We had 12 Snails wallking today.  We missed Lynette, but all of the regulars were there + a new Snail, Sandi.  We had Sandi, Geri (visiting from Montana), Judy and Tom Mikel, Lou Ann, Pam, Carolyn, Dana (Pam's sister), Bill, Areleen and Mary Ann.  Wow!  It was wonderful.  We saw Ralph and Alice, the resident bullfrogs, a blue heron, a red-tailed hawk and butterflies and wildflowers.  It was gorgeous.  We ended up out there for a hour and half, just talking, looking and listening  Every week we see something different.  Come join us and if you can't look at the pictures.  

What a great walk.  We had to stop for food and coffee at Ste. Honore's.  Normandie Toast and Almond Croissants and cappucino.  It doesn't get any better than that.  The walk made us feel like were were someplace at lot further than the 20 minutes it took us to get there.  It didn't even matter that there weren't any markings, I just hope they do it again next year.  Wonderful route.  See the rest of the pictures under the picture tab. 

Mary Ann, Lois, Lou Ann, Bill, Carolyn (for a while), Angela and Karen Burgess from McMinnville joined us on the Metra tour of Old Town Sherwood led by Laura Foster.  It was a beautiful day to do it and it was fun to even learn more things about Sherwood.  In the first picture, we were looking at the windows in the libary.  The librarians used to get "blinded by the light" and the next time you go into the library you need to check it out.  It was pretty unusual.  After we headed over to the local farmer's market and then headed home.  
Tomorrow is the Lake O walk and hopefully more pictures then.

When we arrived at the Refuge this morning, Pam greeted us and joined our club as our newest Snail.  Another volkswalker had mentioned our group to her and she brought her great niece, Kayla along with her.  After we met out the Sherwood Coffee Company and gave her the scoop on our group.  Tomorrow we meet with another new Snail.  The Snails are growing!

I went by myself to the walk in Portland, know I wouldn't be by myself.  I met up with the winner of our Cruisin Dog Prize, Don and Jim and Karen Burgess from McMinnville and we ended up having lunch together.  It was fun seeing Sue, Noreen, Colleen and so many others out there.  The hotdogs were great and the bands were wonderful.  The roses in Peninsula Park were beautiful.  I even had a chance to meet up with one of our Mazama friends who was working at one of the bike locations.  Looking forward to doing it again in a couple of weeks.

More great shots of today's walk.  Man those dogs were good!

We met up with so many people today.  Our group was Bekki, Mary Ann, Leslie and myself, but we saw Carolyn Evenson and Delina there plus Starr and her friend.  After we took off to the Real Deals store in Hillsboro and then stopped in at the Berry Patch store and then coffee and fresh strawberry shortcake.  We were still full from the hotdgs at the walk, but we forced that cake right down!  It was delicious.

The Albany Fit Walkers came to do the Summerfield walk, and being right on top of things, I had the walk directions ready to go for the Cook Park Walk.  We had a nice walk and ran across Carolyn Evenson during the walk.  It was fun meeting their three new walkers.  It's always good to see Phoebe, but we met Nancy, Larry and his wife (I don't know how to spell your name!), but she was very interested in getting a new web site for the Fit Walkers.  Good luck and welcome to Volkswalking.

We had 4 Merrywalkers at the walk today.  Pam, Carolyn, Kathy and myself.  At the break time we all sang Happy Birthday to Cindy from Milwaukee.  She wanted to walk 60 miles in her 60th year.  She's new to volkswalking so if you see her out there, wish her a happy birthday.

Today we were lucky to have Lyneete's first grade granddaughter, McKenny with us on our walk.  The wildflowers were everywhere.  We only saw a butterfly and some squirrels.  The Refuge is such a peaceful area we decided to meet there again next week.  If you want to see the beautiful wildflowers, have a look in the Pictures.