TUESDAY - SEPTEMBER 16 - DAY 63

I HAVE FLOATED MUCH FURTHER DOWN THE DELTA NOW , THE RAFT MOVES HAPPILY ALONG . THE FARMS ARE MORE OCCASIONAL AND THEY SEEM LIKE OUTPOSTS. STORAGE SHEDS AND FIELD EQUIPMENT BUT NO ONE APPEARS TO LIVE THIS FAR DOWN . WHAT HAS CHANGED THOUGH IS A BUILDING SENSE SENSE OF THE OCEAN. AT LOW WATER SANDBARS APPEAR NOW AND THE STUMPS EMBEDDED IN THE BANKS HAVE BARNACLES ON THEM . THE WATER IS BRACKISH AND I HAVE ENTERED A GREAT ESTUARY THAT IS WASHED OUT WITH FRESH AND SALT WATER DAILY .

I SAW PELICANS YESTERDAY FLYING IN FORMATION ALONG WHAT IS PROBABLY A BEACH NEARBY. I THINK THE RIVER NOW MAY BE RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE OCEAN. IN THE MORNING THE AIR IS COOL AND AT LOW WATER I SMELL STRONG AND PUNGEANT TIDE FLATS . SEAGULLS CAREEN ALONG THE RIVER BANKS AND SANDPIPERS TINY FOOTPRINTS ARE HIEROGLYPHICS IN THE MUCK .
THERE IS SOMETHING ENLIVENING ABOUT THE SALT WATER AND MY BLOOD FEELS IT NEARBY . THE RIVER WAS FULL OF INTRIGUES BUT THE OCEAN IS MORE AN ESSENTIAL THING .

ON THE CLINIC SIDE A RELATIVE CALM HANGS OVER THE FIELD , LIKE AN AUTUMN DAY STILL OUT AHEAD OF US . BLOOD COUNTS ARE STRONG AND BESIDES FATIGUE THINGS ARE FEELING KIND OF LIKE NORMAL .

AND THEN THERE IS PHINNEY RIDGE , THE 2 DAILY WAIKS ARE MY MAINSTAY NOW AND WHILE I HAVE SAVORED SUMMER , A COLOR FAUCET HAS BEEN OPENED JUST A CRACK AND BLED COLORS INTO A FEW OF THE TREES - THEIR BOLD GREEN NOW MIXED WITH A FIERCE RED ORANGE .

WITH THE OCEAN NEARBY , I AM ON PATROL ,
YOUR FAITHFUL RECONNASSAINCE OFFICER , KHUN CHUCK