The Life And Times Of Lou, The Smiling Tortoise: 16-141

"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!

Friday, May 20, 2016

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Chapter 1

Mile 391. Tortoise's walk this evening took him from his home to this fine establishment pictured above, where he took off the 2 small packs he was carrying, and happily enjoyed a bottle of cold water and a Clif bar after a longer than normal walk. This is a one time trek, because even though he was on his way to see his sweet lady, she was less than pleased with the time of day involved. Very sorry, dear. It made sense to Lou, but he won't do it again. For the rest of the story, please check back tomorrow for Chapter 2.

(Is this the shortest chapter you've seen, or what?)

There's a thought to go with this walk, by Bruce Porter ...

Cheerio!

Tonight's walk was 6.59 miles, done in 2:01:28 hours at an average pace of 18:26 minutes per mile. This route had an average tortoise rating of 5.2, earned by climbing 328 feet in the 3.30 mile uphill portion. Average elevation was 3153. Since the distance was over 5 miles, this qualifies for the Benjamin Category Override to a 5 tortoise rating walk.

Here are the overall stats so far for 2016:

391.92 miles walked, compared with Lou's goal for this date of 385.35 miles.

28,408 total feet climbed so far in 2016, compared to a year-to-date goal of 23,716. Lou hopes to climb more than the 61,316 feet he climbed in 2015 -- but in less time each day than his 1:07:04 hour average in 2015. So far in 2016 Tortoise's walks have averaged 54:49 minutes each.

His average pace so far in 2016 has been 16:56 minutes per mile, compared with his 18:25 minute per mile pace in 2015.

Lou has walked 322 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11, 2015. Overall he has walked on 425 of the 434 non-Sundays in 2015-16, a 97.93% consistency rating.

One step at a time can lead to great things!

And now for today's walking thought ...

" ... we need not fear the future, nor falter in hope and good cheer, because God is with us. Among the first recorded words of counsel that Jesus gave to His newly called disciples in Galilee was the two-word admonition, 'Fear not.' (Luke 5:10). He repeated that counsel many times during His ministry. To His Saints in our day, the Savior has said, 'Be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you.' (D&C 68:6)."

-- Bruce D. Porter, "Beautiful Mornings", April 2013 LDS General Conference

The Tortoise is smiling!

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Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) Segments Hiked

Total lifetime PCT miles hiked: 205.0 out of the 2,650 total.

From 1966 to 1969 segment Tortoise hiked the portion of the PCT shared by the John Muir Trail, covering PCT miles 767.0 to 942.5 (175.5 miles). (While hiking the full 211 miles of the Muir Trail from Happy Isles in Yosemite Valley to the summit of Mt. Whitney)

Tortoise then embarked on a long career at a desk, interrupted momentarily for a day hike in 1988 up Mt. Baden-Powell as a Varsity Boy Scout coach with his team. That took him from PCT miles 374.0 to 377.9, roundtrip. (There was also a second trip from Onion Valley to Mt. Whitney with the Varsity Boy Scouts in 1989. He barely made it, crying with joy and appreciation when he did. That is a story all of its own).

He returned many years later with these walks. Please click on the date for a link to that day's blog post:

June 14, 2012, hiked PCT miles 565.0 to 566.6 (1.6 miles) on both sides of California Highway 58 at the Cameron Road exit.

October 20, 2012, hiked PCT miles 341 to 342 (1 miles) mostly on the east side of Interstate 15 but also under the storm runoff tunnel just south of the exit to California Highway 138 near Cajon Pass.

February 2013, continued in two segments to do miles 342 to 347 (5 miles).

August 13, 2013, hiked miles 374.2 to 376.6 roundtrip from Vincent Gap trailhead at milepost 74.7 on California highway 2.

February 17, 2015, hiked miles 452.9 to 450.4 roundtrip from Vasquez Rocks Picnic Area.

March 16, 2015, hiked miles 341.9 to 340.2 southbound from Cajon Pass Road, then returned. Partial redo of October 20, 2012 walk ... plus a little more.

April 3, 2015, hiked miles 1089.8 to 1091.9 roundtrip from Echo Summit trailhead to near Echo Lake.

May 12, 2016, hiked miles 206.8 to 204.3 southbound from the Snow Canyon Road gate at the bottom of Mt. San Jacinto, then returned.

August 17, 2016, hiked miles 209.5 to 206.8 southbound from the underpass at Interstate 10 Exit 110 to Snow Creek, then returned.

May 26, 2017, hiked miles 369.4 to 364.4 southbound from the Inspiration Point trailhead on California Highway 2, then returned.

The tortoise may eventually set some kind of record for the longest time to complete the PCT in microsegments. You never know, but we're already at 51 years and counting since his first segment from Onion Valley to Taboose Pass in July 1966 :-)

Friday, May 20, 2016

16-141

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