Lots to see this Saturday morning

Posted on February 5, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

It’s occurred to the Dawn Jogger that she used to see more when she was running five or so times a week on the the Stanford campus. Now that she’s doing the Dish and other open space runs, there’s less to see – just beautiful scenery and the occasional critter.

That wasn’t the case this morning where it seemed there was something unusual around every corner. She set out on a “reverse” Dish, jogging from home out Alpine to Piers Lane and then going up and over, returning by Lake Lagunita and the Stanford Red Barn and golf course. She hadn’t been on Alpine long when she saw debris on the walking/bike path; it looked like a car must have plowed into a road sign. But when she got closer, she saw a huge hammer in the path, too. Had someone taken out their road rage on the sign and hammered it to smithereens.

Another sighting: a snowy egret was spotted sitting on a branch over one of the few puddles of water, right adjacent to the path. For what ever reason, it seemed to be enjoying the many admirers who were walking or jogging by, staying put rather than flying away. The up close and personal garnered it the top photo spot.

Finally, there was the person who had chosen two trees along the perimeter of Lake Lagunita to spend the night. Whether the person was homeless or an adventurous student is unknown.

The rest of the weekend is all about Grace who’s coming for a visit and an overnight. The DJ is taking her to see the M-A dance team perform tonight…

Posted in Dawn jogging | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Out in the wilds of sunny winter time

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

Oak against blue winter sky in Arastradero Preserve

It had been some time since the Dawn Jogger had been out to Arastradero Preserve but she made the return today on a winter morning that was chilly in the hollows and warm at ridge top. Jogging this open space has long made her feel good and she left iPod behind in the hopes of hearing some wild turkeys or other inhabitants. But all was eerily quiet about an hour after dawn. Maybe it was her fellow walkers, joggers and cyclists that were keeping the critters at bay – they were numerous. Who would want to be inside on a winter morning like this…

Posted in Dawn jogging | Leave a comment

Graduated colors, graduated life

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

dry Lake Laguita at dawn

Some mornings the sunrise is just routine, no clouds setting the sky ablaze. But the Dawn Jogger thinks there’s always some early morning payoff. Today, she noticed the graduated colors of the dry lake bed, running up to the pink in the western sky. She’s been thinking a lot of her graduated life, as she continues in the “in between time.” She knows when it began but has not idea of when the gradual steps of forward motion will propel her forward. Not that she’s really stuck…

Posted in Dawn jogging, Middle widow | Leave a comment

Blue skies, warm temps in dead of winter

Posted on February 2, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

The Midwest and Northeast may gripped by one of the biggest storms in decades, but February in the Bay Area continues the warm weather that marked January. It’s only chilly in the hollows of the Big Dish area. By the time the Dawn Jogger climbs to the top, it’s a good 10 degrees warmer. And then there’s the sparkling sunshine and blue skies. At least once the sun is finally up…

Posted in Dawn jogging | Leave a comment

Space ship on Stanford campus

Posted on February 1, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

It ranged from prehistoric to futuristic when the Dawn Jogger decided to check out what was happening on the Stanford campus, which she largely ignores now that she’s doing the Dish three times a week. At the edge of the golf course a Big Bird greeted her in the mist, which had settled only on a small area, with sun shining everywhere else.

Across campus, the construction that has been constant since in the 20 plus years she’s been using the campus as her backyard continues. Her usual path that skirts Frost Amphitheater was blocked and next to Frost a huge space ship looked to be be taking shape. In reality it was the new performing arts center. On this route done hundreds of times, she couldn’t help but think of Cassie the dog and the male DJ...

Posted in Dawn jogging | Leave a comment

It’s a red-striped dawn

Posted on January 31, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

Red stripes in the sky near Big Dish

Red stripes reflected in puddleThe Dawn Jogger could see the red stripes across the pre-dawn sky as soon as she started across the Stanford golf course second fairway. The color had intensified by the time she was at the base of the Big Dish, reflected in one of the new puddles from yesterday’s rain. It was like someone had taken a paint brush across the sky. Lovely way to begin the day…

Posted in Dawn jogging | Leave a comment

Weathering the elements on Windy Hill

Posted on January 30, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

Herd of deer at Windy Hill Open Space Preserve

Earlier in the week – when it was warm and sunny – the Dawn Jogger had earmarked today for a long hike up Windy Hill and back down Hamm’s Gulch or maybe even Razorback Ridge trail. The idea was to pack both lunch and a special cargo and enjoy the glorious green countryside. But the weatherman didn’t cooperate and she awoke this morning to rain. After lunch, she decided to go anyway, shortening the trip to the five mile up and back, leaving from the Portola Rd. parking lot. For awhile, she thought she’d over-prepared, with all the rain gear she was wearing. But about 3/4  of the way up, the Irish mist blew in, pausing only briefly while she was at the summit to reveal, momentarily, blue skies – it was just perfect. The deserted hiking path meant lots of wildlife viewing…

Posted in Dawn jogging | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Experimenting with Saturday morning routine

Posted on January 29, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

The Dawn Jogger has been jogging solo for over four years. But during that period that the male DJ lived with brain cancer, the two had tried to get back a bit of their Saturday morning fitness routine, which, in its revamped form, meant the DJ jogging and the male DJ walking and then having breakfast at the restaurant closest to their route. Since his death, the DJ has had no Saturday routine – and maybe that’s the good news. She’s free to try whatever suits her from week to week. This morning that took the form of jogging to Cafe Borrone – where she spotted to very patient “customers” – to meet a friend for breakfast and then walking home. Distance and no clean up, perfect…

Posted in Dawn jogging, Middle widow | Leave a comment

The art of the herd

Posted on January 28, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

cattle on Big Dish land, January 2011

So, to all those friends who have been shivering while the San Francisco Bay Area basked in sunshine, winter – or at least as it’s experienced here – crept back in today. There was no glorious sunrise this morning, no glowing globe, instead dense, drippy, bone-chilling fog. As well as the Dawn Jogger knows her way across the first and second fairway of the Stanford golf course, she found herself swerving from side to side and losing her way – the usual sideline markers were invisible. Once on the Dish paved roadways, it was easier to stay on course, but much like a week ago, Big Dish itself could only be seen in silhouette. Some of the photographs she took were just a mass of dots – what heavy fog looks like captured by her trusty Lumix. That she snapped a Wyeth-like inspired photo of the herd was all the more satisfactory. Forecast is for rain, alas…

Posted in Dawn jogging | Tagged | Leave a comment

Art on a pole – or pole grafitti

Posted on January 27, 2011 by Linda Hubbard

graffiti on pole on Stanford campusNow that the female Dawn Jogger is doing the Dish at least three times a week, she sees less of what’s happening on the Stanford campus. She’s always been too early to see actual people, except for the maintenance crews. But she would see enough to get a sense of what was going on – elections, speakers, plays etc. This morning she’d run around Lake Lagunita and was heading home when she spotted some pole art – or is it pole graffiti? – near the Governor’s Corner dorms.  The white figure with pink tongue (?) appeared on a couple of other poles. What the meaning is, she hasn’t a clue…

Posted in Dawn jogging | Tagged , | 1 Comment