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Mile 333.  It was a beautiful spring evening, which Tortoise enjoyed by walking the Cottontail trail to the Middleton Powerline trail, then going east on that to the junction with the Icehouse trail.  The desert flowers of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve were in full bloom and Lou found it delightful, taking many pictures along the way.  To see them, along with his map, further details, and the day's walking thought by Thomas S. Monson, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

The only vehicles allowed here are the desert reserve personnel
and the power line workers.  Somebody definitely had fun in the mud here.

The beginning of the Icehouse trail.  For most it's the end of that trail, because
they'd rather ride their mountain bikes down that cone ahead that go up.
But you know Tortoise ... one day he'll be back to do just that ... go up.

The Icehouse trail junction has a good view in every direction, so Lou
took pictures to show these views to you.

Here Lou is looking down at Washington's Green Springs neighborhood

Sunset is approaching.  Time to retrace our steps on the Middleton
Powerline trail, this time westbound.

The final climb to Lou's parking place

Tortoise completed today's 4.25 mile walk in 1:34:58 hours  Tortoise rating was 4.5, based on 366 feet climbed in the 2.13 mile uphill portion (average elevation 3155). 659 calories were burned along the way.

And here are the overall stats so far for 2015:

333.79 miles walked, which is 33.31% of Lou's 2015 goal. On this day in 2014, Tortoise had walked 304.53 year-to-date miles.  

99:21:58 hours walked, which is 31.75% of the 2015 goal (which is to walk 1 hour a day on the 313 days other than Sunday in the year)

17,208 total feet climbed, compared with 14,040 feet on this day in 2014.  

50,050 calories burned

29.39% of the year has passed

Lou has walked 2 consecutive non-Sundays since his missed day April 15. Overall he has walked on 91 of the 92 non-Sundays in 2015, a 98.91% consistency rating, compared with 86 in the same period in 2014 (93.48%).

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.  (If you doubt this, compare Tortoise's 2013 walking record with 2014 ... for him, it is what it takes to be consistent. And Tortoise feels much more vibrant when he is consistent.  He hopes you find what works for you)

And now for today's walking thought, initially presented in April 1998:

"I recall an experience of a few years ago. A group of friends were trail riding on strong Morgan horses when we came to a clearing which opened on a lush grass meadow with a small, clear stream meandering through it. No mule deer could wish for a better home. However, there was a danger lurking. The wily deer can detect the slightest movement in the surrounding bush; he can hear the crack of a twig and discern the scent of man. He is vulnerable from but one direction—overhead. In a mature tree, hunters had erected a platform high above the enticing spot. Though in many places this is illegal, the hunter takes his prey as it comes to eat and to drink. No twig would break, no movement disturb, no scent reveal the hunter’s whereabouts. Why? The magnificent buck deer, with its highly developed senses to warn of impending danger, does not have the capacity to look directly upward and thus detect the enemy. The deer finds himself in harm’s way. Man is not so restricted. His greatest safety is found in his ability and his desire to look upward—to “look to God and live.” ⁹

To watch, listen to, or read this message in full, please visit:

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1998/04/in-harms-way?lang=eng #ShareGoodness

The tortoise is smiling!