Some say we have just finished the “Dog Days of Summer.” The 40 days, beginning July 3 and ending August 11 coincide with the heliacal (at sunrise) rising of the Dog Star, Sirius.
For the ancient Egyptians, Sirius appeared just before the Nile’s flooding season, so they used the star as an indicator of the flood. Because its rising also coincided with a time of extreme heat, the connection with hot, sultry weather was made for all time.
That August 11 date seems a bit out of wack this year. Maybe Egypt was different way back when.
Anyway, we’ve got hot, the south has floods, the east is sultry, and Nancy doesn’t have the blog done.
I’ll be gone Sunday and may get her work into Word Press in the evening. I’ll be working on WA’s Talapus Lake Trail just over the crest of Snoqualmie Pass. Here on the Naneum Fan the high today was 99° and they claim only 89° Sunday. Our work on the trail will start at about 65° and end at about 75°. I can be useful during that range of temperature but above 80 I don’t do much outside.
So, here’s to the end of the Dog Days of Summer. Cheers! Next?