Walking around Olympia Wa.

The reason I go on long walks is to get ready for half-marathons, and last weekend there was one in Olympia WA, here some pictures.
packet pick-up was in Sylester Park in Olympia





We picked up our packets and pinned on our numbers.

at the back of the pack before the marathon starts


and we are off

Olympia marina and Olympic Mountains


heading out of the city and into a rural area




Took a picture of the guy taking pictures, had fun with that




A passing runner offered to take a picture of me with my camera





Olympia has neat older homes also




getting there






The state capital and surrounding park



These folks were singing as we walked by and they sounded good



On the final stretch
almost there
Sweetie and I after the walk, it was a fun day

When we meet Odysseus

BOOK 5

The gods meet again and it is decided that Calypso is to let Odysseus go home, and the messenger Hermes is given the task of delivering the news. We find Calypso at her loom, again proper hospitality is shown here, she gave Hermes ambrosia and red nectar to eat and drink. She is none to happy about the message Hermes delivers, but she will obey. Then we find Odysseus he is on the beach, homesick and crying in despair, he is at a low point. Calypso informs Odysseus that she is going to let him go home, he builds a raft, and she provides other provisions for him. When the raft is done he sets out, things were going well for the first seventeen days. Then Poseidon sees him, and he makes it rough for Odysseus causing him to almost drown in the sight of dry land. But make to dry land he does and sleeps under an olive tree.

Whew, it was pretty intense for Odysseus before he made it to dry ground, but you know he had to make it, the story can not end with him drowning at sea. A good storyteller could have lots of fun with book 5, especially at the end.

Spring Has Come to The Northwest

The last two weekends I have been out walking in West Seattle and south from South center, here are some pictures; first Lincoln Park and West Seattle.There some neat older homes in the West Seattle neighborhoodSouth of Southcenter I found a little gem called the I love this time of the year

The trip to Sparta

Notes on Book 4
BOOK 4
Telemachus and Pisistratus reach Sparta and enter the Palace of Menelaus; again it was very important at that time to show proper hospitably to strangers. When Eteoneus asks Menelaus if he should put up Telemachus and Pisistratus or send them away, Menelaus gets very upset with his servant. By all means he was to take care of the horses and set a supper before them. Telemachus was in awe of the palace of Menelaus, he compared it to the palace of Olympian Zeus. Eventually Menelaus starts talking about Odysseus, and then Helen comes in they both tell of Odysseus exploits. Helen tells about the time he dressed himself up as a beggar, with wounds and bruises to spy out the city of Troy. He killed many Trojans and gathered much information on that trip. Menelaus then tells about the time when they were inside the horse, Helen comes up calls out the Argive chiefs by name and mimics their wives. Then Anticlus was about to answer
Odysseus held his hands over Anticlus mouth so he could not. The suitors don’t have a chance. Meanwhile at Ithaca the suitors plot Telemachus death.

The Trip to Pylos

BOOK 3
Book three starts out with Telemachus and his shipmates reaching the city of Pylos. The people of Pylos were on the seashore offering sacrifices to Poseidon, Telemachus and Athene, in the form of Mentor, make their way to Nestor. They are made welcome by one of Nestor’s sons, receiving and welcoming strangers it very important in this culture, after eating Telemachus asks Nestor about his father. Nestor tells of the hardships the Achaeans suffered while besieging the city of Troy. The loss of their best warriors, Patroclus, Achilles and says to tell the whole story would take five or six years. He speaks well of Odysseus, saying they always agreed on matters in camp and at the council and they did their best to advise the Argives. Nestor tells of his voyage back to Pylos, and about the return of Menelaus, his trip took quite a bit longer. When Telemachus and Athene were headed back to their ship Nestor was offended. He said no son of his good friend Odysseus would spent the night on the deck of a ship when he had ample cloaks and rugs for him to sleep on.
The next day Nestor has a heifer brought in for a sacrifice, invites Telemachus’ crew and they feast. Afterward provision is made for the trip to Sparta, when all is ready Telemachus and Pisistratus start on their journey.