sights - sounds - SMELLS - of Spring

Ahhhhhhh, glorius spring. Today Kenai hit the magical number - FIFTY degrees! Woo-hoo! And the PurpleMoose was right out there in it. I decided today was the day - the parking lot at work was (mostly) free of ice and the sidewalks out on the highway were (reasonably) clear.

I took a walk on my lunch hour. Yup, I did. Down the driveway, right turn, down the road, right turn, down the highway to the first traffic light near the Kenai Visitors' Center. Then, of course, back again. It was a distance of 1.4 miles round trip. Just about half an hour to do it. I may venture a bit further tomorrow.

Sights - I saw a bald eagle circling overhead - saw and heard a dog barking at me from across a four lane highway . . . but I was encroaching on his territory apparently - saw LOTS of mud and melting snow and ice.

Sounds - the aforementioned dog - the chitter/scree of the eagle - the splashing of the trucks driving down the road - the sound of the splash as it hit my left leg. Discovery: it is EASY to hit a moving target when her back is toward you - not nearly as easy when she can look you in the eye on the return trip. I was pleasantly surprised when two 18-wheelers downshifted and slowed so as not to splash me on my return walk. I waved and smiled to both.

Smells - Oh, my good Lord, what IS that smell? We have been told since we moved here that it is NOT dog doo that we smell each spring. Rather, it is a mold that grows on the grass under the snow and when the snow melts and the mold sees the sun, yuk! Chemical reaction time. Dog poo smelly time.

Myself? I am pretty sure it IS dog poo. A whole winter's worth that has suddenly found daylight with the melting of its snowy cover. It heats up, expands its poopy little chest and emits a stench . . . pee-yew! Not to worry - that smell will soon be overtaken by the smell of Kenai's cash crop - salmon. Give me a good, hot, Kenai day (temp around 75) and a slight breeze off the Inlet and we inhale and exhale the smell of reds, pinks, silvers, kings, chums. Salmon!

But not today. Today it was me and the elements and a delightful walk into town and back.

Ahhhhhhh Spring in Alaska

Posted by Purplemoose at April 12, 2004 09:42 PM