As previously mentioned, Monday was a mush-fest on the trails, and I was this close *does that thing where you pinch two fingers together to show just how close it was* to aborting today’s lumber and parking my ass on the trainer in the basement for some fake bike riding.
BUT Ma Nature came through in a big way, and the temps were ten degrees colder today, which, in turn, froze up the trails and made for much better stability when combined with micro-spikes and a good attitude.
After coffee and breakfast, I headed to the trails whilst happily listening to the album Anthems for Doomed Youth by The Libertines, and as I got closer, I saw a bald eagle cruising over a nearby farm field. A good sign? I hope.
Once parked in the empty, snowy lot, I got out and was stoked to hear the sound of dry, crunching, icy snow underfoot. “Heck yeah! NO MUSH!”
So, I spiked up, got my gear on, and crunch, crunch, crunch, crunched my way down the trail in search of miles in my feetz and some images for my SD card.
It was so nice not to be taking one step forward and two steps back as I lumbered along in search of critters.
I saw very little over the first two miles, just the flash of a deer’s white tail dashing through the woods and the sound of random blue jay.
Finally, I saw a couple black-capped chickadees bouncing around doing chickadee-type shit, “chickadee-dee-dee, chickadee-dee-dee …”
I took a few shots and was on my way: “Crunch, crunch, crunch…”
I was closing in our four miles, and I was thinking to myself how sometimes I go days without seeing a deer, and other times I see them all over the place. It felt like I had barely finished the thought when I saw a few deep in the woods amongst the fallen trees and brush. I took a few shots, but nothing I was really happy with. So, I continued on my way: “Crunch, crunch, crunch…”
With only a bit over a mile to go, I had all but given up any more shots and was content to put my head down, crunch along, and finish up the hike.
Soon, I heard something to my right. I assumed it was the squirrels out nut-hoggin’, but it was actually a group of two or three deer just yards off the trail.
I froze, made eye contact, and stood watching for a moment. Then, I unclipped my camera and took a few shots. The deer never moved more than a few yards during that time, and when I was done, I continued to just watch them as they edged their way deeper into the woods, sniffing around for food. I then thanked them for their time and moved on, anxious to finish up and get home.
As I made my way along a line of trees that hides the river on the other side, I looked up and saw another bald eagle flying high above along the river. Two eagle sightings in one day! No photos, but damn sweet.
I stopped along the main trail to the lot to take a shot of a female cardinal and then scurried back to Escape II, which still sat alone in the parking lot. I finished with 5.27 miles on the day, 10.63 miles the week thus far, and a couple of photos I dug. Note: The cardinal photo was processed in black and white because the sky and trees were so grey it looked like I did that stupid thing where people make the subject color in black and white photo. Not my style.
Cat 5 Cooking Interlude
Later, I made my new lunch obsession, The Soiled Big Mac.
It’s sort of like a regular Big Mac, but I made it myself; it has a grosser name, 16 fewer calories, 6 grams fewer carbs, 8 grams less fat, 5 grams less saturated fat, 267 fewer milligrams of sodium, and 25 grams more protein. Sure, it still comes in at 525 calories, but that is my whole lunch; no fries, no soda, no nothin’. And it still had Special Sauce, or as I like to call it, “Chamois Sauce.” Er, maybe not.
Soiled Big Mac: Brioche bun, seasoned 90% lean ground beef, 2% American cheese, shredded lettuce, a slice of tomato, diced onion, and Chamois Sauce (dill relish, olive oil mayo, and a dash of Simply Heinz Tommy K.)
For what it’s worth (nothing?), the nutrition app MyNetDiary gives The Soiled Big Mac (as made) a B+ nutritional rating and McDonald’s Big Mac a straight D.
Later.