Friendly Sunday

Another week as gone with an additional 29.5 miles. All week has been good walking weather. But it will be warmer this week. My walk today was filled with meeting friends and talking so I really was not very speedy. The walk down my country road was filled the gold finches sitting on the fence, singing and chattering. By the canal, I came across a ground hog just heading to his burrow, met up with the rabbits and squirrels, and spotted some turtles diving for a meal. On the way back, stopped by friends to see their puppy and stopped at another friend's garden to discuss tomatoes and peppers. Then back home. I did a little work outside, but way too humid for much more than about an hour. Taking a few days off this week to work in the yard in the morning and clean house in the afternoon. Next week I'll be in at a Dept of Labor training session. Hopefully the hotel will have a treadmill so I can at least get a mile or two in.

Beach walking

3 miles today- it was beautiful!

More photos here

Twelve more miles

I'm twelve miles short of 300 this morning - having walked more than 30 miles while on retreat 10 days ago. My goal is to finish the 300 miles by the weekend - then commit to another 300 before the new Church year begins!

I told my spiritual director that I think I pray with my feet...and have some serious discerning to do in the next days and months, which I hope I can walk and pray through!

Rethinking A Goal

Time to rethink my original goal. Since I've added 2 - 1/2 hr exercise sessions to my program and on August 1 am adding every other day at the gymn for weight training, I've reset my miles to 230 miles. I need to build up my stamina and endurance, hence the weight machines. Plus the hours at work have slowed me down since I am working later than I had planned.

Still my walks are joyous. This week it was rainy and I couldn't walk for two days - no treadmill (dreadmill) for me. I'm trying to get out by 5:30 to 6AM - beautiful sounds. There are families of bobwhites, meadowlarks, and whip-poor-wills living in the fenceline. The whip-poor-wills usually sing in the evening, but I hear soft songs at sunrise. The whole 3 and 1/2 miles are filled with bird songs.

Monday, Monday!

Aonther week has passed. I wasn't able to walk last Monday, but have every day since. The secret for me is up and out just before dawn. I see so many creatures in the early morning. The blue heron was hanging out over the canal - waiting for breakfast maybe. Two squirrels, a black and a grayish red, were having a game of tag. A turtle was catching his breakfast. There are so many dragonflies and butterflies this year - I did not know they were such early risers.

Finished the walk with watering the potted plants and then off to get ready for work.

Technology failure!

My laptop failed to bootup yesterday, so I'm in the hotel lobby. Won't be doing much blogging until I can get it fixed back in Columbus. It was too hot on Monday and Tuesday to do much walking, but I have been riding my bike. That keeps the air moving. Yesterday a lovely cool front moved in, so today I'll have no excuse.

Walking, swimming and gardening

Well I haven't done much walking apart from last Friday about 4 miles at the beach, but on Saturday I did lots of lifting and carrying, on Sunday I swam 3 miles, and today I've spent a few hours in the garden.... lots of excercise one way or another and I'm feeling good!!!

HOT! HOT! HOT!

That is what it was today. Still did another 3 and 3/4 miles, but really was lazy afterward. I really did do just as I pleased this week, must now pay the piper for a while.

We're enjoying the lake. It is supposed to be quite hot today, so I'd better start early. I've got 84 of my proposed 250 by Labor Day (September 3).

Freedom Walking

It has been a week of walking for freedom. I cherish these walks during the week of our nation's birthday. Mom was first generation born in the United States and Dad came through Ellis Island in 1920. Both were ardent lovers of American history, with Dad putting a Scottish twist on the American Revolution.

I have had some vacation time during this week and have taken full advantage of just doing what I want. The walks have been filled with the sounds, smells, and sights of summer - baby birds learning to feed themselves, bunnies nibbling at purple and white clover, and young squirrels with not so thick tails seeming to play tag in the trees. Schools of small fish are darting about in the canal and the turtles sun themselves on the floating branches. I haven't seen the blue heron - I don't suppose I was out early enough.




So it is back to work on Monday with a renewed spirit!

small steps

The weather in the UK has been foul so to walk it is a case of grabbing the opportunity between frequent storms- I have done a bit of tai-chi though, just to get my body moving, and managed a couple of beach walks- so all will be well- small steps.....