Shake out trip

July 8, 2019 - July 14, 2019

Monday (3 + 2) - Met Ro at Bluff Point to run at 7 a.m.  I don't think I was awake, we ran walked my 5:00 / 0:45 intervals, with a long walk in the middle.  Frankly, I'm happy Ro is willing to follow my pattern and not push me, and we can jibber jabber away.  This time I was able to run and talk which is a vast improvement!

Dave and the bass he designed and built.

Jax and I took a hike around the fire roads in Burlingame North.  We cut off about 1/2 mile and I finally found the damn.  I'm not sure what its history is, however, it was very pretty to look at and Jax waded around in the stream and was happy to off-trail explore. 

What was this damn for?

Tuesday (0) - Big fat zero.  I was able to get some time with Amy for a massage so I did that instead of walking at lunch.  It was nice to have the big knot in my left shoulder broken up and not have to deal with that stabbing pain. 

Found this in the pantry!  YUM!!

Wednesday (3 + 2) - Run at lunch, felt good, I only walked a bit before starting to run.  It is hot but not too humid not completely miserable for a 3-mile run, anything more would be miserable, and that is the story I am sticking to.

Jax and I ventured to Burlingame to check out the goings-on at the pond.  We came across Dave and Kevin biking Jax was far more interested in catching them and pulled me along at a good clip for the last mile.  They went up the Cut Trail and I had to call Jax back from his tracking so we could go the other way and get to the car. 

The prototype platform camp is gone!

Thursday (1) - On the road to Vermont for our "shake out" trip before two weeks on the road.  We missed the heavy rain, however, did have to set up camp in Coolidge in a drizzle, not terrible, but it had to be done.

Coolidge - Plymouth VT

Friday (3 + 5) - A slow start to the morning, lingering rain and an eye on the radar made a canoe trip around Woodward Reservoir ideal. 

So very peaceful.

This was the first time either of us saw a Loon close up.  We ventured under a small bridge to a sectioned off part of the reservoir,  a beaver dam blocked the other entrance.   She was sitting on a nest and rather ticked off we got so close.  Neither of us saw her she was so well disguised and then she did her dance and jumped in the water and shot at us like a torpedo and circled the canoe.  In the midst of this, the beaver decided to take a flying leap into the pond and created quite a ruckus with the flap of his tail!  We skedaddled out of there and back under the bridge to safety.  Hopefully, we didn't piss her off too much.

It's a group shot!  (Dave's thumb in the upper RH corner)

After that, I took Dolly out for a little gravel grind.  Studying the area maps there is a back entrance to Coolidge, and there was a 5 mile very hilly (900+ elevation gain) loop.  Quite pretty, quite remote, and quite disturbing.  I kept hearing what sounded like screaming and thought maybe it was a coyote or something.  Either I turned around or I kept going.  Of course, I kept going and soon realized it was a summer camp (Bethany Birches) and the disturbing sounds were children.  Ah, not having any and not being exposed to many they certainly can make a disturbing racket.   After this then I happened upon a bus that looked like it could have been from "In to The Wild" then I noticed the solar panels, oh good, living people.  I wanted to take a picture but that is rather rude or is it?  I continued down the hill riding my rim breaks hoping like hell the 60 psi 28mm tires weren't going to overheat and explode.  All the while damning my inability to climb the hills, what the hell is wrong with me?

The nesting loon.

Halfway up one of the hills I took a little break and raised the seat about an inch, well that helped, getting a more full extension out of my legs. 

It looked far steeper going up!

I made a decision to get a bike more suited to dirt/gravel/double track.  Of course, this was met with derision from my spouse.  I sallied forth with why and what I was looking for and this ended with some good recommendations of a place to check out to find the right bike.   Perhaps a Surly, perhaps a Salsa, I have some research to do to find the right bike.  Frankly, I'd rather ride gravel and double track than asphalt, and I really really really want disc breaks.    I enjoy single track with Barney, but he's not so great for being in the saddle for a long time pedaling.  

Double bubble drool!

The night ended with the realization Dave didn't pack the marshmallows for s'mores, Jax was pissed and went to bed early. 

He's a goof!
Plus we loved and hated the crushed stone (new addition) at the sites in Coolidge!

Saturday (3) - Mostly wandering around with Jax, he woke us up at 3, to curl up between us, odd.  By 6:30 we were all up and he flew outside to barf.  Ah so that is what is going on, he wasn't feeling well.  We think it was the bit of hamburger we each gave him.  After a couple tries he downed his breakfast and was up for a walk. 

Mohawk - Charlemont MA

We packed up camp to head to the next camp in MA.  That went pretty smoothly, we took VT100 South to MA and then on to Charlemont via 8A.  Nice to see some scenery and NOT be in the interstate.

Drool by firelight, Jax is a classy Chap!

Sunday (20 + 2) - I went out for a bike ride, an ambitious 36-mile ride on Dolly, pumped up the 28mm to 100 psi, far more comfortable a ride at 60 psi, but roadies do what roadies do, right?  I really didn't want to go for a ride, but I really wanted to see the sights, I remembered the ride from last year, and it was lovely following the Zoar River.  Being on the road I was in the big ring more and the chain was rubbing on the derailleur this resulted in a lot of tinkering to tighten the cable.   Dolly doesn't get much use so everything is creaky and rusty, she sat for a few years and it shows.  I managed to get the front shifter a little bit less wonky for most of the gears in the big ring.  Mostly I piddled around and checked out the sights.

Made me laugh when I sliced the top off the pepper!

Took a nice long walk IN the Cold River after I got back to camp.  I think the best $10 I've spent at Odd Job Lots were the pair of Body Glove beach shoes!  It wasn't quite warm enough for me to sit in the river but I did enjoy my stroll along the rocky bottom.

Dave went off biking and Jax and I hung out.  I read and he people watched, there were fewer people than Saturday so he was slightly bored and decided hunting space raisins would be fun.   Sunday's in the camps are quite as people cleared out from their weekend fun.  We booked for Sunday night so we could stay late and enjoy the full day. 



Reading:

The Summer Wives
by Beatriz Williams
Audio

Status: Finished

The whole time I'm listening to this I'm trying to figure out which Island off the coast of CT/RI/NY, finally the author reveals which island she based the book on. This was a good story, nice twist at the end you could sort of see coming if you were inclined to try and figure it out before it was revealed to you. Trance by Adam Southward Kindle Status:  Finished The main character, the evil Romania Victor Lazar was what started my interest in the story, what kept me going was what made him that way.  It is part of a series and I wasn't thrilled that it ended and expected you to read the next book. Forgotten Bones  by Vivian Barz Kindle Status:  Finished A decades-old murder mystery with a few twists!  This is also part of a series, however, the author wrapped up the story and did not expect you to read her next book. Knots and Crosses by Ian Rankin Kindle Status:  Started A friend of mine names his pups after characters from this Scottish detective series, I was curious and so far am not disappointed in the writing.

The New York Times: Footsteps: From Ferrante's Naples to Hammett's San Francisco, Literary Pilgrimages Around the World 

Status:  Started
Audio

Short stories from the NYT travel column.  Interesting things to learn!  I am enjoying hearing about the experiences these people have when they travel to different places.  I wasn't so sure about short stories, and the first time I tried this audiobook it didn't do it for me, now it does.

Camping gives me time to read lots of things I'm collecting on my Kindle! Something so lovely about a hammock in the shade and a good story and a trust little black dog spying on people.

Knitting:

The new pattern socks are a sock, looking for someone who needs one sock!

Started a new pair, they were going to be for me, then Dave and now I think I found the perfect person!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A pretty full week.  I am feeling kind of lost actually feeling better and like I should have a goal or something.  (Thank you to Jonny for his Strava post, hit the nail on the head)

My buddy Tanya is back from her Australia assignment and talked me into a 10K in Montreal for October.  Perfect timing.  Now to get serious about running.  Oh yeah and the part I have to play in planning the division off-site in Montreal.  

All in all, I feel like I did a few years ago, and hopefully, the blood results in a few weeks will show I can wean off the steroids and the Plaquenil, and be back to a pretty medication-free lifestyle.  I do have quite a stockpile of Vitamin I and Vitamin A  (Ibuprofen and Acetaminophen) kinda nice to not be eating them like m n' ms!  Now to get back all the fitness and motivation I lost in the last two years.

Sincerely,
Beth, still guardedly optimistic about the future of her health.