Perfect

Still behind on my updating.  Last week was a bit sucky as I was finishing up all my final papers and whatnot.  I caught the PBR run on Tuesday - it was much less wet, but just as dark.  I won't make it this week or next as we're going to be doing the Tour de Christmas.  Saturday was one of those fantastic runs.  Val, Dora, Tim, Alan, and I set off early on the Connector.  On the way up to Bradbury, the snow started to fall and by the time we reached the park, there was a wonderful steady snow.  We were hoping it wouldn't change over to sleet or rain.  The trail really looked beautiful, especially the water crossings where the snow was dusted over the bridge and rocks and moss below.  Soon we popped out on the powerlines and started on the next segment of our journey.  Not long after, Val did a sort of a slidey genuflect on some ice that was hidden under the snow and whacked her knee hard.  We walked a bit and in usual Val fashion, she rallied quickly (she rarely falls or even trips) and we forged ahead.  At West Pownal Road where Alan was going to bust off and head home we paused, did a little trail math, and concluded the that Highland Cows were JUST DOWN THE ROAD.  So of course, we had to see them.  As our little pack cruised up to the farm, we saw the owner (I missed her name) and Val called to her to ask if we could visit.  She was so generous and next thing we knew, we were talking with the pigs, learning about what the cows eat, and throwing a ball for their Border Collie, Zoe.  Even better, we were met by Ian, Zak, and Darrin, who had followed our tracks and knew exactly where we had headed.  With the blanket of snow, our excitement of being on the farm, and having another part of our team cruise up to meet us, it felt as though all was right that moment.  Our cold feet, however, were not all that right and had to set off again to warm up.  The boys headed back to the park, Alan headed home, and Val, Dora, Tim and I headed back to the powerlines toward Pineland.  When we reached the railroad tracks, we paused again.  To our right was the tracks to Pineland, straight ahead was the twisty, turny, snow dusted trail up the powerlines.  We were deciding what to do and I said something like "I wouldn't be all that upset if we didn't do the train tracks" and everyone immediately agreed, so we were all on the same page.  Onward.  I know Val's knee was getting pretty stiff and sore, but she plugged on.  There were multiple bog crossing that we could fairly easily navigate until we finally came to one that was just too big and seemed like a good place to turn around.  The way back was just plain fun.  We made little snowmen, threw snowballs, chatted, tried new trails, commented on how beautiful it was, and occasionally sent some power to Ryan and Nathan who were down in TN running their first 50 miler.  Back at the parking lot, we changed out of wet shoes and socks and headed over to E&L's.  As usual, we were welcomed into the little chapel of a place and got warm with coffee, tea, soup, and hot sandwiches.  I think we ended up with 14ish miles, a good and proper journey for the first snowfall of the year.