I moved and recorded myself walking a typical walk I did around the neighborhood and surrounding parks over the past four years. For this episode I edited in mostly only the speaking parts, which of course include bird sightings, fall weather, and whatever else popped into my head. I plan to post the entire unedited recording as future "Places" episode, if you are into that sort of thing.

Kicking off Season 4 of Switching Title with a new episode of the Places sub-series over at Wolf Trap National Park. These recordings were made back in April. It's wild hearing the sounds of spring as I type this, now in November.

I embark my first attempt at riding the entirety of the C&O (Chesapeake and Ohio) Canal Towpath from Cumberland, Maryland to Georgetown, Washington D.C. This episode includes plenty of bird, stamina, distance, and other experience reports. Special appearance: P-Touch, and a few other melodies come through. Wrap it up, Reid.

On a bike ride out to Manassas I came across a Bluebird box that the first Tree Sparrows I spotted of the year were possibly making a home out of. It took them a few minutes to return to the box after I walked far away. Then I found out there was a firing range not too far away!

Another dream bird. Heading out to check my misery index by doing one night bikepacking on the C&O Canal Trail in preparation for doing the entire trail. As usual, I pay a lot of attention to birds and other wildlife. I also remind myself what I forgot to bring, and what I don’t need to bring.

I took an excellent trip with my mom this past March to Cape May, New Jersey. The two locations in this episode are, first, from the balcony of our beachfront hotel room; and second, from the Cape May National Wildlife Refuge beach.

I start off by rambling about how a previous take was better than the one in the recording. Then you hear this chunk of music I've been working on and thinking about. Finally there's about 15 minutes of bird thoughts. Classic.

The last place I recorded on my trip to Iceland in the new year was at Tjornin Lake in Reykjavik. There's light early-morning land and air traffic, but mostly some good Greylag Goose and Whooper Swan squabbling! I took the long way around to get to my bus that took me away from this beautiful country, and this recording makes me wish I was back there again.

Okay - yes, more bird and nature thoughts, but they are some good ones! I went to the movies a few times during this go around and saw Immaculate, Late Night With The Devil, and The First Omen. I sneak in some sound bites and a dream ditty at the end.

Here's another hotel window recording from my time in Iceland early this year. This one is in the very international capitol city Reykjavik . I think I was on the third or fourth floor listening down to quite a busy street. While I was winding down for bed, you can hear people walking by not speaking English, various flying and rolling vehicles passing, and even a cover band at a nearby bar after a little while. Roxanne!