If it's February, it must mean rain

Rain. Lots of it.

Wind. The howling kind. They type that rocks you back on your heels.

The latest storm punched into California just in time for Sunday's 12 mile ridge run. I launched out of the house for a 12 mile loop heading south into the teeth of 28 mph winds and sheets of rain.

Dude! What were you thinking?!

I loved it. There's nothing like witnessing Mother Nature acting out like running in a storm. Witnessing such power and strength is both humbling and exciting.

The rain and wind were cold and my legs were a nice cherry red as I waded southwards into the teeth of the squall line. 3 miles of flat warm-ups later, I joined the trailhead and headed up the 1500' climb to the ridge line. Two other intrepid runners were descending and we exchanged friendly greetings and comments on the "beautiful weather". Sheets of rain pelted me as I climbed the trail, now a constant flowing gutter of rain water and mud. Footing was decent for the most part. At mile 5, I topped out on the ridge line and the southerly gusts helped push me along. The ragged cloud bases whipped mere feet over my head and the scrub oaks showed the shiny silver green undersides as large branches yielded and shook to the gusts of wind.

In a few deep ravines where the trail cut through, it became calm and quiet as the steep green hills acted as wind blocks. Silent and still, rain-soaked cows would track my progress with barely a turn of their heads. Even they must of thought me mad.

By mile 8, the trail turned downhill, the rain's stopped and even the wind moderated. Descending down the east facing hills, the valley of my town lay wet and quiet below me. No other runners or hikers were out; I was the lone looney.

By mile 10, I could shed my raincoat although showers threatened around me. Finishing up 2 miles later, I was a wet but happy runner.

Wild Kingdom

"While Jim attempts to capture the rare Siberian tiger by grabbing his tail, I'll polish off my 3rd martini...."

So, Marlin Perkins must be happy for me this week. I've experienced more interesting wild life episodes in the last 3 jaunts than I can recall.

Last week, I came across two adult deer and a yearling. Not unusual. However, usually they hightail it before I get too close. Not so this time. I was almost on them before they turned and darted to my left (eastward) off the trail. Then, 50 yards south of them I saw --perhaps--the reason they had dallied. Two coyote appeared on the trail, darted back to the brush, then back again as I continued my run towards them. They too seem to delay their departure until I was almost 50 yards from them. They chose to go west. A little research revealed why I saw what I did:

"Food habit studies reveal that its principle diet is composed of mice, rabbits, ground squirrels, other small rodents, insects, even reptiles, and fruits and berries of wild plants.

The coyote is an opportunistic predator that uses a variety of hunting techniques to catch small mammals likes rabbits and squirrels, which comprise the bulk of its diet. Although it hunts alone to catch small prey, it may join with others in hunting larger mammals like young deer or a pony."

Then on my long run on Sunday, I came across 3 coyote, 25 yards from the trail, running 3 abreast across a field. It was a fascinating experience. Clearly they were hunting.

The week before, a real first: a herd of 25+ elk at sunrise on a hill just 100 yards from the road I was cycling upon.

So, while Jim chases the coyotes, I'll be joining Marlin for a beer.