13-149

Walked 3.05 miles in 57 minutes to work.  Intended to walk home, but ran out of time and so will settle for walking the one way today.  Read Mosiah 9.

Cheerio!

13-148

It was an extra windy walk home tonight, sometimes hard to even take the next step when I was walking up the hill to Hurricane's 600 North.  Once I got there at least it was a crosswind rather than a headwind and I started moving a little faster.

Garmin started recording the walk a little late, so the walk home is officially 2.96 miles in 57:18 minutes, with 250 feet climbed.  Average heart rate was 115.

Eating continues to be a challenge.  I do pretty well during the day, then build up a voracious appetite in the evening, especially if I walk home.  Current goal is 2271 calories per day to lose one pound per week, and my preference is to keep eating to that and have any exercise benefit be just that.  Today's eating was 2723 calories, so I needed 440 calories burned from the walk to even get close to goal at 2283.  At least I am continuing to learn what I need to do to continue my journey ... I'm down 36 pounds in two years, certainly not a record pace, but I'm happy with it.

I read and enjoyed Mosiah 8 this morning.

Cheerio!

13-144

Josh and Benjamin went with me today on our most strenuous hike this year ... Three miles up and three more back down Brown's Point Trail in the Pine Valley Mountains near St. George, with 2150 feet climbed and grades up to 25% and averaging over 15% most of the way. There are lots of downed trees, and the trail can be hard to follow through rocky debris. All of this helped earn this path the triple beyond tortoise rating ... Our reward was some spectacular views, and a great workout!  And we all recovered pretty quickly, yea!  If you'd like to see more pictures, a map and more, click here:

  http://adventures.garmin.com/en-US/by/dougbeechersr/hike-3-miles-up-and-back-browns-point-trail/#pois/p_2013-05-24-15-46-32

Weigh-in today:  231.2.

Cheerio!

13-137

It was Fireworks Friday at Angels Stadium

I had 2 available hours after my last appointment today for a walk before meeting with Ted Rieck to go to the Angels game.  Walk was good, relaxing at the game with Ted was good, Angels ... well ... they produced 3 hits and no runs, so I'll stick with the other two good items and leave it at that.

I was hoping to climb 1000 feet in the hour I had before needing to retrace my steps.  As on several walks, my Garmin device showed more miles (4.3) than the Garmin software showed when I uploaded it (3.6).  Either way it was a vigorous walk  (rated 0.4 tortoises) with 1150 feet climbed with a pretty steady 10-12% grade in 2:00:24 hours.  Heart beat peaked at 150 and averaged 125.  Please click here for pictures, a map, and more:

http://adventures.garmin.com/en-US/by/dougbeechersr/2-miles-up-icehouse-canyon/#.UaGKLMq8aho

For a couple more pictures from the game, click here:

View from our seats, 5 rows from the field near the right field foul pole.

Walked right by the broadcasters on the way in and out.  Fun seeing it up close.

13-128

Walked a 7 tortoise path 0.5 miles in 10 minutes.  Read Mosiah 3.  Got to see Darin again as he passed through town to ordain his brother Michael an Elder ... and the family gathered at Cafe Rio for lunch.  You make time together any chance you get, especially when one comes for 24 hours from far, far away!

Cheerio!

13-127

Walked a 7 tortoise path 0.5 miles in 10 minutes.  Read Mosiah 2.  Love King Benjamin!  Where can we clone him?

Cheerio!

13-124

My walk today was in three segments supporting me checking out a path new to me.  First segment was leading to the path, second is in the following Garmin adventure (click here for details and lots of pictures):

http://adventures.garmin.com/en-US/by/dougbeechersr/alewife-greenway-to-mystic-river-paths/#.UYWCocrJV_Q

The final segment was a shorter, uphill stretch returning back to my starting point.  Total was 6.4 miles, with 397 feet climbed in 2 hours 5 minutes. Overall path rating 5.8 tortoises. Average heart rate was 105 with a peak of 132.  Feeling great!

Cheerio!

13-123

Sightseeing day today.  Took the T into Boston and walked between sights, lots of fun ... walked on a 7 tortoise path 3 miles in an hour in the process.  Enjoy the pictures, some have captions, some speak for themselves! ...

Rachel, Sweetheart, and Becca ... my 3 fabulous travelling companions!

Becca got to check a couple items off her go-to list today :-)

Fun decor and tasty ... good choice, Becca!

These last three were taken at Wilson Farms after the walk and on our way home ... I like them so I added them in here in honor of Benjamin ...

Cheerio!

13-122

I finished my round trip of the Minuteman Trail today.  14.2 miles in 4 hours 48 minutes on a 5.9 tortoise path ... enjoy the pictures:

http://adventures.garmin.com/en-US/by/dougbeechersr/minuteman-trail-lexingtontown-ctr-to-bedford-stn-back-to-arlington-lake-st/#.UYafssrJV_Q

Moleskin saved my feet.  I developed a large blister on the ball of my left foot yesterday.  When I went to bed it hurt enough I was seriously considering a rest day today.  Sleep and moleskin are wonderful things ... here's to the tortoise's idea of a rest day :-)

Here are some bonus pictures from me ending my walk by surprising Becca and walking to her school.  It was a treat to see her world ... it is great!

After school we went to a nearby park with a great view

Here we are :-)

13-121

 So Rachel and I had 50 minutes before she had to pick up Maggie from school.  I was going to start today's walk, and she came with me for the first 25 minutes, then retraced her steps.  I kept going from there to one end of this trail at the Alewife station at the end of Boston's red line subway near the Cambridge-Arlington town line.  On the way, we passed this fabulous statue of Uncle Sam.  Turns out he is a real person, I hadn't realized that.  I knew this would be a good walk ...

So then I started up the path just because I was enjoying it so much.  I wound up near the town center of Lexington ... the colonial style Baskin Robbins/Dunkin Donuts combo shop had some nice tables where I could wait for Rachel, who was nice enough to drive out and pick me up.

Totals:  8.7 miles with 336 feet climbed in 2 hours 48 minutes on a 5.9 tortoise path.  I have a Garmin adventure here if you'd like lots more pictures and details:  http://adventures.garmin.com/en-US/by/dougbeechersr/minuteman-trail-arlington-town-ctr-to-alewife-t-station-to-lexington-town-ctr/#.UYRlc8rJV_Q

Cheerio!