wanderlust: Seattle is cold; I'm hibernating

Numbers as I go

Random facts all my readers must be dying to know:
• Miles traveled: 15,753
• States/provinces traversed: 37
• Days of rain: I've stopped counting
• Times I've played disc golf: 7 (see below)

Nights spent in:
• Friends' houses/apartments: 61
• Hostels: 21
• Hotels: 16
• A tent: 4
• My car: 3
• On the beach under the moon: 1

Disc golf courses

Eagle's Nest: Butte, Montana
This course requires a dissertation to describe it. See here. In short, it's hard to find, poorly marked and full of trees...but challenging! There were no locals.
Knoch Knolls Park: Naperville, Illinois
A small course with a few open holes and several through the trees. Pretty short holes and not too difficult. The locals were helpful for directing us through the course.
Lohmann Park: Urbana, Illinois
Well-marked course but very short holes. Not too bad for variety—through trees and around some corners—but overall very easy. The locals were helpful for answering my questions about the course layout.
St. John's: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Laid out in a canyon and along a hilltop behind the college's soccer field and gym. Thanks to maps from the gym, we were able to navigate it with some confusion. Hole 3 has been removed. A challenging course that deserves a walk-through or play-through to orient oneself.
Ashbaugh Park: Santa Fe, New Mexico
A lot of holes packed into a fairly small area. A map is essential, because the holes overlap and there are multiple holes for each tee. It's very flat, which was a relief after the St. John's course. We could have spent most of the day playing that course; it's a good one.
Brent Baca Memorial: Albuquerque, New Mexico
Fairly flat, with plenty of challenging aspects: obstructions in front of tees, arroyos, holes, trees, fences. Lots of long holes. Very well marked and mapped. (Watch your step: the bushes have prickly things that like to invade socks.) A great course overall.
Deerfield Community Park: Irvine, California
Compact course is very well marked. Get a map at the community center by the parking lot. A lot of out of bounds areas and some trees increase the challenge. Pars are generous.
Stanford University: Stanford, California
Website outlines the course in great detail. Course is challenging in that you must avoid people, windows and other obstacles. I only made to hole 1 before throwing my disc on a 10-foot ledge. (No wonder all the photos were taken at night.) Great course. I'd love to try it again.
Fort Walla Walla Park: Walla Walla, Washington
My personal favorite, only because it's where I learned to play. I love the wide expanses of grass and the annoyingly in-the-way trees. I've sent my discs into the creek and marshes a fair number of times. The locals are, I must say, helpful and friendly.

I've had some good days of exploration and amusement, and this morning I've been staying inside. It's cold out and the skies are gray. I've found winter, finally.

The Seattle light is amazing. And the sunsets—I don't remember the last time I saw such golden skies.

I like this city. I've been here many times, but rarely with my own time to wander. I spent a while downtown the other day, wandering Pike Place Market and thereabouts. The people here are so varied and strange. And the smells! I can finally smell again. My cold is nearly gone. My sense of smell must have returned right when I was at the market, because suddenly I was noticing the combination of aromas: fish, flowers, mildew, leather, pastries, coffee, exhaust. Scents are so very interesting.

Good friends in this city too. The other night I stayed with a college friend Becky, who I last saw at the end of our British Isles trip three years ago. Now I'm staying with Chelsea, my first-year college roommate. And tomorrow I'll be meeting Leah for the first time.

And now, since I've been lethargic all morning, I think I'll get out and go for a walk. It's currently 36. I think I can handle it.

Comments

yay for Seattle :-)

I will totally miss it when I go. What a beautiful city.

Posted by: Leah | December 15, 2005 at 05:38 PM

It's low 30s here and very cold rain is falling. Quite dreary.

Posted by: Jimmy | December 15, 2005 at 05:53 PM

You guys make me laugh. It's -8 here in Idaho. Wait, why the hell am I laughing ? -8 sucks!

Posted by: Wes | December 16, 2005 at 10:54 PM

I haven't been back home to seattle in a while, but I wouldnt mind some of that cold here (it is 93 in Corrientes, Argentina at the moment). Just wanted to say I love the pictures. :)

Posted by: Katy | February 18, 2006 at 03:22 PM

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Seattle is cold; I'm hibernating