in my shorts, mostly due to a sweatshirt. Forgetting sunscreen was mildly unfortunate.
I walked without first viewing a map, and let my curiosity lead me. I stopped for a minute to read a sign before a creek, which apparently is breading waters for five different species of salmon. I hoped for a nice view, so I continued along the trail uphill, to a plateau.
After arriving at the end of the plateau, the view of the Snoqualmie river valley was nice. I could see the small town of Duvall across the valley, and yonder, the Cascades. Duvall didn't appear too distant so I decided to continue on the pipeline trail, which appeared to head towards it and perhaps intersect a road.
Unfortunately, the pipeline came to an end as I started heading down the hill. I pressed onward and was met with an increasing grade and spiteful stinging needles and briars. After another 50 feet, my scratched, bloodied, burning legs helped me decide that I wasn't a Roman centurion after all, and so I veered left towards a ravine. The Devil's Club, fallen tries, and steep slopes of the ravine made for little improvement, but eventually I wandered onto an overgrown logging road, and then someone's backyard. I exited quickly through the cyclone gate at the end of their driveway. (People with such fences don't take kindly to trespassers, I suspect.)
At last I was on the road, which had its own problems -- namely, the fast and frequent cars and trucks, their exhaust, and the lack of a shoulder. I traveled a mile on the road, then turned left, and went another mile or more across the valley and over the river and then into Duvall.
I went to the first convenience store I saw and called home at 2 p.m. I was greeted by the answering machine, so I left for mom a message, asking her to drive towards Duvall and pick me up if she was bored.
I bought a quart of Powerade! (Artic Shatter flavor), as I never before tried one. It was better tasting than Gatorade; amongst other ingredients I think they add more sugar. I bought a couple protein bars, ate one, and commenced my return journey.
After over 12 miles, my burning legs, aching chest, and blistered feet increasingly hurt. It is amazing how many cars look like my Mom's white Lexus from a distance. Finally, at 4 p.m, her air-conditioned mobile oasis arrived, about 1.5 miles from home.
Posted by seander at July 14, 2003 06:15 PM