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Mile 485, June 21.  Tortoise started his morning by virtually duplicating his walk of the previous evening.  Amazing how much different things can look at sunrise compared with sunset!  The picture above was taken near the rim of the canyon on La Verkin's 560 West Street, looking down at the Virgin River near its confluence with La Verkin Creek and Ash Creek.  Walking thought was provided by Boyd Packer ...

Cheerio!

Tortoise must have cut the corners a little tighter this morning than last night,
because other than that the mileage should have been identical. 

Today's walk was 3.95 miles, done in 1:15:53 hours at an average pace of 19:13 minutes per mile. This route had an average tortoise rating of 5.5, earned by climbing 129 feet in the 1.98 mile uphill portion.  Average elevation was 3202.

Here are the overall stats so far for 2016:

485.27 miles walked, compared with Lou's goal for this date of 471.34.

33,759 total feet climbed so far in 2016, compared to a year-to-date goal of 29,008.  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 per day average in 2015.  So far in 2016, Tortoise's walks have averaged 57:40 minutes each.

His average pace so far in 2016 has been 17:35 minutes per mile, compared with his 18:25 minute per mile pace in 2015.

Lou has walked 349 consecutive non-Sundays since his 8 missed days May 2-11, 2015.  Overall he has walked on 452 of the 461 non-Sundays in 2015-16, a 98.048% consistency rating.

One step at a time can lead to great things!

And now for today's walking thought ...

"'[Jesus Christ] is the light and the life of the world.(Mosiah 16:9)'.  As we fix our gaze on His teachings, we will be guided to the harbor of spiritual safety.

"The third article of faith states, 'We believe that through the Atonement of Christ, all mankind may be saved, by obedience to the laws and ordinances of the Gospel.

"President Joseph F. Smith taught:  'Men cannot forgive their own sins; they cannot cleanse themselves from the consequences of their sins.  Men can stop sinning and can do right in the future, and so far [as] their acts are acceptable before the Lord [become] worthy of consideration.  But who shall repair the wrongs they have done to themselves and to others, which it seems impossible for them to repair themselves?  By the atonement of Jesus Christ the sins of the repentant shall be washed away; though they be crimson they shall be made white as wool [see Isaiah 1:18].  This is the promise given to you.' "

-- Boyd K. Packer, "The Atonement", October 2012 LDS General Conference

The tortoise is smiling!