WTA Hike-a-thon 2012 - working and hiking

I started out my weekend working to San Francisco. So I spent the day hiking with my friend, Krista (who has generously donated to the Washington Trails Association cause!) We did a mile and a half at Sobrante Ridge Regional Preserve in  Richmond, CA, On the Sobrante Ridge Trail and the Broken Oak trail. Then we traveled over to the John Muir historic site in Martinez, CA.

He had a homestead there and there is a nature trail to Mount Wanda, named after one of his daughters. We did two miles there on that trail .And I took a break at a picnic table at the top of the "mount". Now later in the day it had gotten hotter, so we decided to travel closer to the Bay to 

Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond, CA where the sea breezes would keep us cool  Here we did 4 miles on several trails criss-crossing the park! The land the park occupies was originally home to dynamite and explosive manufacturers during the 1800's through the 1940's.. There are still remnants of bunkers and railroad and pier facilities from this period of the park's history. I hug an extremely large Eucalyptus tree. Many of these non-native trees are being removed. However, they provide a habitat for migrating monarch butterflies, so some are being allowed to stay. All in all, I got in 7.5 miles for Hike-a-thon while working my San Francisco trip!

Then I had to work an international trip. This is the part of my job that non airline people find so glamorous, crossing the ocean to a foreign country. Not so glamorous when you are down a bathroom (had to block off one when it refused to flush!) I was supposed to go to Madrid, but at the last minute I traded for Amsterdam. Mainly because I knew that I would not find "named trails" for hike-a-thon in Madrid. I thought I might be able to get something in the Netherlands. I figured the Dutch are known for their bicycling while the Spanish are more known for their siestas! So I get to the hotel and I find out there is a great park nearby! Beatrixpark. So I head over there hoping for some trails. Well there were plenty of trails, but none of them were "named".
The Trails with No Names!

So the hiking I did in Amsterdam is not going to count towards hike-a-thon. But it was a fun day nevertheless!  I guess hiking is not the deal here in the Netherlands, bicycling is!

Just follow the link to my WTA page and make a donation. I'll be hiking on Washington State Trails this coming week when I return to the USA. And I still have a Denver layover coming up, so look for a post about mile high hiking soon! Follow this link to make a donation via credit card:  WTA Hike-a-thon Checks can be made out to WTA (Washington Trails Association) and mailed to me at: Amanda Arkebauer PO BOX 16131 Seattle, WA 98116

Monday's Postcard: Paris

I layover in Paris quite often, but this card is actually from a friend, who was here on vacation in 2006. Ryan and I traveled to Paris earlier this month. We toured around town and then Ryan traveled to southern France to begin his hike along the Camino de Santiago, called The Way of St. James in France, he began in Le Puy and is currently walking to the border with Spain. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon  Checks can be made out to WTA (Washington Trails Association) and sent to: Amanda Arkebauer PO Box 16131 Seattle, WA  98116



 This map from Google Maps is a close approximation of what Ryan will be doing(is doing!), A is Le Puy where he was on Sunday August 12th and B is Aumont-Aubrac where he was on Tuesday August 14, C is Aubrac where he was Wednesday the 15th. He has been averaging 20 miles a day (32 km or so)



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WTA Hike-a-thon 2012 a Paris Break and then Hiking around Home

Ryan and I arrived in Paris and after dropping our luggage off to be stored at our hotel (It was around 9am and we would not be able to check in until 2pm) we headed over to the Paris Catacombs. The place opens at 10am and already the line was stretched around the block. We got in line and it took 2 hours before we entered the catacombs.

Stop! You are entering the Empire of the Dead!The cemeteries of Paris were considered a health risk in the 1700's and the bones were dug up and deposited in these underground passages beneath the city. These passages had originally been part of a limestone quarry. In the 1800's the catacombs were opened up for tourists to visit. It is a fascinating and creepy part of Parisian History.

Once we left the catacombs, we went to check into our hotel and took a little nap. Then we woke up in time to go to the top of the Montparnasse tower. One of the tallest buildings in Paris, it has a neat observation deck at the top. We watched the sun go down and had great views of the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triumph, Notre Dame and many other tourist spots.

We could look down on our hotel from the top of Montparnasse Tower. 

The next day we got up bright and early to hit all the highlights of Paris. One little known bit of trivia is the statue of a Zouave soldier at the Pont de l'alma Bridge. If the water level reaches the feet of the soldier, the lower foot paths along the Seine will be closed. When the water reaches the statue's thighs, the river is unnavigable. During the great flood of 1910, the water level reached the shoulders of the statue.  

Arc de Triumph and we were triumphant finding a trekking pole at an outdoor store in Paris!

Gargoyles at Notre Dame

An interesting lock on the bridge across the Seine

While browsing through the Les Bouquinistes along the Seine we saw this Film shoot

And I was lucky enough to score this French version of a Nancy Drew book. Alice and the Poltergeist is really The Ghost of Blackwood Hall translated to the French.

Back home to Seattle and it was back to hiking for the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. I started on Monday with a nice little ramble around the Farrel McWhirter Park in Redmond.

I took the Perimeter Trail all the way to the North End of the Park and the Powerline trail  to the Juel Trail leading to Juel Park.

Here you come out at Juel Park with a community garden on one side and a disc golf course on the other! I hiked 2.5 miles on Monday.

Tuesday, I drove out to Greenwater, WA and hiked the Greenwater Lakes Trail for 4 miles. It is an easy 2 miles out to the lake and back. I even passed a WTA team doing trail work and ran into lots of folks on the trail. I can imagine that on the weekends this place is PACKED!

On Wednesday I did 2 miles along the Alki Beach Trail.

and on Thursday, I did 2 miles at Paradise Valley Conservation Area in Woodinville, WA.

Where I saw this interesting thing. A chain and hook that was "growing" out of a tree. I imagine the tree grew around this chain over the years, must have been left here when this area was logged.

 Thanks to Janet and Deirdre for their pledges for hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my page at WTA Hike-a-thon and give a little yourself. I had 3 more $5 donations from co-workers this week too!




 This map from Google Maps is a close approximation of what Ryan will be doing(is doing!), A is Le Puy where he was on Sunday August 12th and B is Aumont-Aubrac where he was on Tuesday August 14, C is Aubrac where he was Wednesday the 15th. He has been averaging 20 miles a day (32 km or so)



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Monday's Postcard: The Hanging Elephant

This is a postcard from Ryan's Appalachian Trail Hike in 2003. I went to visit him in Erwin, TN. In 1916, this circus elephant, "Murderous Mary", was convicted of killing her trainer in Kingsport, TN and they transported her to Erwin to hang her from a railroad derrick crane, the only means available at the time for a humane disposal of her.

We did a lot of great hikes in North Carolina and Tennessee along that section of the Appalachian Trail. This year I have been doing a lot of fun hikes for the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. If you have not already, consider donating a dollar or two to this great cause. Ryan and I use the trails in Washington all the time and this is our chance to give back and help maintain the trails by soliciting your donations! Check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon Thanks so much to Shirley for our most recent donation! Only $375 more dollars to go to reach our goal. And I have been totally remiss not to give you guys the address to mail checks! Checks should be made out to WTA (Washington Trails Association) and can be sent to me at: Amanda Arkebauer PO Box 16131 Seattle, WA  98116

WTA Hike-a-thon 2012 The First Week in California

For the start of Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon this year, I was in Folsom, CA staying with my sister. She just had surgery and I needed to be down to help her with heavy lifting and such around the house. Day One of Hike-a-thon, I hiked 4 miles along the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail (American River Bike Trail) near Folsom, CA. I started at the Nimbus Fish Hatchery and hiked downstream 2 miles and back again. That's the mile marker for mile 22. The trail runs approximately 32 miles from Sacramento to Folsom, CA. The key to hiking in California in August is getting out early in the day before it gets too hot. The weather forecast for this week had the highs in the 100's! Way to hot for this Seattle girl. I was out on the trail at 6am and the thermometer in the car told me it was 68 degrees. Perfect. When I returned to the car 2 hours later, it was already 78 degrees.








You know you are hiking in California when you encounter grapes along the trail! And we aren't even in Napa! :-)

Day Two of hike-a-thon, I was inspired by my successful hike the day before, so I got up even earlier to travel to Auburn, CA and hike to Hidden Falls. Much of the park is undergoing renovation, so many trails were blocked for trail work and restoration. But the route down to the Falls Overlook was open.  I got to see some baby deer and the whole family was there too!





On day Three of hike-a-thon, I made a tactical error and did NOT wake up before the dawn to hike. So there I was in 100 degree heat back on the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail. This time I got on the trail at mile marker 20 near Fair Oaks Bluff and only made it one mile before I started melting....so I barely made it back to the car. I had depleted my water supply and luckily had gatorade in the car to help keep me from passing out. I seriously do not do well in the heat.  I had thought doing a flat trail like the American River Parkway would not be that bad, but I was mistaken!

On Day Four of Hike-a-thon, I made the effort to get up early and I was out at The Monte Vista Trailhead to hike the Old Salmon Falls Loop at 6am. I did 2.2 miles and totally enjoyed the cooler temperatures of the early morning hours. The Salmon Falls is an extinct waterfall. It was dried up when the Folsom Dam was built in the 1950's. The Salmon Falls town site was flooded by the dam construction, but some foundations can be see in the fall and winter when the Folsom Lake has low water levels  Originally a gold mining camp, Salmon Falls was founded by Mormans in 1850.

 Day five of Hike-a-thon and I am happy to say, my last day of hiking  in Folsom. I did 2 miles on the East Natoma Lake Trail near Old Town Folsom. A highlight was this historical marker commemorating the Mexican Land Grant that lead to the creation of Folsom. And Turkeys! I will be headed home to Seattle to hike in  the Pacific Northwest for a few days! And Ryan and I will be traveling to Paris together, might not do anything for hike-a-thon there, but might have to post some photos anyway!

On August 7th (I skipped a day, I know--slacker--) I did 2 miles in Carkeek Park in Seattle. It was so good to be back home and hiking in cooler weather and where everything is GREEN!

I hiked the Piper's Creek Trail and was pleased to see an interesting interactive story trail along the way.I don't text, so I had to wait til I came home to access the info via their website, but I thought this was an awesome way to engage people in the hiking process and you learn something about the area too!
All this activity is for the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, we are almost half way towards our goal of $1000. WTA Hike-a-thon  And while you are reading this, Ryan and I are on our way to Paris. Don't know how much hiking we will do there, but I will be sure to blog about our adventures and I will leave him in France to start his hike of the Way of St. James or the Camino de Santiago!

Monday's Postcard: Marrakech

I love it when my globe-trotting friends send me postcards from their travels! Ryan and I are planning on leaving soon for Europe and some globe-trotting hiking for our Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. First stop is Paris! And hopefully we can get in a hike near Versailles or something. I found a wonderful website/blog called the The Easy Hiker that has tons of great hikes in Germany and France and other spots in Europe too! Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon And check back to my blog and Ryan's blog for our adventures from across the Pond! We have over $400 raised on our way to our goal of $1000! Thanks so much Patsy for your contribution.

Books I read in July 2012

1963, my Dad, George Arkebauer reading, it's in the genes...


The Newlyweds by Nell Freudenberger (library) a Bangladesh internet "mail order bride" comes to America  I liked it
The Darlings by Cristina Alger (library) Not that great, a rich NYC family caught in a financial scandal---was supposed to be a face-paced novel but I found it slow and much too much lawyer/financial stuff going on for my taste
Dark Places by Gillan Flynn (library) I read this one before...about a girl whose family was murdered by her brother (supposedly) reread it to prep for reading new Flynn books
The Submission by Amy Waldman (library) a 9/11 novel about the memorial -a Muslim created the winning design and what ensues, found it pretty dry and boring. Liked "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" better
In Their Footsteps by Tess Gerritsen paperback spy thriller
The Cookbook Collector by Allegra Goodman set in SFO, I enjoyed the bookstore/book collecting scenes a lot, also a subplot about computer tech IPO, not so interesting
Murder in Montparnasse by Howard Engel cute, reminded me a lot of the Woody Allen movie Midnight in Paris
People Who Eat Darkness by Richard Lloyd Parry (library) about a British girl murdered in Tokyo enjoyed it (true story)
The Uninvited Guests by Sadie Jones (library) an intriguing English Cosy
Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn (library) rereading this one too, dark dark
Crossing the Borders of Time by Leslie Maitland (library) I learned a lot about German occupied France during WWII
Heading Out to Wonderful by Robert Goolrick (library) I enjoyed A Reliable Wife by this author and I enjoyed this one even MORE! Highly recommended
The Expats by Chris Pavone (library) fun spy thriller
Stay Close by Harlan Coben (audiobook-library) for the long car rides to trailheads audiobooks are the best
Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear (library) another Maisie Dobbs mystery, great for folks that miss Downton Abbey
Canada by Richard Ford (library) good
These Girls by Sarah Pekkanam (library) If you like Emily Giffin or Devil Wears Prada, Nanny Diaries, that sort of stuff, try this one about 3 girls sharing an apartment in Manhattan

17 books read this month

Ryan and I are participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, we are $385 towards our goal of $1000. WTA Hike-a-thon Thanks so much Kate for your contribution!

Monday's Postcard: Jamaica

One of my cousins sent me this postcard from their vacation in Jamaica. I have been there for work, just flying in and out, but I have not spent any time in Jamaica. Closer to home, I am participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. I start counting my miles in August! Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon So far Ryan and I have raised $365 together! Our goal is $1000.

Monday's Postcard: Tarifa

On the southern coast of Spain, this little spit of land is only a few miles from Morocco across the Strait of Gilbralter. In August, Ryan will be hiking in Northern Spain from France on across to Santiago along the Way of St. James. All his miles and my miles hiking here in the USA will be going towards our Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon, many thanks to Sharon for making a pledge!! We are up to $275 donated!
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Wild Card: Nantucket

I love receiving cards as much as I love sending them! This card is from friends vacationing in Nantucket in 2011. Ryan and I are participating in the Washington Trails Association Hike-a-thon during August. I will be blogging about my hikes here in addition to my Monday Postcards. Be sure to check out my WTA page and make a donation, every little bit helps! WTA Hike-a-thon. It has been a whole week with no donations coming in....which has me a little worried. Don't be intimidated by numbers, even $5, $3 or $1 are welcome! If everyone who reads my blogs only gives $1, I would have over $100 from just those people alone!!