Tuesday 4-22-08

Tick check--none today that I'm aware of yet (yesterday's count was 3).

This morning's run was longer than planned because I sort-of got lost. I didn't realize it until it was time to return home.
I struck out from the house toward Henry Conrad road (where I filmed on the beach). I had run past this road, to a house with a large red barn, once before for an out and back total of about 6k (measured by the van). Our runs have to be in the morning and unless I want to get up before 6am, they have to be fairly short (due to my current pace). Today's run was to be approximately 45 min to an hour. Ran down Hwy 331 (I use the term highway loosely--that is just the name). Hwy 331 is a two lane road that does not see much traffic. It is scenic and drives along the coast.
Either way you go is incredibly hilly. It reminds me of Chappel Hill or Cat Spring but the hills are closer together and the flat parts are next to non-existent. Choosing a direction is basically choosing whether or not I want to run on the beach.
I chose the beach run but wanted to stay on the main road. As I ran I passed Henry Conrad road and continued on. Shortly afterward there is a road on the right called Back Rd. I took it because it looked fairly flat.
Running down this road was nice; only two or so houses and nice scenery. I saw a raccoon and a friendly snowshoe hare as I ran. The hare seemed to want to run w/me because it did not speed up; it just stayed with me. It finally had enough of me and cut in front of me (slowly). Apparently my lack of speed and heavy foot fall did not intimidate it.
Continuing down the road I wondered when a bear would come out of the forest. It was terribly quiet and very wooded. It was still in the 6am hour so there wasn't traffic; I was running alone and really enjoying it.
At 6:40 I decided it was time to turn around. Since Christina (scientist) was coming at 8am I needed to leave time for a shower and breakfast. Sharing two bathrooms with 4 other women requires time and patience (and planning).
The return trip wasn't bad. The hills were much smaller and less frequent. It reminded me of running the Tour de Bayou at Allen Parkway & Shepherd. As I ran, I looked to my left because there was a clearing. I saw something that looked familiar--Christina's horse and the house where she boards it. I thought it was odd and started thinking about how weird it was that I could see it since it was past my longest long run house. I didn't worry and kept running.
I arrived where I could turn left or go straight. Since I hadn't turned when I entered the road I continued forward, worrying about my choices now. I saw a sign for folk art and realized that I was indeed too far.
I retraced my steps (luckily just a few) and turned on that road. It led to Hwy 331--my way home. The town sign for Cherry Hill was there so I definitely knew I had run too far. I knew where I was but I couldn't remember how far I was from my red barn.
After a few hills I saw my red barn and realized that I was definitely going to take longer than expected.
I closed in on Henry Conrad Rd and was excited to be nearing the house--about 1 more mile. Before I arrived, I encountered the loose dog from the other day.
I forgot to post about it. There had been a mean dog loose--it looked like a bulldog. Not the short and cute English bulldog. It was taller. Now that I think about it, it was a pit bull. It tried to chase me but I turned around and yelled it so it left me alone.
Back to my story--I saw this dog in the middle of my lane (I was running toward opposing traffic). I stopped to figure out my plan of action as it approached. As I was about 75 yards from it, it turned toward the woods. At that point I realized it wasn't the dog; it was a fox!!!! The fox had seen me and wasn't in a hurry but it walked into the woods. I wish I had carried my camera with me. I know that by the time I opened my camera the fox would have been in the woods. Still, I wish I had given myself the opportunity.

Today we did more poo collecting and more trap checking (morning & late afternoon). I caught nothing and I am definitely tired of walking through the wild blueberry bushes. My shins & arms are raw.
I can't believe that it is Tuesday. There are only a few days left of this trip and I will definitely miss it. We are headed out for beaver watching again. We will return to our first place--where a fisherman was sitting last night. Apparently that spot is a 'hot spot' for beavers.

I have some videos--mainly for the kids but if there are any exciting ones, I will post them.