Quiet week

July 15, 2019 - July 21, 2019

Monday (3 + 2) -  It's a running day so I decided to run, plus the weather prediction is for hot and humid for the end of the week.  Plus I hadn't run in a while and I kind of missed it.

Pantry find!
from 2016, aged nicely!

Dave came with Jax and I on our hike and complained about the bug the whole time, they were bad, but jeasus to petes stop bitching.

Nice simple single track.
My seat still needs to be a little higher.

We did do an experiment for cooking dinner while we hiked, and that worked out well, it was nice to not eat dinner at 8:30 - 9:00 at night.  Jax got dinner before we left.

Tuesday (3) - Met up with Ro for the intention of run/walk Bluff, she and Mark did their LI ride (74 miles) and my hip, foot, and calf were sore from a variety of things.  We walked at a good clip and that was just fine.  It was nice to chat and catch up.

Jax being smart and not chasing the geese.

Wednesday (15) - Ro and I agreed to bike instead of hills, which is perfect as it is really getting uncomfortable to be outside.  We did a quick flat ride, all the runners looked absolutely miserable.  I moved up the seat on Ruby and that seems to help.  Maybe my legs grew 1/2 inch over the last year or my new bike shoes?  but I got those last year.  I have no idea, but the new seat height made it feel like more power got to the pedals, and not like I'm pedaling through mud.  Weird.



Thursday (3 + 2) - Caught up with Mikey, glad he is truly over the hump and feeling much better!  Nice to see him running with the usual gang!

One of my favorite parts of this trail to run and to ride.

After a rainy workday, it was remarkably cool, we took Jax on a hike to Burlingame, the old camp loop.  It was cool enough for Jax to do his jumping around and being goofy.

Friday (2) - It was hotting up outside and I lacked motivation.  I took Jax on the old Burlingame camp road, we did out and back.  It was warm and he went through his water pretty quick.  I also knew with what was in store for Saturday and Sunday he wouldn't be getting out, black dogs with smushed faces don't do well in the heat.

Me and Jess at the point at Bluff.
It was so hazy.

Saturday (8) -  Jess and I planned a mountain bike ride at Bluff Point a month or so ago, and I wasn't going to cancel because that was the only thing that would get me outside!  We agreed to meet up 7:45 a.m. not too early, Jess has a long drive.  Surprisingly I'm getting back to being awake in the morning and even not feeling exhausted at the end of the day.  Not to say I'd ever say no to a nap, napping rules. We figured 90 minutes on the trails in the heat would be good.  We had the benefit of 90% shade and a bit of a breeze off the Long Island Sound.



We stuck to the more novice trails and I never had to dismount to walk through something, partially because Jess was flying and I was trying to keep up and riding through the rock gardens I normally would walk and partially because it didn't dawn on me and we were riding the trails in the correct direction!  A good lesson for me, for sure!  Jess is pretty fearless when it comes to being on two wheels off-road either under her own power or a motor.  I had one minor dismount on a narrow bridge, something I have to work on.  After plummeting off a long section of bog bridges in Burlingame I'm a little leery and really need to practice, that particular bridge at Haley Farm would be ideal to session until I got it.  It has a bit of a bump to get up, it is narrow and it has two curves.  Yeah, on "the list".

Sunday (0) - I didn't have a zero-day this week and I have a list of small tasks to tackle,  It was the perfect day to tackle my list!

Flat bored miserable Jax

Knitting:

Green socks in progress.  My favorite yarn to work with.

Reading:  

Knots and Crosses
by Ian Rankin
Kindle

Status:  Started

Sadly I've made no progress on this book.

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

Status:  In Progress
Audio

I didn't know Bram Stoker's inspiration for Dracula was the English seaside and not Transylvania!  I'm enjoying these short stories about where authors hung out, got inspiration, or lived. 

All in all a pretty quiet week.

Sincerely,
Beth, a month post doxy and all seems to be fine, hmmmmm....

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.

Off to an Island for a few days

July 1, 2019 - July 7, 2019

Monday (3 + 1)  - Run at lunch, felt pretty good.  Dave and I took Jax for a hike, it was hot for Jax.  He is not a summer dog.  My right knee was feeling like it was going to do the wonky thing, interesting, all the rest of the nonsense is cleared up (knock on wood) I can deal with the buckling right knee like at Run With the Beavers in 2017, just not all the follow on crap.

What the heck is going on? This is NOT the canoe.-- Jax

Tuesday (?) - Took the Fast Ferry from Quonset to Martha's Vineyard to spend the night with Dave's brother Matt and his family at his wife's family cottage in Oak Bluffs.  We walked around a lot, I got a nice long walk on South Beach in Edgartown.  Mostly it was exploring Oak Bluffs and keeping the dogs moving so they could get to know each other on what was a cool lovely day.

I think I'll sit in the Boy Peep's lap, it's probably a safe place. -- Jax

The cottage has been in her family since the early 1900's and they have the history of the house going back to 1870 when it was built.

Oh, finally land and water and a new friend, Chester, a great Pyrenees.
And a Short Peep I've met before. -- Jax

Wednesday (?) - This was the big outing over the Chappy bridge, yes that bridge.  It was not what I expected, all of a few feet long, wooden and entering into Wasque and going out to Cape Poge, all very much sand roads.  We had a nice long drive on the sand and landed near the end of the public space with access to Poge Bay as well as the Atlantic.  The dogs enjoyed their time frolicking in the bay eventually wearing each other out and finding some shade to rest.  The people also frolicked, I'm not a beach or a water person but I waded and walked on the beach and camped out under the shade umbrellas it was very relaxing and pleasant. I can deal with the beach in those conditions. 

Hanging out on the Town Green.
Lots of people to watch, yeah, the Boy Peep is kind of embarrassing, I'm not sure what he is doing. -- Jax

We were supposed to take the 7:30 p.m. ferry back to RI but we were having fun and since Jax was with us and we had no commitments and it was super easy to change our ferry, we stayed another night.

The peeps are taking me and Chester to the BEACH!! -- Jax

The ice cream from Ben and Bill's Chocolate Emporium was calling us, again.  No one dared try the Lobster Ice Cream the first night but Annabelle (Matthew's daughter) thought she'd be adventurous, unfortunately, they were out.  Or was that, fortunately. 

Hey Chester, it's the beach time to run and be crazy!!!! - Jax

Plus Dave really wanted to take part in the Wednesday night Community Sing at the Tabernacle, and that started at 7:30.  It was very fun and I can totally see why Erica would spend all day Wednesday in the summers coming up with a reason she couldn't go to the weekly Community Sing. 

Ahhhh a little shade on the beach! - Jax

Thursday (?) - The three of us were up hours before the rest of the house so we took a walk to Back Door Donuts and got a wide selection plus an apple fritter.  These apple fritters were damn near as good as the apple uglies at the Orange Blossom Cafe in Buxton on the Outer Banks in NC.

Hey Jax, look smile for the camera! -- Chester
Chester, it looks like there is more beach over there let go over there.  -- Jax

Wandering through the Camp Meeting Association with all the gingerbread cottages was so fun.  So cute and so much history.  Many were built in the 1860s.

Erica's families Cottage, although it is larger than a cottage.
Her Great Grandfather painted No Parking years ago.
It is refreshed every year, no one objects.

It was going to be a hot day for the island, we were not at all looking forward to walking to the ferry and waiting in the baking sun and no breeze to get on the ferry. 

This is a HUGE tradition!

It wasn't too horrible and we had the whole second deck of the ferry to ourselves!  Not a lot of people going to RI for the 4th of July, whoda thunk that? 

The dot is where we were beaching.

RI was nice and hot and still, we put in the AC had some lunch and crashed for the rest of the afternoon in the cool dark house.  Being closed up for two full days helped keep a lot of the humidity out. 

One last walk to the ferry with my buddy Chester. -- Jax

It was super special to share a part of Erica's family history and childhood. I found a penny on the dock and gave it to the youngest, Sam, and this brought up the memory of throwing pennies off the boat to her grandfather, he was a very frugal New Englander and he would run all around picking up the pennies.  Then I found a dime and gave it to Sam in honor of his great grandfather, he's 8 so he really doesn't have a clue but it was clearly something special to Erica. 

We had the whole deck to ourselves, still, I didn't like the return trip either. -- Jax

Friday (0) - Back to work.  I know seems crazy after three days off, but I didn't want to waste the vacation day.  Dave was off fishing so up and out by 4:30, Jax slept for maybe another hour, I was into work early, it was very quiet, which is nice.  My morning hair appointment was postponed until Saturday, even better.  I got through a lot of the chaos that happened on the 2nd 3rd and even the 4th.  And put together an agenda for my Monday morning meeting.  The gal I thought would be the problem was actually on a lay off wave.  Gak I felt like an ass when I heard that, however, that was followed up with she wanted that to happen and it is all good.  She's not an issue however now the team is happy with a 9 a.m. Monday morning meeting.  They are clearly weird.  

Ahhhh such a nice porch to crash on and people watch. -- Jax

It was hot and humid and the house was cool when I got home after 2, I was in the mood for a Friday afternoon nap, it is nice to not feel like I NEED a nap, but want a nap.   Jax was happy to not have to go anywhere, he was still a bit worn out from Martha's Vineyard.  Although I think he misses Chester just a bit. 

Donuts for me??? -- Jax
MV Back Door Donuts

Saturday (0.5) - I really like Maggie's new salon, and probably could have waited another week, but I really wanted some hair chopped off in this heat. Even 1/2 inch makes a difference.  

The bird was very busy bringing food back to its children.  

Again humid and warm and disgusting, a bike ride either on the road or the woods would have been pleasant in the morning but not after my hair appointment.  I had chores so I did them and mowed the lawn and managed to piddle away the day.  I hate that I can waste an entire freaking day.  I'm still getting used to not feeling like shit all the time, or all of a sudden feeling like shit, I'll chalk this up to recovery and learning how to be normal again?  Well normal for me.

Thought this was a cool way to store fishing poles, in the rafters!

Sunday (28 + 1) - Meandered here and there on my bike ride, it was nice to get out and pedal, the weather was perfect, even the headwind wasn't all that horrible.  It was nice to be active and feel dry.  The first ride in a while where I didn't get a close buzz by or yelled at.  Refreshing change.  

The Ferry back from Chappy.
This was very disconcerting to me.
It is a 3 car ferry for 500 feet.

We were going to resume our Sunday pizza and a stroll around the pond at the RC field.  This was thwarted by the stench and flies from 10 semi loads of chicken poop.  The farmers chicken poop supplier gave Earl and Company 5 loads and what frugal New Englander is going to say no to free anything.  It was gross, two piles of a shit ton of shit and a commensurate number of poop flies.  

Chester why are our peeps so far out? This is scary. -- Jax
I think they want us to swim.  -- Chester
That is crazy talk. -- Jax
Yep, I saw my girl peep pack treats. -- Chester
Ah, swim we will. -- Jax
And they both swam, a bit, they like swimming about as much as I do!

We went to Crawley, ate our pizza, still sort of gagging, and then took a very short hike.  Oh well, shit happens, right?

Knitting:

Not much knitting done this week.  I'll only get one sock out of the purple-pink yarn, oh well.  Maybe I'll find someone who only needs one sock!

Reading:

Summer Wives
by Beatriz Williams 

Status:  In progress

An interesting tale, it flips between 1950s 1930s and 1960s; I get a little confused.  

Old Lady on the Trail: Triple Crown at 76
by Mary Davidson

Status:  Finished

Very good story, the writing is a bit awkward in places (much like my own, I won't hold that against the book).  The finish was the end, a bit anti-climactic, however very much suited the whole book.  Mary got her Triple Crown and went on to hike more, however slower and lower miles, I hope to be hiking half that much when I'm 76.

Trance
by Adam Southward

Status:  Started

A Kindle First Reads, I'm never sure how these are going to go.  This one is good, I have a difficult time putting it down.  Victor Lazar, abused in a Romanian Orphanage in the 1980s, is seeking revenge on his abusers using what they taught him.  The reviews are mixed, it is slightly disturbing, but I'm curious how it ends.  I'm about 1/2 way through.

Sincerely,
Beth, a very fun week was had by all.