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Mile 593.  Clouds were gathering as Tortoise began to walk to Davis Farmer's Market to get some napkins and onions that were forgotten on the trip to the store earlier in the day.  He decided to go the most direct route, up 100 West, across the highway at the Center Street signal, and then along the sidewalk up the highway to the store.  Normally Lou meanders to pick up hills, but there was none of that today.  On the way back, along the same route, he was glad for his choice as it began to rain.  He got a little wet, but the big downpour came soon after his walk was complete.  This evening's thought was by Richard Edgley ...

Cheerio!

16-211

Mile 591.  Such a glorious walk!  Tortoise was joined by seven of his grandchildren, plus Fredericksen, Wounded Duck, and Darin on a walk down La Verkin Creek from the Confluence Trail to the Virgin River.  Just upstream on the Virgin River is a sizable sandbar that Lou's grandchildren think is the greatest island playground around!  

After two lovely hours the happy crew returned home.  That walk was 1.6 miles, so Tortoise did a supplemental walk "around the block" to the nearest ballfield and back so that he would complete at least two miles for the day.  On that one, he was accompanied by thoughts from David Bednar ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 588.  Tortoise started walking as the final rays of sunlight disappeared.  It was still somewhere between 100 and 102 degrees, down from at least 108 earlier in the day.  It has been unusually hot this week, even for La Verkin in July. 

There were benefits though.  Lou would have never seen these pretty lights and flags if he had walked another time of the day.  Thank you!  

This evening's thoughtful inspiration came from Richard Scott ...

Cheerio!

16-209

Mile 585.  Tortoise is shown enjoying a welcome moment of shade about halfway through today's walk,  It was taken midafternoon while waiting for the computers to be networked in the new office.  A "free sauna" walk if you will. Depending on which source you believe, the temperature was between 109 and 111 and possibly felt like 114.  Lou simply calls it "100 and hot" whenever it rises into three digits.  His water bottle was warm but still quite welcome along the way!  The walking thought was by Quentin Cook ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 581.  It was a quick walk up the hill from the old office and back today, before continuing with the move.  They are making good progress on the new homes across from Hurricane Elementary School, as you can see.  Today's walking thought was by David Baxter, complete with a pleasant Scottish accent ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 579.  It was warm and hazy when Tortoise went walking around 10 am on this semi-holiday in southern Utah.  Semi-holiday because the actual holiday was yesterday, most of the celebrations were Saturday, but state and local government offices and the banks are closed today.  And Lou's office is in the middle of moving.  At the moment the next step is for Century Link to move the phone line to the new place so the office tech guy James can connect them there.  It was a good opportunity to get sweaty and walk somewhere he hasn't been in a few weeks.  Today's thought while walking was provided Ulisses Soares ...

Cheerio!

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Mile 575.  Nothing like a hometown Pioneer Day parade to bring out folks for a pancake breakfast and water games on a warm morning!  Tortoise walked to the parade start, then up the hill and over to Wanlass Park to the activities there, and then back home.  A thought was provided by Robert Hales ...

Cheerio!