Harley’s Pond at low tide, Christmas Eve 2024. No snow for us, though we have seen a sliver of ice on the pond once or twice. We had no rain at all in October, and just 1.6″ from Tropical Storm Debbie in August. Total rainfall to date since July 1st is 14.3″.
At Lessons and Carols, St Paul’s Episcopal, Haymarket, Virginia
The 53rd(?) annual performance by Fredericksburg Community Chorus, directed by Chris Ryder (photographed above in dress rehearsal). The concerts were 3pm and 7pm, with 13-piece paid orchestra with harpsichord and organ, and about 80 singers including 12 soloists. The choruses were And the Glory, Purify, Oh Thou that Tellest, Unto Us, Glory to God, Surely, Stripes, Sheep, and Hallelujah.
My 6th Blue and Gray Half Marathon, Fredericksburg Virginia, 13.1 miles, 2:27:59, 11:18, 3rd of 6 men over 70. Right calf started hurting about halfway so I took care and it did not get worse. Mostly cloudy, 42°F, 6°C, Humidity 52%, Wind SSW 2mph, Activity Feel 40°F. This was my 25th half-marathon, but only my third slowest.
A drizzly fall afternoon on the front lawn of Chatham Manor
A government website says “The Youghiogheny River Reservoir is approximately …16 miles long with … an average depth of 54 ft and a maximum depth of 121 ft…”. It’s crossed by US Route 40, known at one time as the National Road, and always a convenient stop for a picnic on the journey between home and Dad’s. On holiday weekends in the summer it has powerboats and sometimes water skiiers. But thanks to this year’s drought, Elspeth and Tim’s family found it almost dry, and got to walk onto the old bridge built many years before the reservoir was there. The first picture shows the current road bridge, way up in the air above Cora.
About 11pm, October 10th. Our largest northern exposure (through the trees) is from the bottom of the driveway, looking up the street. I had a vague idea I might be sensing some pinkness in the haze, but wasn’t sure I wasn’t imaging it. With the big camera on a tripod, in the dark I couldn’t remember how to do a time exposure of more than 15 seconds. Looked like all I got was black. But later in Lightroom, I maximized the exposure, then saved these three shots.
My status, mile 9 vs. mile 10:
This was the 50th Virginia Ten-Miler, and my 27th. Chip time 1:51:19, 11:08 pace per mile, 10th of 20 in M70-74. Did ok the first 9 miles, but then both calves kept saying they were ready to snap, so I had a hard time with slow jogging or even fast walking. Still my all-time favorite race!
John Ashburn and me at sunrise, before the race, then after, at brunch.
Hazy, Hot, and Humid, on the Dahlgren Heritage Rail Trail, 3 August 2024
