15-147

Mile 406.  Tortoise parked his car at the Route 66 Trailhead on Foothill Blvd. in Rancho Cucamonga, CA, slightly west of Vineyard/Carnelian, and walked uphill on the Pacific Electric Trail as far as Archibald, at a point a little north of Baseline and pictured above.  This walk covered trail miles 5 1/4 to 7 in both directions, plus a little extra on each end.  For more pictures, a map, and the day's walking thought by Neal Maxwell, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

About a half mile in at mile 5 3/4.  Fun how the view changes quickly along the way!

At mile 6 there are two completely separated parallel trails - one paved
the other hard dirt packed, visible to the right.  Tortoise generally sticks
to the paved trails, when given a choice, to reduce the amount of pebbles
 he deposits on the floor after his walks.

Mile 6 1/4

This is a very popular trail

Mile 6 1/2, nearing Baseline

Mile 6 3/4, approaching Amethyst

Tortoise loves photographing purple plants along his paths,
hoping to bring a smile to his sweet lady.

Mile 7, nearing Archibald

Side angle of the trail monument at today's turnaround point
showing the logo of the former Pacific Electric railway,
whose tracks have become this beautiful trail.

As a side note, tomorrow is the opening of the final 1 1/4 mile segment of the Pacific Electric Trail in Rialto.  Lou would love to be a part of history, but found out about it after setting his schedule for the day.  Soon enough, he will schedule a walk there, which will complete the 21 mile trail for him in both directions from the Los Angeles County line on the border of Claremont and Montclair.  That end of the trail is a reasonable walking distance from the Montclair transit center featuring Metrolink trains and multiple bus lines, making the trail an important part of the daily commute for many workers.

Tortoise completed today's 4.26 mile walk in 1:11:30 hours.  Tortoise rating was 5.9, based on 159 feet climbed in the 2.13 mile uphill portion (average elevation 1326). 638 calories were burned along the way.  

Here is a map of today's route:

And here are the overall stats so far for 2015:

406.88 miles walked, which is 40.61% of Lou's 2015 goal. On this day in 2014, Tortoise had walked 412.46 year-to-date miles.   

122:27:29 hours walked, which is 39.12% of the 2015 goal (which is to walk 1 hour a day on the 313 days other than Sunday in the year)

20,626 total feet climbed, compared with 19,161 feet on this day in 2014.  

60,910 calories burned

40.26% of the year has passed

Lou has walked 14 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11. Overall he has walked on 117 of the 126 non-Sundays in 2015, a 92.86% consistency rating, the same as after 126 non-Sundays in 2014.

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 1999:

"In contrast to the path of selfishness, there is no room for road rage on the straight and   narrow way. There will be no spouse or child abuse when there is unselfish love at   home. Furthermore, unselfishness is best grown in the family garden, and, likewise,   diligently performing seemingly ordinary Church duties can further help us to  overcome selfishness. The unselfish are also more free. As G. K. Chesterton said,   if we can be interested in others, even if they are not interested in us, we will find  ourselves “under a freer sky, [and] in a street full of splendid strangers”   (Orthodoxy [1959], 21).

In daily discipleship, the many ways to express selfishness are matched by many   ways to avoid it. Meekness is the real cure, for it does not merely mask  selfishness but dissolves it! Smaller steps could include asking ourselves inwardly   before undertaking an important action, Whose needs am I really trying to meet?  Or in significant moments of self-expression, we can first count to 10. Such thoughtful filtering can multiply our offering by 10 as a mesh of reflective meekness filters out   destructive and effusive ego.

We can also meekly let our ideas have a life of their own without over sponsoring them. Rather, let the Spirit impel our worthy ideas.

To watch, listen to, or read this message in full, please visit https://www.lds.org/general-conference/1999/04/repent-of-our-selfishness-d-c-56-8?lang=eng #ShareGoodness

The tortoise is smiling ... at the thought of the big plate of delicious scrubbers waiting for him at Souplantation a block away as he completes this walk!