If I Had a Pony

I have to say, I really missed carpooling over the past year. The brilliant random conversations (launched often from post-hike exhaustion) are always worth the price of admission. This past Monday Priscilla was telling us about a fascinating book that she just read, Becoming Duchess Goldblatt by Anonymous. I am now a quarter of the way through it and completely enchanted. It falls squarely into the oddball memoir category. One of the threads of the book involves the Texan singer Lyle Lovett (another oddball), which led to our playing his song If I Had a Boat. I’ve always thought this exactly the song I’d write if I was living on ramen, hoping for a record label contract, crashing on friends’ couches and feeling a little down. And if I had a boat I'd go out on the ocean And if I had a pony I'd ride him on my boat And we could all together Go out on the ocean I said me upon my pony on my boat Here is what is planned for the coming Monday: Walkers: The Walkers are hiking the southern end of Port Gamble Trails. They will carpool in Poulsbo at the North Viking Park & Ride (in the very back), departing at 9:30am or meet at the Stottlemeyer Trailhead parking lot (address 24426, 25398 Stottlemeyer Rd NE, Poulsbo, WA 98370; coordinates: 47°47'19.3"N 122°35'42.4"W) for a 10:00am start. Hikers: The Hikers will hike Lower Gray Wolf River Trail. There are two trailheads: a lower large parking lot requiring a climb or a 2nd one further up the road,, just before a hairpin turn. The 2nd trailhead is more moderate. They will depart from the Poulsbo Viking Park & Ride at 8am. Mountain Goats: The Hikers will hike Dosewallips River Trail. They will depart from the Poulsbo Viking Park & Ride at 8am. Walkers: Port Gamble Trails: https://www.kitsapgov.com/parks/Documents/PortGamble_TrailMap.pdf Hikers: Lower Gray Wolf: Driving directions: from Hood Canal bridge, drive Hwy 104/101 for 16 miles. Just before entrance to Sequim State Park, turn left onto Louella Road. In 1 mile, turn left onto Palo Alto Road & continue for 6 miles past campground. Turn right onto FS Road 2880 (down steep road) & continue for 1.7 miles. Turn right onto FS Road 2870 at sign that says Gray Wolf Trail, 2 miles. Go down another steep road, cross bridge of Gray Wolf River coming to the trailhead in about 1.8 to 2 miles. Mountain Goats: Dosewallips: https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/dosewallips-river Mark