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Mile 690 took Tortoise on a wide loop of west La Verkin with some nice sunset views.  To see more of Lou's pictures along with a map, additional details of this walk, and the day's walking thought by Thomas S. Monson, please click below to continue reading ...

Cheerio!

So here's the route:  Start at the corner of 100 West and 300 South.  Go north to Center Street.  Cross the signal light and continue on Center Street to 300 West.  Go south to 170 South, then turn right until you reach 560 West, then go right again for some terrific views down into Confluence Park.  Head back to Center Street, where you make another right until 380 West, then turn left as far as you can go, then follow to the right to 300 West.  Go left to 400 North, then turn right on the diagonal that takes you to 500 North.  Turn right again on 500 North, cross the highway and keep going to Main Street, where you take another right turn.  Follow Main Street all the way to 300 South, where you make one final right turn to your point of beginning.  Sound fun?  Tortoise hopes so.

This was a 4.03 mile walk, with a 5.3 tortoise rating earned by climbing 180 feet in the 2.02 mile uphill portion at an average elevation of 3167.  The walk burned 597 calories in 1:08:21 hours.

Here are the overall stats so far for 2015:

690.48 miles walked, which is 68.91% of Lou's 2015 goal. On this day in 2014, Tortoise had walked 687.94 year-to-date miles.   

211:26:22 hours walked, which is 67.55% of the 2015 goal (which is to walk 1 hour a day on the 313 days other than Sunday in the year)

34,947 total feet climbed, compared with 32,076 feet on this day in 2014.  

103,575 calories burned.

66.13% of the year has passed.

Lou has walked 95 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11. Overall he has walked on 198 of the 207 non-Sundays in 2015, a 95.65% consistency rating.  This compares with 195 days walked in the same period in 2014 (a 94.20% 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.  (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:

"When I arrived at his home on Sunday, I was greeted warmly, and then the interview began.  President Child said, 'Brother Monson, you hold the Aaronic Priesthood.  Have you ever had angels minister to you?'  I replied that I had not.  When he asked if I knew I was entitled to such, I again replied that I had not known.

"He instructed, 'Brother Monson, repeat from memory the 13th section of the Doctrine and Covenants.'  

"I began, 'Upon you my fellow servants, in the name of Messiah I confer the Priesthood of Aaron, which holds the keys of the ministering of angels --'

"'Stop,' President Child directed.  Then, in a calm, kindly tone, he counseled, 'Brother Monson, never forget that as a holder of the Aaronic Priesthood you are entitled to the ministering of angels.'

"It was almost as though an angel were in the room that day.  I have never forgotten the interview.  I yet feel the spirit of that solemn occasion as we together read of the responsibilities, the duties, and the blessings of the Aaronic Priesthood and the Melchizedek Priesthood -- blessings which come not only to us but also to our families and to others lwe will have the privilege to serve."

-- President Thomas S. Monson, "The Priesthood -- A Sacred Gift", April 2015 LDS General Conference

Tortoise thought of his sweet lady when he read this.  The one who not only believes in angels, but happily shows examples of them.  Surely she would smile reading this account!

The tortoise is delinitely smiling!