Walk in the Rain~

The rain came!  The humidity went so high last night that it was like walking out into a sauna.  The rain didn't come in until later this morning, but with the lawns starting to burn, it was welcome.

On our porch~

My friend Jean was having her Bible Study today & I decided to get away from all I was doing & walk.  The temperature was only about 75, but with the humidity I wore the lightest rain jacket I had.  It only took a block until I was as wet under the jacket as I was on top!

Heading back home~

 The air smelled so very fresh & it was so quiet out.  Not that there's ever much traffic, but today there was even less.  I wanted to walk the square that would take me up to the tallest hill in our area.

Going up!

It doesn't look as steep as it is!  It is steep!  It got my heart going, that's for sure.  I felt like a slug after a couple weeks of not riding or walking much either.  I've been doing my share of work - mowing, weed-whacking etc., but it's not the same.

At the top~

 I know it's the top, because one of the town's three water towers sits up here!  My knees don't like the downhill, but I do!

Heading down!

 Way, way, way down at the bottom of this hill is the Homeplace.  Our elevation is around 1,016 feet.  The Garmin said that the top of the hill is 1,133.  So in 1.5 miles I'd gained 203 feet of elevation.  Sadly, only burned 110 calories :-(   Riding Farah five-miles of country roads burns about 350 C.

My route~

My average speed, even carrying a bag of fresh tomatoes on the trip home, was 2.9.  Not nearly as fast as Ms. Farah's, but respectable.  Of course when it comes to top speed, the mare has me beat!  I'm hoping the cooler days will last long enough we can get out!

Lookin' like Snow~

We've been spoiled - again...  No two ways about it!  That sunshine & warmth was deceptive.  So glad we got out & enjoyed it while it lasted!  Today, the clouds were back & we were back into the low 30's.

I met with Sue & for lunch in Council Bluffs & am very excited to be helping with the formation of a SW Iowa Chapter of BCHIA!  It will take some work, but state wide - we have one hundred members!  It's a start!  We're looking forward to the opportunity to meet other horsemen in our area!  This will also help me to get a start on what advocacy work I can do here for the AERC.

The Home Place ~

Butch was ready to walk by the time I got home, so out we went.  This is one of the prettiest parts we've found so far of Tinkle Branch Creek.  You can just see our place on the far side, through the trees.

View east - from the top of Townsend Street~

Above is the view from as far up the hillside as we can get from this street.

From the top of Arnold Street~

We walked another block south, then went up again to as far as we could go & I took this view looking a little Southeast toward highway 34.  The wind was blowing on the hilltop, my ears got cold!

Tinkle Branch Creek :-(

As you can tell from the photo above - taken in town - creeks are not a priority here - they're used more as a place to dump things...  So sad.

Taken from the SW corner of the Square~

Even on a gray, late January day, the town square has so much character.  Christmas music was playing during the holidays.  Now it's more mainstream tunes :-) 

Brick roads~

The brick roads just amaze me!  There are many still in use all over town, some with the herringbone pattern, others just laid in rows.  With all the years of wear & the weather - most are still holding up.  I'm sure it's the salt that's put down - that gives the brick it's white spots.

Our walk~

We only walked over two-miles today - it was cold, brisk & refreshing to be out & about.  The house was nice & warm when we returned - dinner is on!  Snow in the forecast - we'll see what tomorrow brings~