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Tortoise got done with business in St. George, and being a Saturday afternoon, set out for a little bit longer walk and a little exploring.  Back on October 1, Lou checked out the Virgin River Trail upstream from the Sullivan Virgin River Soccer Park, and got stopped by the finishing touches of bridge construction.  He headed back today, and was rewarded with a beautiful trail.  Shown above is the junction of the Cottonwood Wash Trail headed left from the Virgin River Trail going straight ahead.  Looks like a bicyclist's dream, and makes for nice walking as well!  Please click below for a map, more pictures, and details of this 5.08 mile walk along with today's walking thought by Robert Hales, "I became overwhelmed with a feeling of gratitude for the goodness of God."

Cheerio!

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The Cottonwood Wash Trail starts a vigorous climb almost immediately.

About a quarter mile up from the Virgin River Trail, there is a fork in the trail.
There are no signs to tell you where the two forks go, just to tell you that 12%
grades are ahead either way.  Lou was looking for the path to Telegraph near
Washington Parkway to confirm where that trailhead is.  He guessed the
right fork, which turned out to come out of the canyon near Coral Canyon

Clearly a lot of work has gone in to this trail.  Grading, paving, even a rest
bench and doggie disposal bags and signs.

And then you suddenly turn a corner and see that the trail comes to an abrupt
end.  The city plans to extend it to Coral Canyon in the future.  For now, it's
a great way to get some good uphill walking if you don't mind retracing
your steps when the trail ends.  

Looks like if you want to, you can walk a dirt road and probably reach
the road to the county landfill as an alternate access route.

Totals of today's walk:

2.54 miles each way, 5.08 miles round trip
Uphill:  363 feet climbed in 44:55 minutes, tortoise rating 3.5, calories burned 373
Downhill:  73 feet climbed (on one section that goes back up) in 40:02 minutes, tortoise rating 5.6,
                   calories burned 408

2014 Stats:

855.53 miles walked, which is 85.47% of my 2014 goal.

269:59:30 hours walked, which is 86.26% of my 2014 goal

42,079 total feet climbed 

136,518 calories burned
81.79% of the year has passed

I've walked 30 consecutive non-Sundays since my last missed day on September 20, and overall have walked on 243 of the 256 non-Sundays thus far in 2014, a 94.92% consistency rating.

The purpose of the percentages is to have a higher percentage of distance and time walked than of the year. This tells Tortoise that he is on track. Yes, this is more numbers than you are likely interested in, all Tortoise can say is he's really good at setting high goals and having them slip away because he doesn't do them every, every day.

And now for more of today's walking thought, from an April 1992 address, 

"A few months ago I had an experience that took me to the very edge of this mortal existence. As many of you know, I suffered a heart attack last August. I had the opportunity of knowing firsthand of the healing strength that comes through united prayer. For that I will always be grateful. Thank you for your prayers and for your concern. Your kindness to me lifted my spirits and aided in the healing process. I have been greatly blessed with improving health and strength.

"Throughout that experience, there is one particular feeling that began inside of me, almost immediately, that intensified as time went on and became overpowering during my illness, during my recovery, and remains with me still. I became overwhelmed with a feeling of deep gratitude for the goodness of God.

"My deepest gratitude is for the atoning sacrifice of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Atonement is the foundation upon which all gospel truths reside."

To watch, listen to, or read this address in its entirety, please visit https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1992/04/gratitude-for-the-goodness-of-god?lang=eng

The tortoise is smiling!