Day 12: Tolt Pipeline from Mink Rd., Woodinville to Sammamish River Trail, Bothell and back

Highlights:

I’ll admit I was stumped on what to do to get today's required miles.  I decided to go back to the familiar -- a path I have done many times with my friend Carol, but seldom alone –  the Tolt Pipeline Trail.  The real Camino asked me to do 13.9 miles from Ages to Burgo, climbing the Sierra Atapuerca near prehistoric ruins, strolling along Rio Arlanzon and wandering the mind-boggling Burgos Cathedral.

And climb I did.  I reflected on the (annoying) fact that pipelines, unlike rail paths that have been converted to trails, don’t have to be flat, as I went up and down for 14 miles.

In spite of the perfect weather, I found myself irritated that extraordinarily interesting things weren’t just popping up.  On the Tolt, we usually see a variety of happy trail dogs and horses with their riders, for whom we respectfully move aside.  For the first two hours, I saw nothing, not even the river otters that I discovered on Day 2.  I realized that my attitude on my Faux-mino had shifted from “let me listen, watch and learn”, to “entertain me”.  I seem to be part of the social media/Netflix generation after all.

So, I took a breath and looked and listened again. I remembered that the gorgeous rolling hills of this trail, surrounded by enormous firs, horse pastures, and majestic mountain ranges (Cascades to the east and Olympics to the west), articulated by bright sun and a sparkling blue sky, are already extraordinary.  I started to remember how much I love giant willow trees and took pictures of singles and clusters. I started noticing things people had written on the trail (Go team!) and a new gun club that just opened (☹). I appreciated how quiet the trail was just for me today.  

I was once again tickled by the traffic light buttons on the Tolt -- at my height for humans and at horse height for riders. I was once again impressed with how beautiful even simple single-wide manufactured homes looked lining the Sammamish river.  

I made up a new saying (for me) that has become a theme on this Faux-mino to date: See a potty, use a potty, as restrooms and foot comfort are taking up more space in my head than I ever imagined.  

On my way back, I had to climb what the Tolt Trail guide calls "Murder Hill".  When I was heading out this morning, I cracked to the older gentleman who was going the hard way up this hill, "Did you know it's called Murder Hill?"  He smiled tolerantly. As I was heading up the same hill, I think I would have smacked anyone who said that as I was gasping for air.

Finally, I was grateful to see my little green Fiat  (I call her Olive), come around the corner as I neared today's finish.

I am slightly daunted that the target that tomorrow's target is 19.5 miles. On the real Camino, I would be entering the Meseta region of Spain, which the Internet tells me is the name given to the large and expansive flat plains of central Spain.  This part of the Camino will cover days 13-21 and a corresponding 137 miles.

Off I go to figure out where the best (flat) place is to take this on.  Until then, thanks again for coming along and Buen Camino!







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