PICKING UP RUNNER / WALKER PACKS FROM INSIDE MOOSE LODGE...MT. VERNON
MT VERNON ARTHRITIS JINGLE BELL RUNNERS ARE OFF & RUNNING...
WAITING FOR THE BELLS TO START JINGLING...LOTS OF BARE LEGS OUT THERE...BRRRrrr
HANDSOME DOGS...DECORATED STROLLERS & WAGONS AND COLORFUL COSTUMED RUNNERS / WALKERS...NOT MUCH MINDING THE COLD MORNING
ARTHRITIS JINGLE BELL EVENT BEING WELCOMED IN MT VERNON, WASHINGTON
HIGH SCHOOL CHEER LEADERS SENT RUNNERS & WALKERS ON THEIR WAY
JINGLE BELL WALKERS GETTING STARTED...NOTE CHEER LEADERS
JINGLE BELL EVENT WINDING DOWN IN MT. VERNON
SAM'S WEATHER COVER...MAY NOT BE REAL PRETTY, BUT IS QUICK TO SET UP AND WILL KEEP SAM & ME DRY AND OUT OF THE COLD WIND...and we can cook under there.
WEATHER COVER LEFT FRONT TELESCOPING POLE AND HOLD-DOWN SNAP.
WEATHER COVER FRONT TELESCOPING RODS...NOTE CENTER SNAP
REAR OF WEATHER COVER IS HELD SECURELY IN PLACE WITH SNAP (lousy pic)
WEATHER COVER - RIGHT FRONT SIDE VIEW...Note Diagonal Telescope Rod Holding Up 20 Watt Solar Panel
WEATHER COVER - LEFT REAR VIEW..Notice Snaps Hold Down
WEATHER COVER OPEN...FROM REAR VIEW
SAM'S WEATHER COVER WITH SIDE EXTENSION FOR CHAIR (oops...me's shadow)
SAM'S WEATHER COVER IN PLACE..Note "Chair" under Extension.About 6:30 am, gathered up my walking shoes and headed for Mt. Vernon. Was very cold - high 20s - the "5" was icy and lots of traffic this Saturday morning. Everybody behaved themselves, except for one 18 wheeler which came 10 feet of my rear bumper...I was traveling 65 mph. Simply do not understand why truckers insist on following so closely.
Was turning daylight when I pulled into the Moose Lodge Parking Lot, where the Mt. Vernon Arthritis Event was to start/finish. About 300 participants showed up to a gaily decorated room full of t-shirts, drinks, cake and croissants. Picked up my pack consisting of a long sleeve "t" and a set of "Jingle Bells" for the shoe laces.
Actually, was quite a festive mood...lots of baby strollers..lots of dogs...lots of costumes...and the local high school Pep Band played seasonal music...even some dancing before the "race" began.
Three or four folks spoke on the PA system giving appropriate greetings, thanks, and Arthritis Stories.
I decided to take pics...to follow along near the end of the Walkers. The Runners took off to the crack of a Pistol, followed by casually strolling Walkers. Lots of volunteer road guards (to be sure no one got lost en-route) and Police watching over us.
The course was from Down Town Mt. Vernon, through a residential area, and return. Everything was along the Skagit River...which has a history of flooding... next to the Dike Road.
Runners course was 4 miles. Walkers did 2 miles. Everyone finished pretty much together to more merriment and lots of "eats" waiting. First three Runner Finishers received awards (Men and Women were awarded separately).
All in all, it was a good event.
Drove back to Bellingham, stopping at SAM's place. Set up Her new Enclosure...made a couple refinements...and took the pics which I forgot yesterday...so here they are.
It is a beautiful Sunny Saturday. Was going to start our walk to the Peace Arch today, but the Washington Huskies are playing the Washington State Cougars for the "Apple Cup"...will watch the game - with a beer and chips - instead. Interesting neither Seattle (Huskies) no Pullman (Cougars) have much in the way of Apples. Apple country is along the Columbia River about half way between Seattle and Pullman.
Was turning daylight when I pulled into the Moose Lodge Parking Lot, where the Mt. Vernon Arthritis Event was to start/finish. About 300 participants showed up to a gaily decorated room full of t-shirts, drinks, cake and croissants. Picked up my pack consisting of a long sleeve "t" and a set of "Jingle Bells" for the shoe laces.
Actually, was quite a festive mood...lots of baby strollers..lots of dogs...lots of costumes...and the local high school Pep Band played seasonal music...even some dancing before the "race" began.
Three or four folks spoke on the PA system giving appropriate greetings, thanks, and Arthritis Stories.
I decided to take pics...to follow along near the end of the Walkers. The Runners took off to the crack of a Pistol, followed by casually strolling Walkers. Lots of volunteer road guards (to be sure no one got lost en-route) and Police watching over us.
The course was from Down Town Mt. Vernon, through a residential area, and return. Everything was along the Skagit River...which has a history of flooding... next to the Dike Road.
Runners course was 4 miles. Walkers did 2 miles. Everyone finished pretty much together to more merriment and lots of "eats" waiting. First three Runner Finishers received awards (Men and Women were awarded separately).
All in all, it was a good event.
Drove back to Bellingham, stopping at SAM's place. Set up Her new Enclosure...made a couple refinements...and took the pics which I forgot yesterday...so here they are.
It is a beautiful Sunny Saturday. Was going to start our walk to the Peace Arch today, but the Washington Huskies are playing the Washington State Cougars for the "Apple Cup"...will watch the game - with a beer and chips - instead. Interesting neither Seattle (Huskies) no Pullman (Cougars) have much in the way of Apples. Apple country is along the Columbia River about half way between Seattle and Pullman.
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