Sterling Notes

Arlo checking out the reservoir

There are no sidewalks in Sterling. There are a few streetlights, however. It's a small place.

As Arlo and I have walked around Sterling, different animals come to the road to greet us: goats, cows, several horses. They are probably bored, and we are new to them. Jackie says they want me to feed them.

I have decided that the best place to take a long walk near here is at the local dried-up reservoir, which you can see from the picture is not entirely dry, but is filled to maybe one tenth of one percent capacity. That's probably too generous. Anyway, Arlo and I go out there to walk, and the first time I got a lot of burrs in my socks, but there are dirt roads around the reservoir, called arapeen trails, which are trails for ATVs, and they are great for walking. We don't see anyone out there, so it's a good place to let Arlo off leash.

The skies here are darker and clearer than back home, so much so that I get confused trying to identify the constellations, because there are so many stars visible. Also, it was easy to see by moonlight at 2:30 AM last night with only a half moon.

About that. Last night I thought Arlo needed to go out at 2:30, so we started down our street. Dogs started barking at us, so we turned around and walked the opposite direction. But one of the dogs did not sound right. I looked down the street and saw, and heard, a large dog walking down the middle of the street toward us, barking as he came. We went inside, but I could hear him still coming until we got the door shut. So from now on we will not take long walks around the town, or late night walks, and when I do have to take Arlo out near the house, I am carrying a walking stick to use as a a weapon.

Some people should not own dogs.