Week 14 – A Walking Machine

A full week of walking

One of the advantages to being back in Canada is the fact that I actually get out and walk more. My walking partner, Jen, has a dog that needs to be walked every morning so she sends me a text in the morning usually about the time I am drinking my tea and it gets me motivated to get up, get dressed and put my walking shoes on. My own dogs used to get me out to walk which is how Jen and I started walking together many years ago. Now my guys are too old to do a long walk so I take them on a short one usually when I get home. I went from walking 5.6 miles for a total time of 2 hours and 35 minutes last week to walking 29.1 miles for a total time of 13 hours and 15 minutes for the week that ended today. What is truly wonderful is how much

Jen and Lex

better I feel when I have been walking this much. My head is clearer and calmer and my whole outlook changes for the better. Physically I know it is good for me and for my heart but it is the way I feel that really makes a difference. It was back in August of 2012 that I started to use an app called “Runkeeper” that is on my iPhone. “Runkeeper” keeps all kinds of statistics like the ones I mentioned above. It says that I have walked 2,471 miles since 2012. That is a lot of pairs of sneakers. One of the built in features that I like is how it notifies my brother when I walk and it notifies me when he goes for a walk. It’s a nice way to keep in touch on a regular basis when we aren’t able to walk together. I also use a “Fitbit” when I remember to charge it as it is fun to see how many steps I can go in a day. Our average walk is over 4 miles and includes a couple of really good hills (cardio!!!) so my steps are usually over 15,000 in a day. These gadgets do make a difference and are really good motivators. However, a walking buddy is really the best motivator there is.

Ice Out

Our mission this past week was to watch the ice progress on its way out of the lake and down the river. To that end I would take photos, trying to take them from about the same angle every morning so as to document the transition. Each day was different and we could really see it begin to move. On Thursday it was a gorgeous warm sunny day, I sat outside on the deck with a friend who was also a client of mine and as we sat there we heard an incredible sound from the lake and watched, in awe, as a crack opened up from one side of the lake to the other. Each year is different and this one was no exception.

On the road again

We are staying with our grandchildren again this week before heading off on another adventure. We are going to Ireland to do some hiking and sight-seeing. The last time we went was 15 years ago this past March. We went just as there was a Hoof and Mouth disease outbreak in the UK and the fear of it spreading to Ireland happened just as we were crossing the ocean. We arrived in Shannon and immediately noticed that things were different. There were mats soaked in disinfectant that we had to walk on prior to even going through customs and immigration or getting our luggage. As we toured the island we seemed to be following the Health inspectors with their little white signs that were posted on all of the public places we had hoped to visit saying that due to the fear of an outbreak the area was closed until further notice. So we had a lovely tour of Ireland from the backseat of a car. Thus, this time we are determined to get out and see what we missed the last time and to get some good walks in as well. Yes, I have my “Fitbit” and “Runkeeper” and an almost new pair of sneakers. I am sure they have enough miles in them to get me around Ireland.

Here is a gallery of photos taken during the week as the ice melted and finally we declared ice out on Saturday, April 2. At least for our end of the lake!