14-365

Tortoise ended 2014 at Mile 1,021.  It was cold again today, but Lou bundled up and got it done.  For today's numbers and walking thought by David Haight, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-364

Mile 1,018.  Tortoise was fortunate to get today's walk done.  Weather conditions all over the state were cold, quite windy, and in many places snowy ... with snow threatening here.  Lou likes to walk.  Every day.  He likes being safe even more.  Business took him to St. George late in the afternoon.  It was in the 20s and damp with low cloud cover.  Pictures of this section of the Virgin River Trail just northeast of the Crosby Confluence Park have been posted here before, the difference today is the mountains at the horizon aren't visible because of the low clouds. 

The big positive is that the winds that had steadily battered the office all day in Hurricane were not blowing in St. George at that moment.  Tortoise can deal with cold and damp, just bundle up and go.  High winds are another matter.  So with that blessing, Tortoise was off and walking!  

For additional pictures, today's walking thought by Russell Nelson, and more, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-363

Mile 1,016. Tortoise is home from Florida, and back to the cold. It made for a pretty picture along the Mill Creek trail, a section of the Virgin River Trail straddling St. George and Washington. For more pictures, today's walking thought by David Burton, and more, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-361

Mile 1,012.  A walk around the loop near Sarah and Darin's home to see the Christmas lights, with Sarah, Becca, Benjamin, Abigail and Chloe!  For pictures, today's walking thought by Merrill Bateman, and more, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-360

Mile 1,009.  Tortoise got another walk with Darin, Chloe, and Abigail, and Nathan this afternoon.  This one was in the Ritch Grissom Memorial Wetlands in Viera, Florida.  For pictures, today's walking thought by Howard Hunter, and more, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-359

Mile 1,006.  Tortoise had a nice Christmas afternoon walk with Darin, Chloe, Abigail, and Nathan through their neighborhood.  For pictures, today's walking thought (again today by Thomas Monson), and more, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-358

Mile 1,003.  Willyne, Benjamin, Becca, and I arrived in Florida this morning for Christmas with the Ragozzines.  We have a long family tradition of doing something fun together on Christmas Eve, generally including bowling.  Sarah broke her toe not long ago, so the conversation went to what would we like to do memorable that didn't include bowling, or anything else tough on that toe.  Turns out just a few minutes from their home is the yearly Surfing Santa event at Cocoa Beach.  In addition to countless surfers wearing red shirts and Santa hats, there were at least twenty Santa skydivers as well.

We arrived at the beach a little after 9.  The skydivers happen at 11, so Tortoise took the opportunity to walk a piece down the beach and back before playing in the water with his grandchildren and watching the Santa fun.  For more pictures and today's walking thought by Thomas Monson, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-357

Queue up the music, start the party, the 1000 miles (and the extra mile) have been walked "just to be the man who would walk 1000 miles for you"!

Today's adventure came on a beautiful sunny 40 degree afternoon on the Legacy Parkway Trail in Davis County, Utah west of Woods Cross and Bountiful.  It is indeed amazing the things you can see and the people you can meet when you put one foot in front of the other 291 days in a year for an hour and a few minutes average each day.  Thank you, Dr. Carter, for telling me I need to do this, and to my dear family and friends who have been such a support along the way.

Anyone up to come with me from time to time in 2015?

Please click below to continue reading, there are pictures, more details, and today's clean living walking thought by Richard Lindsay waiting for you there ...

Cheerio!

14-354

Late last night we got the happy news that Doug Jr and Stefanie picked today to become a wedded couple, so all plans for the day were changed with big smiles and we headed to Las Vegas to be with them.

I did get in a short walk in the afternoon going to and from two different wedding chapels, but at 0.5 miles round trip it was well below Tortoise's self imposed daily two mile minimum, so this is officially a no walk day (please click below for more)

Cheerio!

14-353

Mile 997.  Good morning, La Verkin!  It was a beautiful, mostly clear, still 35 degree morning with a few lingering clouds that provided wonderful walking conditions for Tortoise.  For a map, today's walking thought by Charles Didier, and more, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-352

Mile 994.  Tortoise began the first of three short walks today at the Riverside Trailhead in St. George.  Both pictures were taken there, seconds apart.  The difference was the angle of the camera with respect to the bright light of sunset.  For more on these walks, and today's walking thought by Joseph Wirthlin, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-351

Mile 991.  The mountains were covered with clouds this afternoon.  It made for nice walking conditions.  There's a aerial view map, today's walking thought by L. Tom Perry ... and lots of those numbers only Tortoise can make intriguing for you when you click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-350

Mile 988.  Now that's what I call a nice view while walking to work!  

There's a map, today's walking thought by Kenneth Johnson ... and let's not forget, lots of exciting numbers (!) waiting for you when you click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-349

Mile 984.  A nice, simple, brisk walk home from work to get me there in time for a beautiful holiday dinner prepared by Willyne and shared with Doug Jr. and Stefanie.  Following that, we enjoyed a drive together to see Christmas lights and had a special dessert.  Homemade German chocolate pecan pie bars!  We had a very nice evening together!

There's a map, today's walking thought by Lloyd George ... and let's not forget, lots of exciting numbers (!) waiting for you when you click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-347

Mile 981.  Tortoise had a long drive home, made longer by cars and trucks, wall to wall, everywhere on every road.  Thank goodness for the KNX 1070 traffic reports every ten minutes on the 5s.  At least, Lou would know when the road ahead would change from 20 miles per hour to a dead stop because of an accident or whatever.  Then he would use his knowledge of Road B then Road C, D, E, ... to keep moving.

With this backdrop, there is the issue of where and how would today's walk fit in.  He could have happily done a follow up beach walk, or continued on the Pacific Electric Trail in Fontana.  What won out was starting on a new path, the San Gabriel River Trail at its northern end near the intersection of the 605 and 210 freeways -- because it was near the path he was detouring on in his efforts to keep moving.

There's a map, pictures that show the contrast between the industry along the trail and the TV/Radio towers atop Mt. Wilson in the background.  Today's walking thought by Bonnie Oscarson is also waiting for you when you click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-346

Mile 979.  Started at Grand Ave at the north end of El Segundo beach and headed south on the Marvin Braude Bike Trail to the end of the Strand at the Manhattan Beach line.  Then turned around and walked to lifeguard station 57 (most of the way to Imperial Highway) before returning to my starting point.

There's a map of all this, a very generous portion of pictures including a 37 second video clip, a snippet of Tortoise history, and today's walking thought by Malcolm Jeppsen waiting for you when you click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

14-345

Mile 975.  Ball past Lincoln along the Santa Ana River Trail as far as mile 16, then back.  A beautiful December afternoon as you can see!  Lots of other bicyclists and runners were enjoying it with me.

Please click below for more pictures, a map, and today's walking thought by Elaine Jack ...

Cheerio!

14-344

Mile 972.  Katella to Ball to ARTIC along the Santa Ana River Trail. No spelling error here.  ARTIC is an acronym for Anaheim Regional Intermodal Transportation Center, which looked to be under construction when I walked by on November 20.  Today the parking lot was full and buses were delivering passengers.  I arrived this morning for 4 days of work, and shook off the 402 mile drive by walking briskly before heading on to my clients.

Please click below for more pictures, a map, and today's walking thought by Richard Scott ...

Cheerio!

14-343

Mile 969.  Washington's Sienna Hills Park was Tortoise's lunch walk starting point today. The Washington city trail map shows the trail from this park merges with the Washington Parkway Trail and then enters the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, ending shortly thereafter at the Grapevine Trail.  Lou pictured the trail going along side the Parkway and over Interstate 15 on the Parkway's bridge at Exit 13.

Please click below for pictures galore, a map, the rest of the story of where the trail really goes (it's a walker's delight), and today's walking thought by Jeanne Inouye, including this sneak preview:   "If there were not more to do than we are individually capable of doing, we wouldn’t have to make choices and we would never realize what we value most."

Cheerio!

14-342

Mile 965.  Tortoise had a post-birthday lunch with his brother Steve, then walked a new section of the Virgin River Trail with him.  Learned that if the daily special at Mt. St. Helen's doesn't excite you that the Philly Cheesesteak sandwich is always a solid choice there.  That was a nice surprise in Washington County.

Please click below for more pictures, a map,  and today's walking thought by Aileen Clyde that includes:  "Love is not just good, it is essential to life." 

Cheerio!

14-340

Mile 962.  Tortoise went with 25 other folks on the La Verkin Winterfest Mayor's Walk today.  Beautiful weather, good company, and learned some more about our fine town!

Please click below for more pictures, a map,  and today's walking thought by Eugene Hansen that includes:  "Often it is the work and sacrifice one experiences in obtaining money for a worthwhile purpose that produces the most satisfaction." 

Cheerio!

14-339

Mile 959.  Tortoise picked up some of his grandchildren for a sleepover complete with a pizza dinner before heading to the theater to watch Heroes 6 - great fun!  His idea of multi-tasking was to walk 2.28 miles to the bank rather than drive, just before picking up his grandchildren. 39 feet were climbed in 1.14 miles along the way, for a 5.8 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 356 calories in 36:48 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by Virginia Pearce that includes:  "if people are really going to learn something, they need more than an explanation; they need an experience"  

Cheerio! 

14-338

Mile 956.  Tortoise enjoyed the Christmas lights in La Verkin's Zion View Estates neighborhood while walking. 2.54 miles this evening. 90 feet were climbed in 1.27 miles along the way, for a 5.4 tortoise rating on the uphill portion of this walk.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 372 calories in 43;51 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map, another picture, and today's walking thought by Thomas S. Monson ...  

Cheerio! 

14-337

Mile 954.  Greetings from this evening's turnaround point, the Hurricane city power plant located up a hill from my office. Round trip distance was 2.03 miles, with 141 feet climbed in 1.02 miles along the way, for a 4.8 tortoise rating on the uphill portion of this walk.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 300 calories in 34:22 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by L. Tom Perry ...  

Cheerio! 

14-336

Mile 952. Tortoise needed flexibility today, so he hitched a ride with his sweet lady as far as her hair appointment, then walked the rest of the way to work.  After work, Lou continued his walk up the hill to Valley Academy Charter School and back.  This totalled 2.53 miles, with 105 feet climbed in 1.00 miles along the way, for a 5.1 tortoise rating on the uphill portion of this walk.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 372 calories in 46:32 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map, another picture, and today's walking thought by Gordon Hinckley.  You will want to hear the story of the butterfly picture!

Cheerio! 

14-335

Mile 949.  Tortoise walked 3.32 miles home from work this evening. There were 215 feet climbed in 1.66 miles along the way, for a 4.8 tortoise rating on the uphill portion of this walk.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 490 calories in 1:03:47 hours doing this.

Please click below for a map, more pictures, and today's walking thought by Carlos Amado ...

Cheerio!

14-333

Mile 946.  Tortoise walked 3.86 miles this morning in a loop around La Verkin, starting and ending at his home. There were 138 feet climbed in 1.93 miles along the way, for an average 5.4 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 571 calories in 1:16:26 hours doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by the Happy Dutchman ...

Cheerio!

14-332

Mile 942.  Tortoise walked 0.83 miles this afternoon to the playground at the elementary school and back with some very special people.  Later that evening, he did a second 1.61 mile walk in a loop from his house.  There were 102 feet climbed in 1.23 miles along the way, for an average 5.3 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 368 calories in 49:59 minutes doing this.

Please click below for maps, more pictures and today's walking thought by John Groberg ...

Cheerio!

14-331

Mile 940.  Tortoise walked 2.26 miles on a short Thanksgiving night loop from home after turning on our Nativity and Christmas lights to start the season.  There were 99 feet climbed in 1.13 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.3 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 333 calories in 42:37 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by Robert Hales ...

Cheerio!

14-330

Mile 937.  Tortoise walked 3.12 miles tonight on a loop from home.  Thanks, Josh, for fixing Lou's head light -- it is very helpful!  There were 84 feet climbed in 1.56 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.6 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 459 calories in 57:49 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by Spencer Condie ...

Cheerio!

14-329

Mile 934.  Tortoise walked 2.73 miles after work along the Virgin River Trail in Washington upstream from the Sullivan Virgin River Soccer Park, then back.  There were 48 feet climbed in 1.37 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.9 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 443 calories in 42:49 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map, more pictures, and today's walking thought by Lowell Wood ...

Cheerio!

14-328

Mile 932.  Tortoise walked 3.39 miles home from work using the sidewalk along the highway.  There were 117 feet climbed in 1.70 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.4 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 497 calories in 1:00:49 hours doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by Chieko Okazaki ...

Cheerio!

14-326

Mile 928.  Tortoise helped his sweet lady set up for an activity to finish the ceramic Nativity pieces they've been working on at church all year.  When they were under way, Lou took the scenic route home, 3.98 miles through Confluence Park.  There were 332 feet climbed in 1.10 miles along the way, giving that portion a 3.2 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 602 calories in 1:23:11 hours doing this.

Please click below for a map, more pictures and today's walking thought by Gordon B. Hinckley ...

Cheerio!

14-325

Mile 924.  Tortoise walked 2.43 miles this evening on a loop through the west side of La Verkin beginning at the church on 300 West.  There were 82 feet climbed in 1.21 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.4 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 359 calories in 47:39 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by Howard W. Hunter ...

Cheerio!

14-324

Mile 922.  Tortoise walked 4.48 miles at the end of the work day on a quick trip to Orange County, picking up the section of the Santa Ana River Trail from the 22 Freeway to Katella Avenue and back. In little pieces, I've now done a round trip marathon on this one, and I'm just getting warmed up as far as this trail is concerned:  13.1 miles each way from the start on Pacific Coast Highway in Huntington Beach to Katella Avenue in Anaheim. The view shown above is looking north towards a fire department training structure complete with 9-11-01 memorial.  Beyond that is the big Red A of Anaheim Stadium. More on that later.  There were 61 feet climbed in 2.24 miles along the way, giving that portion a 6.7 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 658 calories in 1:23:11 hours doing this.

Please click below for a map, more pictures and a bonus day of walking thoughts!

Cheerio!

14-323

Mile 917.  Tortoise walked 3.77 miles as the day began along the Bloomington Hills Trail beginning at the Crosby Family Confluence Park trailhead in St. George.  Shortly before walking 2 miles, Lou turned around and retraced his steps.  There were 354 feet climbed in 1.89 miles along the way, giving that portion a 4.5 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 554 calories in 1:09:24 hours doing this.

Please click below for a map, more pictures and today's walking thought by Richard G. Scott ...

Cheerio!

14-322

Mile 914.  Tortoise walked 3.06 miles after work on a loop beginning and ending at his office.  There were 165 feet climbed in 1.53 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.0 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 453 calories in 51:49 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by David E. Sorensen ...

Cheerio!

14-321

Mile 911.  Tortoise walked 2.59 miles at lunch on loop beginning and ending at LaVerkin's Wanlass Park .  There were 97 feet climbed in 1.30 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.4 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 382 calories in 48;52 minutes doing this.

Please click below for a map and today's walking thought by Boyd K. Packer ...

Cheerio!

14-319

Mile 908. Kevin and Alli's wedding was memorable, not only for the spirit in the sealing room and for the cold while the pictures were taken, but for this couple's endless smiles and their desire to serve their guests lunch!  Tortoise added a 2.07 mile walk to this brilliant day, immediately before the wedding lunch in Woods Cross.  There were 2 feet climbed in 1.04 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.8 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 304 calories doing this in 35:45 minutes.

Please click below for a map and more pictures of this fine day, along with today's walking thought by Richard Edgley, "Keep the Faith." ...

Cheerio!

14-318

Mile 906. After a busy 4th Grade Utah Day with Ms. Beecher and Willyne, we headed on to Salt Lake for our nephew Kevin's marriage to Alli Meyer tomorrow morning.  After all of that, Tortoise went on a late evening walk in the Avenues neighborhood.  It was 2.18 miles on 11th Avenue from I Avenue to the overlook to Memory Park on B Avenue and back.  That was followed by a steep, heart pumping walk up I Avenue, and back.  There were 296 feet climbed in 1.09 miles along the way, giving that portion a 3.0 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 336 calories doing this in 47:25 minutes.

Please click below for a map and more pictures, along with today's walking thought by M. Russell Ballard that includes, "I encourage you to take time each week to be by yourself, away from television and the crowd...take an honest look at your life." ...

Cheerio!

14-317

Mile 904.  Tortoise took a walking break this afternoon from helping Becca set up for Kings Peak Elementary School's 4th grade Utah Day celebration that will be held tomorrow.  It was 2.05 miles from the school past the hospital to the intersection of US Highway 40 and 600 East in Roosevelt, Utah.  There were 54 feet climbed in 1.03 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.0 tortoise rating, mostly because of the average elevation of 5117 feet.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 302 calories doing this in 38:41 minutes.

Please click below for more pictures, and today's walking thought by Howard W. Hunter, "To The Women Of The Church" ...

Cheerio!

14-316

Mile 902.  A late evening 2.07 mile walk along Hurricane's State Street starting at my office.  There were 40 feet climbed in 1.04 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.7 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 306 calories doing this.

Please click below for a map  and today's walking thought by Virginia H. Pearce, "Fear" ...

Cheerio!

14-315

Mile 900.  Happy Veterans Day with flags galore on a 3.42 mile walk to work on another beautiful fall morning!  There were 241 feet climbed in 1.71 miles along the way, giving that portion a 4.7 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 508 calories doing this.

Please click below for a map  and today's walking thought by Jay E. Jensen ...

Cheerio!

14-314

Mile 896.  Today's walk was 3.49 miles home from work along the highway, starting by crossing the highway at Lin's market, in a total of 1:04:11 hours. There were 115 feet climbed in 1.75 miles along the way, giving that portion a 5.5 tortoise rating.  The rest of the path was flat or downhill.  Lou burned 513 calories doing this.

Please click below for a map  and today's walking thought by Jo N. Jeppson ...

Cheerio!