Lumbers and River Trash

It seems like yesterday, or February, that I was driving to the trails in 0˚ temps. Today, as I made my way to them, it was 77˚ at 6:30 AM. In other words, conditions were great for lumbering, provided you get out and done by 9 AM. If not, you’re screwed. Or at least VERY hot and very sweaty.

Given the higher temps, I figured I’d start the week with one of my 5-mile loops (5.15), and then hopefully, by mid-week, when some rain moves in to cool shit down a bit, I can move back to my 6 and 7-mile loops. Either way, until the heat breaks, I’m going to need more than just one flask of water.

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Crazy Birds & Goals Met

[I] decided to cut back on the distance a smidge this week in an attempt to recover from lots of miles over the past few weeks.

I said that in Tuesday’s post, and I meant it. Well, at least at the time, and I kept to it for the first three days of the week when I did sub-6 mile hikes and was more than OK with aiming for a 25-mile week.

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The Good Odd Days

I was up at 5:40 AM, got Lola fed, had some coffee, read the footy news, dumped out, and then had my aging, flaccid white-man ass on the trails by 6:50 AM. There was much rejoicing.

When I pulled into the lot, there was an unfamiliar Ford Transit in the lot, and as much as I tend to imagine people living in the park, this woman was TOTALLY living in the park—at least for the night. As indicated by her van filled with racks of clothing, various water jugs, and bedding. Oh well, like James Hetfield once crooned, “Where I lay my head is home.” She was packing up as I set off down the trail and gone when I finished. Safe travels, Parking Lot Sleeping Lady.

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Frogs and Flowers

Last weekend was full of well-deserved slack, and I was happy to do next to nothing but watch some pretty horrible international football on the TV whilst drinking beer and fighting off the want to remove myself even further from the Great American Shit Show and the cult of racist, red-hat-wearing fuck faces who are in NO way making this country great again.

I digress.

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Goals Met, Boat Shoes, & Slacks

Today’s lumber was all about hitting my 30-mile goal for the week, and spoiler alert—I did.

I only needed 4.5 miles, so it wasn’t that big of a deal, but I’m glad I got it done. Sure, I COULD somewhat easily hike 30 miles a week if I went by the 7-day week, and at times, I’ve been forced to. However, I’ve realized lately, or maybe knew all along, that doing it in 5 days is not only harder (in a good way) but also gives me some structure to my life as if I had an actual career outside the home, like the bad ol’ days instead of being a dumbass who specializes in cooking, cleaning, lawn mowing, and failure (ha!).

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The Grocery Store Selfie

It’s been a chill weekend, and I now find myself here early Sunday morning with no footy to watch, no hike planned, the grass already cut, and a large coffee in hand, so I felt the need to write about a trip to the grocery store the other day. Because isn’t that what people do on a Sunday morning?

Enter the Soiled Wayback Machine, and let’s travel back to a couple of days ago as I blather on about things completely unrelated to cycling, hiking, or photography.

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Miles In, Pounds On

I was pretty beat after yesterday’s 7-mile lumber but was eager to get back out to try to reach my unofficial 30-mile weekly summer goal today.

I hadn’t even walked 20 yards and I had already seen a rabbit, a deer, and a gray catbird high in a tree as the sun was rising. The catbird shot isn’t my normal kind of shot, but it ended up being one of my favorites of the week. I guess there’s something to say about pushing yourself out of your creative comfort zone.

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