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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! 

Create Maps or Search for a route from millions at MapMyFitness

A sign by the door says "Enter if You Dare".   Tortoise enjoys Fred and Sue's fine
establishment, but today's walk began before opening time, so no entering today.  :-)

2014 Stats:

952.38 miles walked, which is 95.14% of my 2014 goal.

300:14:25 hours walked, which is 95.92% of my 2014 goal

46,585 total feet climbed 

150,935 calories burned
92.01% of the year has passed

I've walked 62 consecutive non-Sundays since my last missed day on September 20, and overall have walked on 275 of the 288 non-Sundays thus far in 2014, a 95.49% 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 today's walking thought, originally presented in October 1993:

"The mother explained that her daughter had been struck by a car in a terrible accident when she was four years of age. Her body was badly broken. She was left paralyzed from the shoulders down, a quadriplegic without the use of arms or legs. She had painted this picture holding a brush between her teeth and moving her head. (Emphasis added by Tortoise)

"As I listened to that story, the painting grew in beauty and value before my eyes. It became more than a portrayal of butterflies. It represented remarkable courage in the face of blinding adversity; tenacious practice in holding and moving the brush; pleading prayers for help; faith—the faith of a child, nurtured by loving parents, that she could create beauty notwithstanding her handicap.

"Some might say that this is not a masterpiece. Without knowledge of its origin, that could be the judgment. But what is the test of art? Is it not the inspiration which comes from looking at it?

"I will hang this small painting in my study so that during occasional hours of struggle there will come into my mind the picture of a beautiful little girl, robbed of the use of her feet and hands, gripping the handle of a paintbrush in her teeth to create a thing of beauty. Thank you, Krystal, for what you have done for me. I hope the telling of your story will bring a new measure of strength to others who, facing discouragement, have felt they could not go on. I hope that your example will be as a polar star to lead them in the darkness through which they stumble."

To watch, listen to, or read this message in its entirety, please visit https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1993/10/bring-up-a-child-in-the-way-he-should-go?lang=eng  #ShareGoodness

The tortoise is smiling!