Wet morning walk, 3/30/20

There was no escaping the rain this morning, so I decided to head out to Johnson Mill Pond for the walk, thinking it might be an opportunity to have it to myself. They stocked the pond several weeks ago, so there have been people out there fishing the last few times I’ve gone. And sure enough, it worked—nary another person to be seen, though there were tracks that indicated a pickup or two had been there earlier.

Walking in the rain can be quite nice, though—or perhaps because—I do the very non-Oregonian thing of using an umbrella. The subdued beauty of this struck me as soon as I got out of the car.

And this shortly afterwards.

Spring is springing rapidly. It’s only been a couple of days since we were last there, and I don’t remember this stand of flowers being so prolific.

There’s a story about these two.

The domestic goose (the one with his butt in the air in the top photo) has been hanging out at the pond for months now. At first he was with a whole flock of varied domesticated geese, but for some time now—maybe since January—he’s been alone. And lonely, if persistent honking and following us during part of our walk is anything to go by. This morning he and this Canada goose were clearly companions, and there was no honking or paying attention to us (once Scamp had chased them into the water, that is.). Made me happy to see it. For the sake of the domestic guy, I hope the friendship lasts awhile.

Another shot of the pond.

We got a short respite from rain, then it started up vigorously again. You can see it speckling the river.

It’s still raining as I write, so it looks like the afternoon walk may be wet as well. I’ll try the river walk and see if the rain reduces walkers there.