SINCE I LAST WALKED HERE~Self-Care 2026; Lexington-WA

October 22nd: I woke up this morning planning to take Bleu to walk the Lexington Dike Hike Trail 🚘🐕🐾🚶‍♀️ I haven't walked this trail myself, since the summer of 2022 … and Bleu has never walked it. It's not that far from where Independence is parked, and I can let him off-leash in the place I had in mind 😉

But first, I enjoyed a mug of Spiced Pumpkin Coffee ☕️ … and scrolled through Friends' Blog posts 💻🌐👭 On Barb's Page, I saw that she had featured my crochet headphone sunflower pattern 🧶✂️:

MOD HEADPHONES CROCHET SUNFLOWERS; check her Blog out - there are several interesting links there, covering a wide variety of things.

Barb's Blog Hop Link Party @ https://frenchethereal.net/2026/10/21/share-your-style-519/

Halfway through my my morning caffeinated wake-up, Holland told me that Tom Skerritt had died 📺🎬😌; then, while he was feeding diesel into Betsy's hungry tank - it was reported that John Anderson, a country singer, had died; I recognized the name, though I hadn't heard it in a while. He had a soft, almost whispery voice when he sang 🎵

R.I.P Tom Skerritt

R.I.P. TOM SKERRITT; Castle Rock-WA: (https://roadgypsiesvalandholland.blogspot.com/2026/10/rip-tom-skerritt-castle-rock-wa.html)

John Anderson - 'Seminole Wind': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W8sh9P3X33w&list=RDW8sh9P3X33w&start_radio=1)

John Anderson - 'Swingin': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LX5GmfiXnBY&list=RDLX5GmfiXnBY&start_radio=1)

John Anderson - 'When It Comes To You': 

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KLO3_ggRnoU&list=RDKLO3_ggRnoU&start_radio=1)

Then, we were on the freeway, heading to Lexington. At first Holland wasn't sure where I was talking about; but, as soon as I said, "the trail behind the A-frame house … let me off just over the bridge & we'll meet you in the big gravel parking lot - river on the left & Westside Highway on the right. Probably a half hour walk." That tripped a memory for him and he said, "Okay, I know where, now - I used to fish there."

Holland's Grandfather & Father had built the A-frame I mentioned, so he knew exactly where I would be on my walk.

So, that is what happened. Holland said, "make sure you have your phone with you, in case something happens - call me." Nothing was going to happen, but I promised, as I strapped my inhaler pouch to my wristwatch, jumped out of Betsy & grabbed my phones (one strictly for photos/videos: the other for actual phone service) 📸📱💬; opened the back seat door & grabbed my walking stick, dog & leash (for hooking Bleu up, if we met people) … and we were off:

Dike Hike: Riverside Park, #1820 Westside Hwy, Lexington-WA from Toutle River RV Resort; via I-5 S~17 min (11.9 miles)

The A-frame house is no more - it has been remodeled and expanded on; it is a completely different style of house. Bob & I knew a couple that had lived in that A-frame in the 1980's; they sold in the 1990's and I have watched the people who bought it … & steadily morphed it into a different style of house.

This is something new - I wonder if Kelso is going to put housing in here. This property has been for sale for decades. Hmmm.

Holland is waiting at the end of this property - where those headlights, are.

A fisherman - this is where Holland would have fished, too.

And there is Holland; waiting.

Looks like a bridge support to us - but, internet says there is no record of such a thing, here (vehicle, or train traffic). I'll have to check with the museum, because there was obviously a bridge crossing of some sort, here.

1st Route = a 19 minute walk; from Lexington Bridge turnout to the gravel parking lot; Westside Highway, Lexington-WA

Leaving that trail, Holland said he'd drive me to the Park, to add more mileage to my walk with Bleu. On the way, he pointed out the track of houses his Grandfather, Father, Uncles, & In-laws had contracted for - and built - in the 1970's.

The Park was was a new experience for Bleu, too; and felt good for me to do, again.

Leaving the Park, we saw a big flock of geese - in all the years I have walked here, I never once saw a goose.

Holland tells me that his Grandfather, Father, Uncles, & In-laws - built these houses in the 1970's.

Holland talking about the A-frame the family built.

Halfway down the dike trail, I spotted Holland. Patiently waiting.

Patiently waiting, in the gravel parking lot.

Is Longview transferring some of their Canadian Geese, from there to here? There used to be swans swimming in Lake Sacajawea in the 1970's - but that isn't happening anymore. I do miss the swans.

Walk results~2 dike sections. The heart rate is safe for a healthy/fit 70 y.o. It could be problematic with arrhythmia & asthma … but - I didn't suffer anything but a shortness of breath, which is the norm for me, even sitting still; so, I wasn't worried. Holland was a little concerned, but I was fine once I was inside Betsy's cab & cooling down. The humidity was high 67% & the outside temperature was 60 my lungs always struggle in high humidity days.

It was an enjoyable Day; we enjoyed our walkabout - even with all the changes that have taken place since I walked here, last. Bleu ate his entire bowl of food, and we slept very well 👍