Nos. 18 - 22

No. 18 - The Thomas Berryman Number by James Patterson:

I have no idea what this book was about. I've read a lot of Patterson, and this one was just bizarre. I couldn't follow the story at all. I kept at it, hoping it would all come together. Not so much. Oh, well. It still counts 😏

No. 19 - Iris Johansen's On the Run:

No. 20 - The Pretty One by Keah Brown:

This is an important book by a woman who is both black and disabled. We need to listen to voices like hers and think about how we can do better.

No. 21 - Gone by Lisa Gardner:

Gone is set on the Oregon Coast. The author takes a lot of license with locations and place names, but it's still fun to read about the Tillamook Cheese Factory in a murder mystery!

No. 22 - Over the Top by Jonathan Van Ness:

He's the best. You need to read this book.

:)

A year of hiking: 11-20

My quest to hit 52 trails this year is well under way. I'm already nearly halfway there! (52 Hike Challenge)

11. Leif Erikson, Feb. 22:

I did a solo run up (and down) the popular Forest Park trail. It was foggy to start and perfect for running!

12. Memorial Park, Feb. 22:

After my run, we met Brad's folx for some fun. We ended up exploring Memorial Park in Wilsonville.

13. Tryon State Park, Feb. 25:

Brad and I went to Tryon after work for our hill repeats. We parked at the visitors' center and ran some of the upper trails. I hadn't been in that part of the park in ages!

14. River View Natural Area, Feb. 27:

Eryn's taking a break from running, so she's excited to do some hiking and explore local trails with me! 

15. Wildwood - Germantown to Trillium, March 7:

16. Tualatin Hills Nature Park, March 16 - 

Practicing our social distancing (and we rode in separate cars):

Don't fall!

17. Springbrook Park, March 17:

18. Cooks Butte, Stevens Meadow, March 18: 

A little snow left at the top:

19. Bryant Woods, Canal Acres, River Run, March 20:

Learning history:

20. Portland's Buckman and Kerns neighborhoods:

We learned all kinds of history and architectural fun facts!

I don't disagree:

Truth:

Hiking is harder now that we're all supposed to stay away from each other. Many trails are closed, and those that remain open are too crowded to safely distance ourselves. Urban hiking seems like the best option right now to still get out, breathe fresh air, and explore.

Hopefully we'll be able to get back to the trails soon!

Christmas in the desert

This seems like a lifetime ago...

The day after my terrible Tucson Marathon, we dressed in our matching race shirts and checked out the resort's impressive Christmas display.

Gingerbread house - the whole thing was gingerbread!

Christmas decorations in 70 degrees was strange.

Before heading home, we checked out nearby Saguaro National Park. (Thanks to aunts Kari and Vicki for the annual parks pass!!)

I'm not super excited by desert landscape, but it was fun to read about the cactus and see a different ecosystem. Those saguaro cactus are really cool! 

Natural Grocers was a race sponsor and gave coupons to all participants. So on the way to the airport, we found the specific Tucson store where the coupons were valid and each bought an expensive candy bar with our coupons! 

It was a quick trip full of excitement, disappointment, and exploration. I would have preferred a successful race, but I'm glad we had a nice time.

Nos. 11 - 17

No. 11 - The Hand on the Wall by Maureen Johnson:

This was the brand-new, third book in the series. I didn't like this one as much as the other two. It seemed to take forever to get going - too much recap. 

No. 12 - We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie:

No. 13 - Where the Dead Sit Talking by Brandon Hobson:

No. 14 - The Hunt by Allison Brennan:

No. 15 - Just Mercy by Bryan Stevenson:

No. 16 - Nine Elms by Robert Bryndza:

My grandfather gave me Bryndza's Erika Foster series, and I devoured them. Nine Elms is the first in his new Kate Marshall series. I loved it. He's a really good storyteller, and I can't wait to read more.

No. 17 - Heartland by Sarah Smarsh:

:)