"The Blog Almost Too Boring To Be The Most Boring Blog in America ... for Over 5 Years!"

until it got too many red cards from Wounded Duck and the Boredom Enforcement Committee ... now the tortoise's goal is to get to 10 red cards so he can get Big Dog to drive down and take a good long walk with the tortoise

P. S. This blog listens to its readers. We have the Benjamin Category Override for 5+ mile walks and now, it humbles Tortoise to say he has been named "Lou", by Doug Jr, in memory of Mr. Consistency himself, Lou Gehrig. Tortoise can hardly type the words to think he is in any way comparable to the noble Iron Horse. Thank you!


Tuesday, September 30, 2014

14-273


Where do you go to walk in Las Vegas that is well lit and reasonably secure at night, and isn't the Strip?  Tortoise's answer this evening was to walk 2.02 miles of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas campus.  Path was virtually flat with a few stairs climbed, totalling 18 feet, making the tortoise rating 6.2.  He burned 314 calories along the way.  For a map, more pictures, and today's walking thought from F. Burton Howard, please click below to continue reading ...

Monday, September 29, 2014

14-272




Cottonwood trailhead in the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve was Tortoise's starting point for today's after work walk.  Thankfully there is a sign directing you to the narrow dirt road taking you under I-15 a short distance from Winkel Distributing in the Hurricane industrial park to the trailhead.

Round trip distance walked was 3.43 miles, with 348 feet climbed en route, in 1:19:52 -- including several photography stops that were welcome opportunities for this lifetime desk jockey to catch his breath while enjoying the beautiful colors.  Pictured above is a look at the Cottonwood Hills trail about a mile up from the trailhead.  Tortoise rating for this walk was 4.1 and 580 calories were burned today.

For a map, additional short video clips, and today's walking thought by Ezra Taft Benson, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Saturday, September 27, 2014

14-270


Ended the week with the classic LaVerkin loop walk on a cool, windy evening at the conclusion of two days of welcome rain.  Things are greener around here than I ever remember, sorry though that the rain and the accompanying thunder/lightning caused Riley and Ethan's futbol games to get cancelled -- I was looking forward to seeing their enthusiasm!

Doug Jr and Stefanie surprised me and took me to lunch at Sonny Boys, followed by two games of Risk (the first of which I managed to win after one of the 4 computer players knocked Doug out of the game and got me down to one army in one country.  Pretty amazing comeback.  Doug then got his just results in the next game, conquering all 4 computer players and then me in the same turn.  Wow!  We also listened to some retro 60s surf instrumental music I found on Pandora and just generally enjoyed talking.  Thanks, Stefanie and Doug!

That walk was 3.54 miles with 103 feet climbed in 59:48 minutes.  Tortoise rating was 5.5 and 559 calories were burned.  For a map and today's walking thought by Betty Jo Jepsen, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Friday, September 26, 2014

14-269


Here's the view of pounding rain in Tortoise's office parking lot at 3:39 pm.  By 6 pm, after travelling to St. George to take care of business there, he toted a brolly (also a useful implement when attending British futbol matches) in case the rains resumed and headed out on a 4.11 mile round trip walk on the Virgin River trail from the Riverside Drive trailhead until the trail is closed for the construction zone surrounding the Mall Drive bridge.  Said brolly was never used, but Tortoise is convinced had he left it in his car then there would have been more driving rains.

The walk included 74 feet of climbing in 1:15:26 hours on a 5.9 tortoise rated path.  642 calories were burned.  For a map, pictures, and today's walking thought from Ruth Wright, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Thursday, September 25, 2014

14-268


The Pacific Electric trail beckoned today, sandwiched between today's appointments before the return trip to Utah.  Tortoise previously has completed segments of this trail from its western trailhead on Claremont Blvd where the cities of Claremont, Montclair, and Upland meet, through Rancho Cucamonga, to Cherry Avenue in Fontana.  This walk extended that to Sultana Avenue, a distance of 2.93 miles that included 61 feet climbed in 48:20 minutes.  Tortoise rating was 6.2, reflecting average elevation of 1305, and 476 calories were burned.  For a map, more pictures, and today's walking thought by Thomas S. Monson, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

14-267


Tortoise travelled to Las Vegas this morning to help Willyne catch a flight to Florida to represent us at our Ragozzine grandchildren's Primary program ... then continued on to California for two days of business appointments.  Here is a picture of a park in Tehachapi along the path of tonight's 2.67 mile walk with 65 feet climbed in 54:51 minutes.  The average elevation of 4013 contributed to the tortoise rating of 5.4.  426 calories were burned along the way.  For a map and a thought by Gordon B. Hinckley, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

14-266


Welcome to the turnaround point of tonight's tortoise walk ... 2.08 miles with 52 feet climbed in 36:25 minutes.  Tortoise rating 5.6; calories burned 324.  For a map and tonight's walking thought by James Paramore, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Monday, September 22, 2014

14-265


Another excellent late night walk today, this one up the hill from Tortoise's office to just past the radio towers.  2.07 miles with 140 feet climbed in 36:00 minutes.  Tortoise rating was 4.8; calories burned were 322.  For a map and today's walking thought by J. Ballard Washburn, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Saturday, September 20, 2014

14-263



Tortoise had business appointments in Utah County this morning and drove home this afternoon.  Somewhere near Beaver the rain started pounding down in sheets and the traffic flow dropped to around 45 mph from the usual 80.  I made it home just fine and in time to surprise Jacob and go see his brilliant performance in "Much Ado About Nothing" at Dixie State University.  Jacob was terrific, he is clearly loving what he is doing in life!

I did get in a short walk in the morning checking out a trail in Provo, but at 0.2 miles 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!

Friday, September 19, 2014

14-262


Troop 1 met tonight in Eagle Mountain to award Brian Smith his Wood Badge beads.  It was very exciting to see him again.  Brian was a very special Owl in our W2-591-12-5 group, and it was great to be a part of his beading, as well as to see our troop guide, Scott Anderson and also Jed Anderson again.

This and other business sent Tortoise north on a quick trip, so today's walk was along the Jordan River Parkway starting on Willow Lane in Lehi, going through the county campground at Willow Park, and continuing to milepost 5 and then retracing my steps.  Total distance walked was 3.75 miles, with 40 feet climbed, in 1:07:44 hours.  Tortoise rating was 5.5, while 585 calories were burned.  For a map, pictures, and an M. Russell Ballard thought I heard along the trail, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Thursday, September 18, 2014

14-261


Another very busy day, another late night minimum distance walk of a mile and a little extra from the house and back again.  Tortoise really wants to stay vibrantly alive, so he remains committed.  Total today was 2.13 miles with 55 feet climbed in 35:58 minutes.  Tortoise rating was 5.6; calories burned were 333.  For a map, a thought from Marion Hanks that I heard while walking, and some more of my history that made me think of, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

14-260


Tortoise greatly enjoys the varied scenes he is blessed with as he walks.  Near the midpoint of this evening's walk we have the classic ballfield view ... with the extra bonus of very colorful clouds and Zion Park's West Temple in the background.

Today's walk came in three parts:  A half-mile round trip to accept my sister's invitation to lunch followed by another half-mile round trip to the bank and completed with a three mile loop to the American Legion ball fields and back.  Totals were 4.21 miles with 223 feet climbed in 1:22:29 hours.  The first two segments were essentially flat, while the tortoise rating on the uphill 1.54 mile portion of the final segment was 4.7.  Calories burned were 662.


For a thought from Helvecio Martins, a map, and more, please click below to continue reading ...


Cheerio!

Tuesday, September 16, 2014

14-259


Tonight's picture goes along with today's thought rather than today's walk ... but there's a map along with that thought when you click below to continue reading.  In passing, that walk was 2.89 miles with 52 feet climbed in 48:37 minutes.  Tortoise rating was 5.7; calories burned were 460.

Cheerio!

Monday, September 15, 2014

14-258


Welcome to late night on the 600 North shared bike/walk path with the Tortoise ... after e-filing entity tax returns right up to the midnight deadline, Tortoise headed out on a minimum 2.04 mile walk in which he walked a mile and just a little more, then retraced his steps, climbing 139 feet in 31:39 minutes in the process.  Tortoise rating was 4.8 and calories burned were 352.

You can read a thought from Neal Maxwell along with a peak at Tortoise's daily map by clicking below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Saturday, September 13, 2014

14-256



Tortoise is loving this view of the sun rising through the clouds over La Verkin and the Virgin River as he completes his 4.26 mile walk to work.  He climbed 272 feet on the way in 1:24:34 hours. Tortoise rating was 4.8 and calories burned today were 670.  For a slide show to music and a thought from Glenn Pace, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Friday, September 12, 2014

14-255


If you look carefully in the lower portion of the picture you will see the burning H on the hillside ... it's Homecoming night at Hurricane High.  It was fun to look at much of Tortoise's 3.79 mile walk home.  He climbed 243 feet along the way in 1:07:42 hours.  Tortoise rating on the uphill half was 4.8 and 591 calories were burned.  A map and Michaelene Grassli await you when you click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Thursday, September 11, 2014

14-254


La Verkin.  A beautiful sight as Tortoise neared home tonight after work.  He started his walk by going to the bank, then retraced his steps and continued home along the most direct path following Hurricane's 600 North.  Totals were 3.62 miles with 184 feet climbed in 1:09:50 hours.  Tortoise rating was 5.1 and 568 calories were burned.  Please click below for a map and a James Faust thought based on "One of the advantages of having lived a long time is that you can often remember when you had it worse."

Wednesday, September 10, 2014

14-253


Tortoise got great exercise climbing 430 feet on a segment of his 3.26 mile walk tonight, as shown in the video slide show above.  Total time was 1:17:27 hours on this 1.9 tortoise rated path, which got an extra tortoise for the abundance of loose rocks throughout the walk.  557 calories were burned on this attempt to find a more gradual way down from the Overlook on the LaVerkin Scenic Loop trail Tortoise dreams of getting his city to create.  His initial reaction is that the search continues.  This path was still quite steep and rocky, making it easy to fall.

For a map and a genuinely kind parting thought from Barbara Winder, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Tuesday, September 9, 2014

14-252


The Paparazzi building expansion across the street from Tortoise's office is beginning to take shape, shown at the start of his 3.67 mile evening walk (it was raining. hard. pounding. sheets. this morning)
done in 1:05:23 hours.  225 feet were climbed on the 4.9 tortoise rated path and 572 calories were burned.  For more, including a map and an expansion on Dallin Oaks's observation that "The peace the gospel brings is not just the absence of war. It is the opposite of war.", please click below to continue reading ...
Cheerio!

Monday, September 8, 2014

14-251


Rain is coming, so Tortoise was determined to start early today!  He walked 3.51 miles with 117 feet climbed in 58:53 minutes.  The uphill half of the path averaged a 5.5 tortoise rating, and Tortoise burned 559 calories on today's effort.  If you click to continue reading, you will be rewarded not only with a map, but also with a thought from Carlos E. Asay which Josh will enjoy because he was the Salt Lake Temple president who gave him instruction when he took out his endowments, and Darin will find interesting because he uses Neil Armstrong's famous phrase to describe Joseph Smith's first Vision ...

Cheerio!

Saturday, September 6, 2014

14-249



Fun with photography!  These two pictures were taken 6 seconds apart at the same spot, only difference being the camera angle towards the rising sun, along this morning's 3.31 mile walk to work.  Tortoise climbed 214 feet in 1:03:07 hours along the 4.8 tortoise rated path.  Calories burned were 520.  For a map, today's thought from Howard W. Hunter, and more, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Friday, September 5, 2014

14-248


Riders were practicing at the American Legion Rodeo Grounds as Tortoise walked by on his way home from work.  Beautiful horses, skillfully ridden.  It was fun to watch!  Tonight's route covered 3.75 miles, with 238 feet climbed, in 1:18:23 hours, including stops along the way to talk to friends.  Tortoise rating was 4.9; calories burned were 603.  For a map and a thought from "The Motorcycle Ride", by Kenneth Johnson, heard along the way tonight, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Thursday, September 4, 2014

14-247


Here's Tortoise's view about halfway to work this morning.  It was a 2.99 mile walk with 187 feet climbed in 52:15 minutes.  At 70 degrees, it was much nicer than the walk home from work last night! Tortoise rating was 4.9; calories burned were 465.  For a map and a thought from Neal A. Maxwell, heard while on the walk, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Wednesday, September 3, 2014

14-246


Tortoise walked 3.94 miles home from work this afternoon, taking a route including Hurricane's 400 South.  The skies were blue, the sun was bright, and the temperature in the 5 to 6 pm hour was 97 degrees.  He climbed 132 feet along the way in 1:03:43 hours.  The uphill portion of this path had a 5.6 tortoise rating and 654 calories were burned in this walk.  For a map, an updated picture of Tortoise, and a F. Melvin Hammond thought from today's listening while walking, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Tuesday, September 2, 2014

14-245


Here's Tortoise's view not quite halfway through this morning's 3.55 mile walk.  It was about 70 degrees when this was taken a few minutes before 7 am, very nice walking conditions!  Tortoise climbed 82 feet along the way today in 1:02:12 hours.  The average tortoise rating on the uphill portion was 5.7; calories burned were 551.

For a map and a thought from Richard P. Lindsay, heard on today's walk, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

Monday, September 1, 2014

14-244


Tortoise was a little sore after his "moderately strenuous" walk on Saturday, so he slowed down and shortened things up a bit today.  It was tempting to skip it altogether, but of course the best way to overcome soreness and stiffness is ... to keep walking every day.  Today's adventure was to walk home from picking up a few items at a store in Hurricane.  Totals were 3.12 miles wiith 181 feet climbed in 1:03:07 hours.  Tortoise rating was 5.0; calories burned were 494.

For a map and a lovely thought from the brilliant Brit, Derek Cuthbert, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!