I decided this morning as I was getting eight pounds of chicken dehydrating for jerky and marinating another 16 pounds that I would walk to the top of Montara Mountain. So as quickly as I could after cleanup and lunch, I packed up my Camelback and walked to the park.
Over four and one half hours later with over 27,000 aerobic steps and 15 miles, I was regretting not driving to the park. It's not that I minded the 1.3 miles to the park, it was downhill. But after all that walking, the last 1.3 miles up hill, however gradual the rise, was very noticeable.
When I was entering this in my spread sheet where I'm keeping my daily walking log, I realized that today was just a matter of degree. While Tuesday and Wednesday was only the 90 minutes or so I need to walk to get 10,000 aerobic steps in, Thursday was ten minutes shy of two hours; Friday was two and a half hours; and today was excessive.
Thursday I wanted to find out how far I had walked on my walks along Embarcadero, normally just over three miles. I also walked my maximum distance to find out how long that was, seven miles. Yesterday I was just walking on a trail, a big looping trail and that was just how long it took. Today, I could have done it in a little fewer steps but I wanted to walk back a different way than I walked up. After my first wrong turn and back tracking, I seriously thought about going back down the muddy rutted trail into San Pedro Creek park that I had come up but at that moment I was going down on a well graveled/sanded service road. I thought sure it had to connect with a new trail that I could take that would be better.
Later, after having gone downhill for some good distance, they finally had a sign post. The road that I was on was a road to Montara and Highway 1. I started looking for trails to the right that had to be shorter than going all the way to Montara. (In an earlier and until today longest walk, I had hiked 11 miles round trip almost to Montara and I had driven to the trail head.) The first trail to the right looked like it was too steep so I went on resigning myself to the longer but easier walking of the roads I had been on. But then there was what looked to be the trail I was looking for, so I took it. Indeed, it did deliver me to exactly where I thought I wanted to come out but after that first easy section, it consisted of some of the steepest rock faces I've ever attempted to walk. I was thinking that it was exclusively for daredevil mountain bikers when I passed someone WALKING UP.
Even though I was thinking at times that I should have had rappelling gear, I traversed the worst parts safely. It was on a less steep part I had an abrupt sit down. Oh well, it was time to wash these jeans anyway. (I just washed my other two pair, that fit, which is a good sign that the ones I'm wearing need it.)
Walking to the top of Montara Mountain was worth it, although, the next time I'm driving to a trail head and coming back out the same way to my car. One of the things that made it worth it was the very clear day. There I was on top of Montara Mountain looking for the Farallon Islands. Normally on clear days like this, they are easily spotted on the horizon. Then I found them. I was up so high that they weren't actually on the horizon. The horizon was blue ocean beyond them. There were just a couple wispy clouds out over the ocean and below me.
Ever since my first hike with the pedometer, where I did take pictures, I haven't taken any. On that first hike taking them, they interfered with the aerobic function. Today, I could have used a few more breaks, but didn't even have it with me, not that it would have taken the Farallon Islands all that well. I've tried that before when they were closer.
What I did have on the top of Montara Mountain was good cell phone reception. I think every cell phone company in the area has a position on one of the towers, maybe more than one. So, in addition to catching up on some family conversations, I was able to interact with Facebook. Maybe someday I'll figure out how to send a mobile picture in so I can use the camera on my phone to document my hiking travels. I have another electronic toy that would have been good to trigger at the top, my Spot. I would have liked to see what it did with that location. Oh well, some other time.
Showing posts with label pedometer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label pedometer. Show all posts
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Friday, February 27, 2009
Week, so far, in Review
I'll start out with a rather tasty vegetable stew I just made for my evening meal. Perhaps it isn't so noteworthy as it is fresh on my mind. I do thing the wine I put into it, as well as the expired vegetable broth, is the primary source of its flavor. Since I just got a bunch of fresh garlic powder to make the various marinades for chicken jerky for my (youngest) daughter and her husband to taste, I also include some of that. Oh, and fresh ground black pepper. Other than the flavoring, it's just potatoes, carrots, and a leek. I will eat something else but I haven't figured out what just yet. I haven't even calculated the calories per serving for my calorie counting spreadsheet. This will go a long way to figuring out what else I will eat. I do need to eat my legumes yet for the day.
I would have eaten some for lunch but I had lunch on the road today, the Old Pedro Mountain Road. (I think I wrote about it in an earlier posting.) Anyway, it isn't nicknamed the "Planet of the Apes Road" for nothing. With all of its deterioration, it is only suitable for walking. And walk I did. I started out intending only to walk to where I had prior to my receiving "that darn pedometer," to see how far I had walked on that earlier hike, 5.5 miles round trip, but the day was so nice, I decided to walk further and hike on some new to me trail/road. On the Montara side of the mountain, the road is definitely more degraded. At one spot the road itself has completely slipped away and a rather crude trail was hacked out of the hill above where the road would have been. Then there was the section that was a new service road, only because I missed the little trail that didn't look like an old road at all off to the right. (I caught it on my return just to say I walked it.) Since there wasn't a convenient bench or rock or even a semi-dry log, that allowed me to sit, I ate my apple, Clif Bar, and whole wheat English muffin while walking. I was originally going to walk the whole road to its connection with Highway 1, but instead walked a short side trail to the last trail that Marilyn and I hiked and turned around. All in all, I walked 11 miles in just over three hours and 20,175 aerobic steps.
While the scenery was beautiful, including the clearest I've ever seen the Farallon Islands, I didn't take my camera. If I had, I may not have gotten nearly so much aerobic walking in.
Last Sunday night I went to an Academy Awards party, well viewing party. While I could see the TV, I really didn't do that much viewing. It was really just an opportunity to get together with some of my Fremont friends, many of whom I hadn't seen for over a year, some longer. I spent the entire evening talking with the husbands of the real avid viewers, the husband of the hostess of the party in particular. There were other conversations that came and went depending on the level of interest in the award being given out. I was asked for the recipe of the dessert I brought, the Basic Chocolate Cupcake from the Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World cookbook. I also took a Peanut Butter Buttercream icing from the same cookbook on the side. I didn't want to cause anyone who might have a peanut allergy grief. (Really it was just because I was running late and didn't want to take the time.) Most people, allergy or not, ate them plain. I was able to leave all that I took there. I needed to get back on my life diet and didn't want the temptation of very rich, even if vegan, food around.
As far as the chicken jerky I'm making, I got three recipes off of the Internet and am making up eight pounds of chicken breasts spread across each of them. My PCT walking daughter and son-in-law are to do a taste test to see which of the three they want to carry with them on the trail. I plan on making turkey jerky for the actual hike but Costco didn't have any boneless, skinless turkey breasts. This is the first time I've used chicken. Of course, it's the first time I've made jerky in a long time, at least ten years. Their tasting might be a little off from more than just the chicken.
I guess, at least from what I've written, not much of significance happened. Oh well, it seemed more significant when I started.
I would have eaten some for lunch but I had lunch on the road today, the Old Pedro Mountain Road. (I think I wrote about it in an earlier posting.) Anyway, it isn't nicknamed the "Planet of the Apes Road" for nothing. With all of its deterioration, it is only suitable for walking. And walk I did. I started out intending only to walk to where I had prior to my receiving "that darn pedometer," to see how far I had walked on that earlier hike, 5.5 miles round trip, but the day was so nice, I decided to walk further and hike on some new to me trail/road. On the Montara side of the mountain, the road is definitely more degraded. At one spot the road itself has completely slipped away and a rather crude trail was hacked out of the hill above where the road would have been. Then there was the section that was a new service road, only because I missed the little trail that didn't look like an old road at all off to the right. (I caught it on my return just to say I walked it.) Since there wasn't a convenient bench or rock or even a semi-dry log, that allowed me to sit, I ate my apple, Clif Bar, and whole wheat English muffin while walking. I was originally going to walk the whole road to its connection with Highway 1, but instead walked a short side trail to the last trail that Marilyn and I hiked and turned around. All in all, I walked 11 miles in just over three hours and 20,175 aerobic steps.
While the scenery was beautiful, including the clearest I've ever seen the Farallon Islands, I didn't take my camera. If I had, I may not have gotten nearly so much aerobic walking in.
Last Sunday night I went to an Academy Awards party, well viewing party. While I could see the TV, I really didn't do that much viewing. It was really just an opportunity to get together with some of my Fremont friends, many of whom I hadn't seen for over a year, some longer. I spent the entire evening talking with the husbands of the real avid viewers, the husband of the hostess of the party in particular. There were other conversations that came and went depending on the level of interest in the award being given out. I was asked for the recipe of the dessert I brought, the Basic Chocolate Cupcake from the Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World cookbook. I also took a Peanut Butter Buttercream icing from the same cookbook on the side. I didn't want to cause anyone who might have a peanut allergy grief. (Really it was just because I was running late and didn't want to take the time.) Most people, allergy or not, ate them plain. I was able to leave all that I took there. I needed to get back on my life diet and didn't want the temptation of very rich, even if vegan, food around.
As far as the chicken jerky I'm making, I got three recipes off of the Internet and am making up eight pounds of chicken breasts spread across each of them. My PCT walking daughter and son-in-law are to do a taste test to see which of the three they want to carry with them on the trail. I plan on making turkey jerky for the actual hike but Costco didn't have any boneless, skinless turkey breasts. This is the first time I've used chicken. Of course, it's the first time I've made jerky in a long time, at least ten years. Their tasting might be a little off from more than just the chicken.
I guess, at least from what I've written, not much of significance happened. Oh well, it seemed more significant when I started.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
That darn pedometer
Actually it's a great pedometer, Omron Pocket Pedometer. It works in a variety of placements about the body: pocket, belt, ... It keeps track of total steps vs. aerobic steps. It has conversion features into miles. It has a week's worth of memory. The only thing wrong with it is the amount of exercise it is going to make me do.
That exercise is the subject of this blog. But first let me give a little background. My middle sister gave it to me as a gift. It must have arrived late yesterday because I noticed the package as I was going out to get today's, Saturday's, paper. Instead of heading off to get my kitchen faucet early this morning as I had planned, I was instead setting up the pedometer. (The most difficult part of setting it up was finding my measuring tape to measure my ten steps.) After inserting the battery, I had to set the time, input my weight, and set my step length, two feet ten inches.
After setting it all up, I went to get my faucet, which Fixtures and Faucets didn't have in stock and had to order for me. At least since I had to pay a shipping charge, it will be shipped directly to my house. Since Fixtures and Faucets was just a couple miles away from Whole Foods, I went on to Whole Foods to get some quality vegetables and fruit, including a bag each of frozen peaches and mangoes. I'm glad I had my cold bag because I decided to go walking before I made it home.
Instead of turning left at Fassler, I turned right and parked in a beach access parking lot out close to the ocean. I suppose the whole area is considered Rockaway Beach.
The waves were something to see. As were the surfers. I walked along Rockaway Beach and over the hill to Linda Mar Beach. I ducked into the Taco Bell to unzip my two layers of jackets so I could check my new pedometer. (This particular Taco Bell is eight or nine on the best Fast Food locations list, kind of a Fast Food Wonders of the World. Maybe it was just the U.S.) I had only walked 2,700 steps or so, so I decided to hike up to the road end of San Pedro Point.
As I was walking I noticed a surfer who was changing out of his wet suit. He had it down to his waist with his whole upper torso skin exposed to what I considered a chilling wind. This was quite a contrast to my attire of a T-shirt, topped by a Christmas gift Ohio State sweat shirt, (Thank you sister-in-law/brother-in-law Jan and Ron.), then my fleece vest zipped up all the way, and finally my North Face shell, also zipped up. At least I wasn't wearing my cross-country ski gloves that I had with me. After the stripping surfer, I noticed a woman running along the beach in just a tank top and shorts and a man playing with the waves in just a swim suit. Most of the fellow walkers I passed were a little more clothed but none were so to my extent. Most had on some kind of a sweatshirt or wind breaking jacket and either spandex pants or jeans.
There were a lot of walkers, a few bikers, and even a few Segway riders. These could be rented at Rockaway Beach and ridden as far as I walked. Of course, they aren't much exercise, but they look like fun. About half the people I passed were friendly, acknowledging my presence or even saying "Hi." The other half mostly avoid eye contact.
I did see one kid on a BMX type bike that had a surf board carrier attachment, kind of like a side car without a wheel. I don't know whether or not it was a commercial after market add on or something they built themselves but it looked neat, well, very functional.
All in all, I walked over 6,000 aerobic steps and over 10,000 steps, five miles, so far today. If I hadn't stopped to take pictures, which you can see in my Kodak Gallery Album, I would have probably had more aerobic steps. Even though it has rained a couple times since I've gotten home, I'm debating on going out to walk a two-mile distance I know of to see if I've calibrated my new pedometer correctly. That darn pedometer! It's too easy to use and draws me to use it.
That exercise is the subject of this blog. But first let me give a little background. My middle sister gave it to me as a gift. It must have arrived late yesterday because I noticed the package as I was going out to get today's, Saturday's, paper. Instead of heading off to get my kitchen faucet early this morning as I had planned, I was instead setting up the pedometer. (The most difficult part of setting it up was finding my measuring tape to measure my ten steps.) After inserting the battery, I had to set the time, input my weight, and set my step length, two feet ten inches.
After setting it all up, I went to get my faucet, which Fixtures and Faucets didn't have in stock and had to order for me. At least since I had to pay a shipping charge, it will be shipped directly to my house. Since Fixtures and Faucets was just a couple miles away from Whole Foods, I went on to Whole Foods to get some quality vegetables and fruit, including a bag each of frozen peaches and mangoes. I'm glad I had my cold bag because I decided to go walking before I made it home.
Instead of turning left at Fassler, I turned right and parked in a beach access parking lot out close to the ocean. I suppose the whole area is considered Rockaway Beach.
The waves were something to see. As were the surfers. I walked along Rockaway Beach and over the hill to Linda Mar Beach. I ducked into the Taco Bell to unzip my two layers of jackets so I could check my new pedometer. (This particular Taco Bell is eight or nine on the best Fast Food locations list, kind of a Fast Food Wonders of the World. Maybe it was just the U.S.) I had only walked 2,700 steps or so, so I decided to hike up to the road end of San Pedro Point.
As I was walking I noticed a surfer who was changing out of his wet suit. He had it down to his waist with his whole upper torso skin exposed to what I considered a chilling wind. This was quite a contrast to my attire of a T-shirt, topped by a Christmas gift Ohio State sweat shirt, (Thank you sister-in-law/brother-in-law Jan and Ron.), then my fleece vest zipped up all the way, and finally my North Face shell, also zipped up. At least I wasn't wearing my cross-country ski gloves that I had with me. After the stripping surfer, I noticed a woman running along the beach in just a tank top and shorts and a man playing with the waves in just a swim suit. Most of the fellow walkers I passed were a little more clothed but none were so to my extent. Most had on some kind of a sweatshirt or wind breaking jacket and either spandex pants or jeans.
There were a lot of walkers, a few bikers, and even a few Segway riders. These could be rented at Rockaway Beach and ridden as far as I walked. Of course, they aren't much exercise, but they look like fun. About half the people I passed were friendly, acknowledging my presence or even saying "Hi." The other half mostly avoid eye contact.
I did see one kid on a BMX type bike that had a surf board carrier attachment, kind of like a side car without a wheel. I don't know whether or not it was a commercial after market add on or something they built themselves but it looked neat, well, very functional.
All in all, I walked over 6,000 aerobic steps and over 10,000 steps, five miles, so far today. If I hadn't stopped to take pictures, which you can see in my Kodak Gallery Album, I would have probably had more aerobic steps. Even though it has rained a couple times since I've gotten home, I'm debating on going out to walk a two-mile distance I know of to see if I've calibrated my new pedometer correctly. That darn pedometer! It's too easy to use and draws me to use it.
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