Without fail, at the same time every year, the winds return to Portland.

They sweep in from the east, gathering speed and strength as they funnel through the Columbia River Gorge, following the same channel cleared by the Missoula Floods so many thousands of years ago. I could give you the long, drawn-out meteorological explanation of how wind forms and what it means in relation to the changing seasons, but there’s nothing October-y or poetic about that.

It’s now safe to get your sweaters out, people. Fall is really here.

This one’s a short post as the next few October Thoughts will be. You see, there’s this soccer game happening on Sunday and I’m a bit preoccupied.

I did, however, find this Tolkien reference to the East Wind:

“That is as it should be,” said Aragorn. “In Minas Tirith they endure the East Wind, but they do not ask it for tidings. …”

So, if you’re playing October Thoughts Bingo, you can mark off Aragorn, Missoula Floods and soccer from your card.