Monday, February 2, 2009

Change of Course Required

Directly across the road from where I live is Illiuliuk River, a small intertidal stream flowing maybe a mile from the lake to the ocean.  In the summer, especially in "even" years, the river fills with salmon, mostly pinks with the odd sockeye and coho.  Year round there are always eagles, perched on the slopes of Haystack Hill, on the light poles, and on the shores of the river.  I used to wonder why they watched the water so intently, even when the salmon were not running, until I saw one swoop down and come up with a fat Irish Lord, a type of sculpin common in these waters, called "Toad Heads" by the processors when spotted on the by-catch sorting line.

Along with eagles, an assortment of skiffs line the river's edge, and invariably a few break loose in the winter storms and get knocked around, drifting up and down the river with the tides, filling with water until their owners notice and rescue them or they wash out to sea.  Before I moved here I would look at Google Earth pictures of the area and those skiffs tied up just 40 feet from my soon-to-be bedroom never failed to capture my imagination.

January is behind us now and it's time to take stock - let's see, just 4 books read and 277 miles on the recumbent bike for the month.  That is not going to get me to 100 books and 10,000 miles; I may not be quite swamped and ice-bound yet but I do need to step up the effort!  

8 comments:

Nebraska Outback said...

Hey Steve - Try downloading audio books from audible and listen while riding your bike - work on two goals at once. They have great titles and great narrators.

mamawas said...

great idea to double up
Donna

Elizabeth Douglas said...

Lovely photo and post as always Steve...as far as your goals, just keep pushing. I think having a set number to focus can be important, but don't forget that the betterment is in the getting there. Enjoy the reading and the riding, for what it is, not just the end result. (I do hope you make your goals though!) :)

Anonymous said...

Set your goals as high as you can imagine. Don't set a low threshold goal that is too easy to acquire lest you reach it and look back into the valley of accomplishment with distain. What is the thrill of driving a motorcycle down a new road with the sights, sounds, smells curves and unknowns. It is not the road behind the bike that beacons but the unknown on the road before you. Set your sights where the eagles soar and if you only get to the top of Ballyhoo Mountain you will still have accomplished more by putting up the kickstand and heading down the road than if you sit at home worrying about not doing it all. Every mile on the exercise bike is better than none and every book another notch of wisdom. Love you Bro.

Anonymous said...

Set your goals as high as you can imagine. Don't set a low threshold goal that is too easy to acquire lest you reach it and look back into the valley of accomplishment with distain. What is the thrill of driving a motorcycle down a new road with the sights, sounds, smells curves and unknowns. It is not the road behind the bike that beacons but the unknown on the road before you. Set your sights where the eagles soar and if you only get to the top of Ballyhoo Mountain you will still have accomplished more by putting up the kickstand and heading down the road than if you sit at home worrying about not doing it all. Every mile on the exercise bike is better than none and every book another notch of wisdom. Love you Bro.

Suzassippi said...

I just remember how hard it was to learn to pronounce Illiuliuk.

Kimi said...

Keep working on it Steve!

Bloviating Zeppelin said...

Wish I could say I've been diligent in my resolutions. Heavy sigh. Good for you!

BZ