~5.1 mi @ ~16.1 min/mi

"Oh, heavens!" exclaims Molly, as we discover that once again we're heading in precisely the wrong direction. No matter! Morning meanders lead to new perspectives, unexpected connections, surprise gifts. Lawn art lures: a Virgin Mary behind a wire grid; swans and geese on leashes; a bed of oyster shells with dog and bird statuettes; a wall-mounted witch above a miniature Madonna.

"Hands like you're holding a ball!" Molly and Roadkill pose in front of "Turning Point", a huge mural now 10 years old at the corner of Piney Branch Road and New Hampshire Avenue. We seek adventure, and are amply rewarded. A slippery slope takes us onto Northwest Branch Trail, where recent floods have left muddy detritus in dark underpasses.

"DANGER! Bridge Out - Keep Off" Roadkill recalls running here but somehow forgets to warn of water crossings. Oops! As we wade across Molly tells of hiking a New York trail that vanished on one side of a river and reappeared on the other. We take the Quebec Street bridge and return home with soggy socks. Coffee and conversation with her husband Giulio ensue: category theory, Haskell programming, Terry Pratchett, and more!

(trackfile) - ^z - 2018-12-??