the sherwood merrywalkers presents the great easter egg hunt  -  sherwood,  Saturday 3/31

The Merrywalkers came out in full force.  Mary Ann and Donna did the 5k walk to the art fair, while the rest of us did the first loop and then ended up at the art fair.  Since we have so many different walkers and they all walk at different paces, it's amazing that we all figure out when and where to meet for lunch, which was at Bob's Red Mill.  Antonella joined us there with some of her friends, and then we finally headed on home.  Great walk and congratulations on all of those walkers!  
They had 222 walkers for today's walk.  Good job and a very nice walk.

It was so nice to do a walk in cooler weather.  I opted for the 5k, because Barb and I were late, but Starr, Sandy, and Pam headed out for the 10k.  Everyone met later for lunch at LaProvence in Lake Grove.  

Diane was going to write this blog, but I haven't heard from her yet.  So this blog might change if she gets to writing it.
Very hot out there tonight.  The cool wash cloth really helped.  Carolyn Evenson said to take a wash cloth and have it in cold water, put it in a plastic bag, and wipe your face with it, really worked well, especially when the breeze came.  I probably could have used it when I saw the snake and nearly died.  Diane was nice enough to tell me it wasn't a cobra, just a little garden snake.  Looked like a cobra to me!  
We had a lot of Merrywalkers with us tonight.  Vicky from McMinnville, Cheryle, Barb, Judy (our newest member as of today), and Sandy Ried (and this was her suggestion.)  After we headed over for a nice Baskin and Robbins.

We had 20 for the walk today and most of them headed for coffee after.  We had one new walker that joined our group, Judy.  Then we had 2 kids, Austin and Kiley who were there too.  Today was incredibly special, for the first time we were able to see a deer romping in the field of wild flowers.  We must have watched him for at least 3 or 4 minutes before he headed back into the woods. But even before the deer we saw an eagle fly right into the tree at the entrance. Tonight we are headed over to do the Monday evening stroll. 

Although the walk was a new one and very beautiful, I think the ice cream will stand out the most!  it was fantastic.  What a cute little spot and we would have never found it.  By the time we got there it was filled with volkswalkers trying to figure out which would be the best flavor.  Carolyn and I opted for the praline and hazelnut sundae topped with chocolate and whip cream.  Good grief!  Louann had the cone and said it was the best she had ever had. 
The walk was beautiful and I hope they can do it again in the fall or maybe the winter, I bet we'd see a lot more wildlife.  We did see some blue birds as we drove in, but I think it was just too hot.  We did hear the bird singing, but we weren't able to see anything flying but a turkey vulture.  Great walk!  Good goin' Mossbacks, you did it again! And 133 walkers! By the way, Lou Ann is one of our Snails who has come back and now done a 6k with us!  
http://www.fws.gov/refuges/profiles/index.cfm?id=13589
And if you want directions or check out the ice cream
http://stores.hazelnuthill.com/StoreFront.bok

Today we walked at Lacamas Lake, and if you haven't done that walk, it is one you wouldn't want to miss.  They have a few out there, this one just follows the one path up and back.  No hills, nice and flat, and the lake is always there. We saw the Leadbetter Mansion, and for those of you who don't know who that is, he married Caroline, the daughter of Henry Pittock, the publisher of the Oregonalian   Some of the other walks they have there go on the other side, and they are just as beautiful, especially in the spring when the Camas Lilies are blooming. After, most of the group headed over to the Lakeside Chalet for a nice lunch, but we opted for 360 Degrees Pizza on 192d St.  Being from Chicago, it was the best thin pizza I've ever had.  A bit pricey, but worth the money.  So the next time you do the walk, try it.   The owner's also own Roots, which offers a more American cuisine.  A perfect day and a perfect lunch!
Today was Ed Hailine's birthday!  Happy Birthday.

This week most of the wild flowers were gone and the slow group didn't see anything at all.  We were almost split, with half the group going the 3 miles and the rest of us just strolling the Refuge.  After it was the coffee shop where we met up with Don and Mike.  Sometimes coffee can be tricky with 4 conversations going on at the same time!