Green teeth

 Not usually a New Year resolution participant, but whatever it takes to get a little fire going.  I weighed in at 187 today.  That's about 5 pounds under where I started.  Logged 4.2 miles this morning at 13:53 pace with a higher walk load.  I'd like to get in an effort like this 2-3 times a week.  It was 32 degrees this morning, so it was easier than getting out on the water or biking.  The goal is to lose weight so I can potentially jog without discomfort all day.  We shall see.  I tend to over do things.  

 Yesterday was a good day.  Managed to walk 3.1, canoe 3.0 and walk another 3.2.  If I can stick to my goal of 2200 daily calories on most days the weight will slowly come off.  I miss hot fudge and mashed potatoes. 

 Leaving in about three weeks to drive to Wisconsin and then go up to Red Lake, Minnesota for 4 days of ice fishing there hey.  Six days of driving for 4 days of fishing.  The company has to be top shelf...which it is.  I don't even have a garage, you can ask my wife.

 

Ten Beers

 Ahhh…it has been a while.  I essentially stopped running a year ago.  I tried a few times, but the same pains crept back.  I spent the year exercising through walking, cycling and canoeing.  I’ll total around 900 walking, 2800 cycling and 500 canoeing.  

 Often, the prospect of doing a bit of jogging comes up.  I really didn’t miss it, but as a weight control exercise it is ideal.  So, today I put a watch on my walk and immediately the other Double D side of the brain kicks in.  Automatically I need to improve upon the effort, go longer and plan some type of timed effort.

 The past year I didn’t time walks.  It was the old school method.  A mile to a certain road sign, or a half-mile to the lady with the ugly house color.  You guys get it.  If I ran into a neighbor we walked it in.  Not the same with the bike and canoe.  I measured distance on the watch with those.  Those spit out a time and I have to work on not paying attention to much attention to that detail.

 Looking forward to some personal challenges with the canoe in 2026.  I did have time to canoe with a few folks in the same canoe this year.  Here are the results.

Ten Beers - 33.5 miles

Spider Lammers - 3.0 miles

State Champ - 1.5 miles

 Hopefully I can blog a bit more in 2026.  Yes…I am still working full time.  This is probably the year to go out as I turn 65 in September.  Big guys in twos, little guys in bunches.

Pack a lunch.

Where I could lay my head

 Happy Resurrection Day! 

 I have been canoeing, biking and walking for my exercise.  I try and get 1.5 - 2 hours a day in at casual effort.  It is that time of year when I start setting up camp at home.  Sleep outside, make a few meals, go fishing in the canoe.  Sorta eschew main avenues of entertainment.  Work outside more on stuff, like at camp.  Get stuff for a fire.  Sleep like a baby.  Pretend I’m not totally crippled as I make coffee outside my tent at the crack of stupid.

Boundary Waters trip in 4 months.  Each year I have more of a desire not to comeback to reality.  “You goin’ hunting’?”  Only if en I lose something’.”

General Burkhalter

 Friday I paddled the canoe from the house to a friends house.  Davis Lake I faced high incoming winds that actually took me into the bull rushes.  I fought my way out and at 1.2 you go right and down a canal until the dam at 1.9.  I portaged the canoe and gear over fairly easily and had an enjoyable next 3.5 for the most part.  I crossed under Gobbler road and entered Clark Lake for the final 2.42 miles.  At one point you go about a half mile around a peninsula and straight into the high winds.  It blew me around a bit, but once getting thru that there is a cowabunga tail wind.

 I set up camp in the yard.  My wife was there to check on me.  After she left I made a dehydrated meal, sipped a beer and called it about 8pm.  I left the next morning for home at 6:09am.  The water was much calmer.  I didn’t want it to end!  I made a cup of coffee on the canoe which was a first.  I will definitely be doing some bigger adventures.

 Sunday morning I road out to the Withlacoochee paved trail and headed 16 miles south and then came back.  The trail is 46 miles long.  I was 13 miles shy of the South terminus.  So to get to there and back will be a 58 miles long adventure.  I’ll need to get the butt in better shape.

 I haven’t been able to power jog at all.  Walking…maybe 10 miles a week.  Honestly I don’t miss it.  It’s like the show Hogan’s Heroes.  Eventually it had to end.

Hogan!!

The Paint King

I am out for Ice Age.  The page has turned.  There will be other adventures.  Good luck at John Dick 50k today.  Let me know how it goes.  I won’t be running or walking for a bit.  Hopefully I can get to the point of 25 a week of hobby jogging.

Painted on the sky

 Still beat up.  I’ve temporarily step out of the octagon.  Perhaps I can squeeze in one more effort in the squared circle.  It looks grim.  4.3 today @ 14:11 pace and it was an effort.  The equipment is in tatters.  Even walking is a chore.  Mentally and aerobically things are groovy.  Too many blasts and chips to the outer hull.  Also difficult to streamline.  Feels like I am at 130% earth gravity.  I say this with a sound mind and quizzical preponderance.

 As my physical abilities continue to be compromised and sold off at deep discounted prices, I have learned something about me.  Many day to day activities have always been a competition between myself, others, nature, work, and vehicular.  Everything brother.  No wonder patience was not something I could not grasp.  Why would a normal fella take side streets and utilize u-turns just to beat people I don’t know to the grocery store?  Everyday.  Letting go has dropped my upper blood pressure numbers.  In my mind anyway.

 So…I’m still gonna make a run at Ice Age.  I’m always hopeful things will change.  But I have finally come out above the tree line.  Nothing really left to see.

 I’m afraid it is time to start heading down.  No grizz left anyway.

No bugles, no drums

 I am going to take a break from collecting miles.  A solid December of 226 miles has crippled me up.  After 48 hours it feels good to not move around in pain and having to move around lurched over.  The plan is to heal up and start from scratch.  The issue has always been around, but now I’m too old to get away with minimal adjustments.  Now everything has limitations and processes to scratch out a simple workout.

 Now things like rest, stretching, diet, strength and cross training are apparently relevant.  Complete garbage.  I tried to get by on black coffee and NA beers brother, but fell short.  But dammit I tried.  I really did.  Snuck up on me quieter than an ant peeing on a cotton ball.