I crossed Goose Creek on my walk today. This means that I've covered the W&OD Trail on foot from mile marker 2 to mile marker 31.5.

There is a huge electricity station to the west of the creek: a loud, low-pitched nasal hum is emitted by certain dark apparatus in the station, which is set off by whispery crackles from the transmission lines overhead. I could almost visualize the magnetic flux lines penetrating my body.

I added four birds to my very informal trail list: Field Sparrow (Spizella pusilla), Northern Parula (Parula americana), Common Raven (Corvus corax)—all heard only. Black Vultures (Coragyps atratus) were soaring over Goose Creek. Oh, and on the drive in, a quick glimpse of what must of been an ultralight aircraft, from the Leesburg Airport.

Still no sightings of cicadas. I saw a number of butterflies, unidentifiable by me. Very tempted to go back for my bins and my new butterflies field guide.

There's also a tempting little area of hike/horse/mountain bike trails off the W&OD at the confluence of Goose and Sycolin Creeks. I'll have to go back.

The trail is crossed by Cochran Mill Road. In this part of the county, the lane-and-a-half blacktop road passes asphalt plants, construction companies, one of the Luck Stone quarries. It dumps you on to Route 7 by a golf course.

I drove back on 7 through the heart of Patio Man country. There's a branch of Old Dominion University (specializing in high-tech certificate programs) separated by a small parking lot from a La-Z-Boy showroom. At 50mph, it's really hard to tell which building is which.

posted: 4:45:26 PM