Rainy Summer

We had about double our normal July rain.  But it isn't about how much rain we get - double means a little over 3" for the month.  Parts of Iowa had 3-5 inches in 24 hours in June and in Jamangar in India's Gujarat state, almost 3 inches fell in 2 hours in July.  But in Anchorage that 3 inches was spread out over most of the month.  So, how many days of rain is as important to know as total inches.  

And August has been much the same.  But nevertheless, my nasturtiums are starting to bloom.  And we've had breaks in the clouds.

And, of course, rain means mushrooms.  Best as I can tell, these are a kind of coral fungus growing in our yard.  The biggest are under two inches.  My Audubon Field Guide to North American Mushrooms  (the link goes to a cool section of the book with mushroom silhouettes that make it easier to find the mushrooms) says:

Coral fungi resemble pieces of underwater coral, and are club-shaped to many-branched, white to yellow, ochre, orange, pink, red, or purple.  Most grow on the ground, some on logs and stumps, and all seem to be most plentiful in late summer and fall in coniferous woods.  Many coral fungi are eaten and, although a few are known to cause a laxative effect or gastric upset, no serious poisonings have been reported. 

So, when I got a call asking if I wanted to meet a friend on the Coastal Trail, I jumped at the chance.  But even the ducks were trying to get out of the rain.

I don't recall doing this trail by bike in the rain before.  It's a little less crowded and it felt good to ride.


Since he had started at Kincaid, and I started at home, we met up around Pt. Woronzof and then went back (for me) toward downtown.













The trail is what is sometimes called a multi-use trail. It goes right near the north-south runway at the airport and you're sharing the trail with 747's. 

JL saw a moose and two calves between Kincaid and Pt. Woronzof.  I saw Sandhill Cranes out of the mudflats.