hayfields

It may still be dark and cold, but we both LOVE LOVE LOVE the hayfields run (click here for the map)

Now mind you i would rather do this run in shorts, but I will take it layered in winter wear! Its a nice 9 mile loop that cuts through our neighborhood, across campus, and through the hayfields where the cows and sheep graze. If you do this run at the break of down, when you turn east onto the dirt road at mile 4, the sky is beautiful. This afternoon I took the girls for a walk to campus (about 1.25 miles) where we picked up the car and drove the rest of the route to get some pictures to share. Bee was the photographer. We decided to get the car washed after we looked at these pics because the few taken through the car windows make it seem we have snow falling = but no, that is just the salt encrusted windows.

Ok, so here is the view as you leave the house for this nice run.

then, here is mile marker 1. Its right at the red cedar river. If you turn your eyes west you get this beautiful view (well, minus Bee unless she is running with you!)

Then at mile marker 2, you head off the main part of campus and hit the agricultural side of campus, with the big pavilion where we have seen many a horse and cow show. The cool thing about the pavilion is that is has a 10kW photovoltaic cell -- the first one on campus.

Then at mile 3 you turn onto college road and run between the dairy cattle and the beef cattle fields.

Then at mile 4, you turn onto the dirt road that cuts by the beef cattle (up close and personal) and the sheep. You continue to run by them at mile 5, and also a number of barns. This is both scott's and my favorite part of this run. So lovely and peaceful... before you hit campus again and remember all that work that is not yet done!

Then at mile 6 you run by baby steer, and then the turf grass teaching and research and also a bunch of hay.

Then at mile 7 you are exiting the dirt road by the corn fields near the engineering annex and are turning back onto campus by the
children's botanical garden and the railroad tracks.

At mile 8 you've crossed the red cedar river again and are heading toward grand river and back to our neighbood. We live among the students, and Bee took this pic of a house with sparty on the roof so
you get a feel for our 'hood. (sorry about the dirty windows!).

Whew!! Im hungry!