The old gal sure deserves a failing mark for her weather efforts of late.

Saturday was an all-day rainy and ugly day, and, while Sunday started out with just a sliver of sun, while I was at Council Point Park, there was a snow squall that suddenly blew up, complete with graupel, that began bouncing off my clothes, nose, and toes of my walking shoes.  I got soaking wet from departing the trail and traipsing home.

I was not too happy about that, believe me!

I have a sinking feeling that we are going to be cheated out of an Indian Summer this year.

But, I did hit the ground running this morning, just as soon as it was light, to try and recoup lost steps from shaving a loop and a half off yesterday’s trek, and, of course, no steps due to Saturday’s sogfest.  It was downright cold and blustery, but thankfully dry.  I hustled down to the Park, and made my way around the perimeter path, very quickly I might add, because the wind was gusting mightily and the wind chill made it feel like 20 degrees.  The walkers have dwindled once again – just a handful of us were walking this morning.

There were many spots of ice along the perimeter path, but those puckery-looking patches of thin ice were fairly easy to spot and just dodge them, not like the dreaded black ice where you could easily wipe out and take a tumble.

A quick glance toward the Creek showed me there’s no ice yet on the water’s surface, probably because the current was too strong today.  The wind may have been ruffling the feathers on the mallards who gathered there for a morning swim, but they were contently moving along, unruffled by the chilly, no make that cold, temps.  Likewise, the geese were strutting around on the perimeter path and grazing in the still-green grass.

Seeing those ducks and geese made me vow to wear my goose down coat for tomorrow’s walk, so I would be warm and toasty and not shivering.

The weatherman promises a fairly dry weather week ahead – perfect for getting more miles walked, or, for those who must scurry around for their Turkey Day feast or heading off to Grandma’s house for the holiday weekend.  Can it really be Thanksgiving already with just a mere ten days left in this month of November?  It seems we have sped through this eleventh month of the year and soon we will close in on the year 2017.  I am closing in on my next goal of 900 miles as well … just nine miles to go to reach this milestone.

Push, push push.

Puff, puff, puff.

Onward and upward I go!