Sunday Morning, Observatory Hill Road

Way back in 1976, my first year UVA chemistry lab met at 800 AM every Thursday. The only memory I’ve retained about it was how pleasant it was to stand by the windows to see the mountains west of Charlottesville lit by the east morning light. It dawned on me (bad pun) that I might enjoy rising early, and ever since then I’ve been a morning person.

Today I especially wanted to go out early, because I start working the hospital wards this week. That means I’ll miss the sunrises for 14 consecutive days- no sunshine at all since I’ll be in before sunrise and work until after sunset each day.

So this morning I pulled out my 30 year-old North Face backpack, stuck in a couple of tents and other gear for weight and walked two circuits of O-Hill to break in new hiking boots. Here is a photograph of the Observatory Hill road, always one of my favorite short walks for enjoying the sunrise.