Reflections

Not every day serves up a colorful sunrise or sunset, although today the beginning was quite spectacular. I was otherwise engaged and failed to capture a picture of it, so I was a bit disappointed with the muted nature at sundown due to cloud cover.

I should not have been alarmed because if there is one thing I've learned from my time walking, it is that there is always something fantastic happening right where you find yourself at any given moment.

College Creek Sundown

As the photo above attests, College Creek was exceptionally calm this evening and the skyscape reflection was a wondrous sight to behold.

As always, I'm looking forward to what will happen tomorrow.

Waterfront Walk

Not too very much to say about today. I did manage to make it in for a stroll this morning. It's the first morning amble in the Anacostia River watershed since the foot healed up a little.

Anacostia Morning with USS Barry

Sunrise was a little subdued because of the overcast, but all in all a glorious morning.  Looking forward to another one tomorrow.

Brackets on a Good Day

I slept a little later than I planned this morning. It's not the end of the world, but getting older is putting a cramp on my ability to rebound from time on the road.  On the upside, I got to the top level of the parking garage at work just at the crack of dawn. On the top floor, the view is great and the parking is plentiful. I suspect that's because it's seven floors and 109 steps down to the ground level. I've decided to start parking there for all three of those reasons...the view, the proclivity of open spots, and the exercise the steps afford.

My day started like this.

Sunrise over the Washington Navy Yard

Not a bad day to start what would end up being a day filled with meetings that drug on far too long for my liking until I exited the building and was greeted with this view.

Sunset Behind the USS Barry - Washington, DC

Today was perhaps not as productive as I had hoped, but the bookends at the start and the finish made the middle part worth it.  Looking forward to tomorrow and whatever may unfold.

A Long Day of Travel

I'm back up in Maryland after a relatively long day of travel getting back here from the land of alligators and fried pickles. I got out and put in just a few miles earlier in the morning, and I was rewarded with a nice sunrise.

Sunrise - Spanish Fort, AL

A friend of mine remarked that I was blessed with seeing such beautiful skies. I noted that it's there for the asking to anyone who gets outside to observe them. The beauty that walking has brought into my life is indeed a real blessing.

The only other thing worth remarking on is that I managed to pen the title for the country song i mentioned in yesterday's post. I think the title of the tune should be something like, "That Five Finger Discount on the Little Debbie Snack Cake, Sure Cost Me Quite a Bit of Time.

Till tomorrow, and whatever it may reveal.

Something is Always Happening

Today was the longest walking day since my return to the trail. It's a little shocking how much my fitness has degraded in five weeks, but even over the relatively short period of time I've been back on the trail I can feel my strength returning.

As the routine goes, the sunset this evening was worth getting outside to experience. Clouds tamped down the usual hues of reds and oranges, but the blue popped.

Twilight Over the I-10

On the way back up the Eastern Shore Trail, a man was being arrested out in front of one of the convenience stores that I stop for a soda from time to time. The police made pretty short work of it. Slap on the bracelets and put in the back of the SUV and one car was off to the jail. When I came out after purchasing my soda, the wrecker was pulling up to tow his car. 

I also walked right up on an armadillo although I wasn't quick enough to capture the pixels as he scurried across the trail.

There is always something happening out on the trail. A sunset, an arrest, and an armadillo. If I was creative, I suspect that'd be a good basis for a country song. As always, I'm looking forward to what will unfold tomorrow.

Twilight

I'm pretty sure that I'm nearing the twilight time of my current position at work. I did not seek this position, and when it was presented to me as an excellent opportunity and a choice, I didn't really get the impression that I had much of a choice at all. It was presented as temporary. A position that would last for six months or so. That was eighteen months ago, and I've settled in and really grown to love the people that I get to work with on a day to day basis. The job, well, I could take it or leave it, but the people are fantastic.

I mentioned today at lunch that my departure this summer was a likely scenario. That announcement resulted in some conversations this afternoon where truths were told and appreciation for some great people were voiced.

Twilight Skyline and Austal Assembly Bay - Mobile, AL 

Those conversations were a bittersweet exchange. I feel simultaneously closer to people and the pull of the loss that I'll feel when the situation finally changes and we move off in different directions. It's a surprising development from a job position that I never sought to get and had no real expectation of keeping for any real length of time.

While the twilight has come to this time in my life, the sun has not completely set on this chapter, so as always, I'm looking forward to what tomorrow may hold. I wasn't expecting what happened today, but I'm glad that it happened and I'm grateful for the time that led up to this moment.

Back from Sea, Returning to Routine

I was fortunate enough to spend the last three days out in the Gulf of Mexico to participate in the initial testing of a fantastic and complex machine. That's another story for another day, but it did provide what seems like an inflection point on my path back to my walking routine. I spent quite a bit of time on my feet, and the injury didn't act up to much.

Upon my return, I hit the trail for a little ramble through Daphne, AL. Back to the familiar on the Eastern Shore Trail.

Eastern Shore Trail - Daphne, AL

For early March, the weather is warm and the first trip down to the beach seemed to be in order. The water's still cool, but the sun heated sand holds the promise of life returning from the winter hiatus.

Daphne Beach

The sun set on one of the more relaxing and restful days that I've had in a number of months. Like every sunset it was unique as well as beautiful.

Sunset - Daphne, AL

Tomorrow will be a return to a bit of the grind associated with work, but as always, I'm looking forward to what it has in store for me.