jhetley

When in doubt, send the Marines. USMC aircraft flocking over at the base, including a pair of (metal) Ospreys coming in for a landing just as I headed across the end of the runway. Funny-looking things.

First goldenrod blooming, tansy, continued St. John's wort. And the first purple loosestrife of the season, bedamned invasive weed.

No fresh roadkill. There *may* be a different dried-out skunk on my detour road, since I haven't been over that section in more than a week.

Got out on the bike, air temperature 78 F when I got home so marginal conditions for my aged body. Did not die.

15.58 miles, 1:30:55

Air temperature 65 F, wind north 9 mph, rain shower on the weather radar but not seen here. Breakfast internalized after a "fasting" blood draw at a lab across town. Glad they open at 0600 . . .

On to coffee.

Air temperature 70 F at 0630, wind near calm, sunny. Dew point 67 F, so that soup's on. Another nasty day, and that's just the heat. AQI and pollen index both "moderate." Will walk early. Do not expect cat friends to be available.

Back from walk, 78 F out there and damp. All cat friends had enough sense to stay inside. First thistles, bell-flowers blooming, nightshade, bindweed. Even birds mostly silent, but we have seen some juvenile robins about.

Air temperature 63 F, wind west about 7 mph, partly cloudy. Dew point 53 F, so the humidity hasn't kicked back up. Yet. Tomorrow is supposed to revert to hazy hot and humid. We live in the frozen north to avoid that shit . . .

White sweet clover, rabbits'-foot clover, and rambling roses now blooming. Definitely both yarrow and Queen Anne's lace. Cattails and sumac flower spikes up but not open yet. Almost all the lupines have gone to seed.

No roadkill identified, not even a squirrel. Several blotches on the asphalt, but the cleanup crew has been active.

Got out on the bike, upriver and then back through the bog. Paving project on hold for the weekend, but they have advanced and may get done in a week or two. Did not die. Ride takes me over 200 miles for the year, half of what I would like to have done by this point.

15.59 miles, 1:31:35

Hazy gibbous moon
Cooler, storm has moved the heat
Scattered fireflies

Severe thunderstorm warnings and watches stalk the state. Nothing directly dire here yet. Stay tuned for the next exciting episode . . .

Air temperature 65 F, wind near calm, sunny. Dew point 63 F. Another day where a leisurely stroll will supplant more vigorous pursuits. Scattered showers and thundershowers on the schedule for afternoon and overnight.

“I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it.” Mark Twain