The cappuccinos are getting cozier, I had my first pumpkin flavored cookie, and the other day I wondered if the sun fully came up before it went down. It must be fall.
I will forever remember this summer as the summer I hiked it all. For a guy who loves the outdoors, it wasn’t until this summer that I first felt the serenity of Lake Serene, drank some Bailey’s from THE MAILBOX (if you know you know), communed with the glaciers on Rainier, jelly legged my way down Mt. Si, or plunged into the snowy waters of Silver Lake.
I usually spend every spare summer moment at the family cabin in the Methow Valley, but this year we were training for a family hike through the Enchantments. Leading up to the almost 20 mile trek through some of the prettiest county Frodo has ever seen required training, so we worked our way through the list of popular local hikes. And what a list! I was blown away at the beauty of this place and am a bigger fan of the PNW than ever.
My favorite first this summer was backpacking. I got to share this one with my very capable and wonderful 13 year old son Judah. We tapped our beginner’s luck to find the best tent site ever, and broke a record for the most laughing on a backpacking trip. Apparently we get very silly in the backcountry, and that’s without eating any of the shrooms.
Next weekend we’ll adapt our new backpacking gear to the back of dirt bikes and ride up to 8600 feet for some motocamping.
If I were to pick my favorite word made from two of my other favorite words it would definitely be “motocamping.”
Through it all my knee pain has been getting steadily better. It was a non-issue on the Enchantments hike and trail half-marathon and full marathons are officially on the books. The half-marathon will be a family affair, another fist for the Penners this year. Training runs have already been incredible. This week my wife and I saw two pileated woodpeckers working the same tree, not far from the spot I saw two bear cubs on their hind legs, wrestling in the sunshine a few weeks ago.
While this may have been my favorite summer ever, I’m not sad to see it go. I love fall, I really love winter, spring is the best and you can’t beat summer! I am a huge fan of the magic of seasons, and I seem to be enjoying each one more deeply with every trip around the sun. So much so in fact, I can confidently say I don’t intend on ever living in a place without 4 good, solid seasons.
Even more than the mountains, lakes and bear cubs, I appreciated spending time with you, my patients. Thank you for the many interactions that have blessed my day and life this summer. I hope you all had a wonderful summer too, and I wish you all many good seasons to come.
Your very thankful chiropractor,
Josh Penner, D.C.