Bust a Bloom 2.

Pretty Sure There's A Million.

On Good Friday the sun warmed the front lawn and our apricot tree caught nothing but good rays. Blossoms opened to greet the day.

This morning a squirrel - "Hey, what gives!" - was seen nibbling on fresh blossoms so I grabbed a broom off the front porch and successfully gave chase.

Agreed. The small blossoms produce a better spectacle than one old geezer in full flight!

Please link to Bust a Bloom

Photos GH

Long Road Back 25

Nine in a Row

 "The walking loop that includes Ridgewood Cres. is a pretty one"

"The whole town of Massey seems to be involved on marathon day"

Apparently, I think about going for a walk just about every day now, and my desk calendar reveals I've hit nine home runs in a row, more than all the Kansas City Royals combined - so far in the World Series, that is.

All in all, during my 25 walks from Sept. 28 - October 29, I have roughly covered three times the distance I ran at the Friendly Massey Marathon during my long distance running career. My accomplishments didn't make the news then, and nor do they now.... but I'll keep at it nonetheless. Plugging away like Steady Eddie.

: )

Link to Long Road Back 23

Photos GH

Long Road Back 23

A Swell October

"Still going steady!"

MM23, my 23rd 'Miles and Mountains' hour-long walk since starting 'the comeback', was a good one. Don and I both commented on the brisk nature of our physical efforts and personalities. Join us sometime. You'll see what I mean : ) When making a note in my desk calendar I noticed MM23 was also my 20th walk in October. I feel that if I can complete about 20 fitness walks each month for the next twenty years, I'll really have something to brag about. Right now it's 'early days'. Tune in once again in 2035, see how I'm doing.

"When it's bad outside I can go for a good bike ride inside"

According to today's news on the radio, the weather will be messy for awhile, due to windy, rainy conditions brought on by Hurricane Patricia. I may therefore ride my exercise bike for a couple of hours  later in the day, and push it hard for 60 seconds every five minutes or so, to adequately take the place of my brisk walking routine, including the hilly bits. Neither sleet nor hail nor snow nor Patricia will keep me from my appointed rounds, I say.

As well, during one of my recent walks, I broke into a slow jog on occasion (I wanted to get to a Knights' hockey game before opening face-off), and a thought occurred to me about what to add to the next round of 50 fitness walks... the Harrison Shuffle. Faster than walking. Slower than just about anything else associated with jogging or running.

Stay tuned for more exciting details as they develop.

Link to Long Road Back, Week 4

Photos GH

Long Road Back, Week 4

SUPER Important Conclusions

"Good long walk yesterday toward Springbank Park"

'The Comeback' has come to the end of its fourth full week and records show I have completed 21 brisk, long walks* that have included (for the most part) a goodly number of miles (3 - 4) to increase my stamina and some hills along the way to increase my leg strength. Why, at this rate I shall likely be considered super human in just a few more years. (Hmmm. Not a bad goal! Let me write that down. SUPER HUMAN.)

I think I did pretty good to get out for five walks this week, because I was on the road on Monday and Tuesday (driving home from PEI) and had a full schedule during the rest of the week. I also had a shock on Thursday when, during a physical exam, I noticed that my weight (164 lbs. with shoes off) placed me in a somewhat risky category on a BMI chart. Why, I'd better start eating better foods, like apples for breakfast, rather than Honey Nut Cheerios.

 "Lovely spot to make the turn for home. Water fountain, SE corner"

 "Five good walks in a row, Wednesday - Sunday"

 "I miss my Cheerios already!"

"If you know where this BH is, you must be out walking too"

When I was a marathoner I didn't think or worry about calories. I guess I'd better - at the very least - start thinking about them... a few at a time.

*MM21 indicates my 21st walk, including Miles and Mountains, i.e., at least one-hour's worth of miles and a few good hills.

Link to Long Road back 21

Photos GH

Long Road Back 19

Knights Game

Yesterday I saved my long walk for after supper because I had a ticket to a Knight's hockey game, to be played at The Gardens in downtown London. I describe the walk to the arena as 'very brisk', even though I left home in plenty of time to reach my seat by 7:30. In fact, I was ten minutes early. I guess I walked brisker than I needed. (This may be a sign I am in tremendous shape!) : )

Conclusion - I can leave home after the last segment of Coronation St. next time I have a ticket to a Friday game!

Link to Long Road Back 18

Photos GH

Long Road Back 17

Walk With a Buddy

"The walk seems to fly by"

What most of us know by experience was confirmed yesterday during my physical examination.

Doctor: Your heart is strong, pulse rate is low, like an endurance athlete's.

GH: I walk briskly for an hour or more about five times a week, usually with a fellow (retired) teacher. And I ride an exercise bike all winter.

Doctor: Walking with a friend helps you get out the door more regularly.

I agreed. And sometimes the hour-long walk feels like it's done in half the time because of brisk conversation. So, I say walk with a buddy and aim for the hills.

"I'm feeling good about that old heart of mine"

Link to Long Road Back 13

Photos GH

Long Road Back 13

Walking in Prince Edward Island

"I walked around soy bean fields and into deep, dark woods"

I did not complete as many walks last week (four) as during previous weeks, because I took a short vacation in PEI for eight days and was sitting inside a truck for four of them. However, four good walks (MM13 - MM16) is better than none and during those walks I saw some pretty fine scenery and trudged up and down some pretty good hills.

 "Looking and walking south on Cambridge Rd."

 "Looking and walking east on Peter's Rd."

 "Yippee is right. That is one long drive. No time for walking"

"I sent home a few emails so I wouldn't forget to fill in my log"

Link to Long Road Back 12

Photos GH

Long Road Back 12

Useful Commentary : )

Let's review:

On September 28 I started The Comeback, to a better fitness level - like when I was running and playing hockey in the fairly recent past - and I began to record my morning or afternoon 'fun and fitness' walks with new purpose and meaning. Yup, I had been letting my fitness slide and my pants were getting tighter. (Poor eating habits are also a factor to consider).

MM1 on the 28th signifies 'Miles and Mountains 1' was completed, a walk that was at least one hour in length and included a few of London's hilly hills. My first fitness goal is to complete 50 such walks before making another somewhat more challenging goal. Perhaps, for my second goal, I'll aim to include more hills in 50 more walks, or go farther or faster, and add a bit of jogging - say on the downhill side of a hilly hill - to the routine. Whatever the case may be, we'll see as we go, add a challenge or two as I go along without stretching my limits to the extreme.

Yesterday, October 11, at about 4:20 PM and under sunny skies, I completed MM12, a one hour and ten minute brisk walk to the dog park (west of Greenway Pollution Plant) via The Coves' and Greenway Park's pathways. I consider I've done pretty well for myself by finishing 12 hilly walks in 14 days. Why, I'm a regular Steady Eddie out there. After completing thirteen marathons and dozens of other road races during the past, I know the benefits of walking hills, gradually going longer distances at higher rates of speed. I also know, at age 66, I'm not going to become - at anytime in the future - the young, durable runner and hockey player I once was. Good thing too, because I don't have the time or motivation to maintain such a routine. But I do have the patience and energy to get out the door in order to reach MM50.

After that, we shall see what we shall see.

More to follow.

Cheers,

Steady Eddie

Link to Long Road Back 12 - Favourite Photo

Photos GH

Long Road Back 12

Loverly Thanksgiving Weekend 2

"A wood-chip path meanders beside a pond at The Coves"

I left the house at 3:05 yesterday afternoon and followed my nose as far as the dog park west of Greenway Pollution plant. It was one aromatic adventure, to be sure. The prettiest parts were on a path maintained by Friends of the Cove (marked by a sign "Coves Swallowtail Grove") and a wood-chip path through Green Park beside a tranquil pond west of Wharncliffe Rd. Both are easily accessible by foot and provide walkers with many opportunities for quiet reflection.

I completed MM12 at 4:20 and shortly thereafter helped set the table for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. All the calories burned during the walk found their way back within the hour, I'm sure. Maybe more, thanks to Pumpkin Pie and Elk Tracks ice cream for dessert.

 "This shaded walkway leads from Springbank Dr.

to Greenway Park's bike path"

"I spotted two birdhouses near the loverly Coves' pathway" 

"Around 4PM I was on my way home for turkey dinner"

Link to Long Road Back 10 & 11

Photos GH

Long Road Back 10 & 11

Loverly Thanksgiving Weekend

"A good pathway winds between Dunkirk Place and Cathcart St."

My son and I walked downtown last night to watch the London Knights defeat the Sudbury Wolves 6 - 2 in an OHL hockey game. The walk, there and back, totalled a good 50 minutes, plus we stamped our feet a lot during the game so I feel I earned a full checkmark for the effort. And earlier this afternoon - under a bright sky - in order to make room for turkey and other snacks during this loverly weekend, I enjoyed a brisk walk (minus any steep hills) in and through and around parts of Old South between Wortley Road and Wellington Street. Flowering vines that covered a fence backing onto Dunkirk Place caught my eye as I neared home.

"I walked 6 of 7 days this week. Steady Eddie!"

Link to Long Road Back 9

Photos GH

Long Road Back 9

Downtown, Then a Day Off

"Oct. 8 is blank but was not a wasted day!"

I had a lovely brisk walk to downtown London on Wednesday, Oct. 7, and then, next day, I took time off. After all, motorcycle weather is drying up, so when I feel the time is right I head toward Lake Erie on two wheels. And yesterday I was rewarded with a pleasant surprise.

I stopped at a familiar curve just west of Pt. Bruce to snap a few pictures and while walking toward a cliff's edge I stepped on a patch of earth littered with hundreds of small nuts. Why, I hadn't seen such a harvest since I was a kid. Do you recognize the type of nut?

"Pt. Bruce is just up ahead"

 "My dad described hickory nuts as 'Slim Pickens'"

"My tank bank is filled w nuts and notes"

My dad and I gathered hickory nuts at a site two miles north and west of Norwich many years ago. I can recall the exact spot. Maybe my next motorcycle ride will be to that location, just to see if a particular hickory tree survives.

Link to Long Road Back 8

Photos GH

Long Road Back 8

Nobody Walks?

"I approve of walking for exercise and fitness"

The 'no walking' sign appears on Springbank Drive, and I must say that Don and I were walking along just fine when we passed it. We enjoyed a brisk pace and the occasional stop to speak to people doing curious things, e.g., measuring the girth of some local trees with a tape measure.

We left the pavement behind when we arrived at the entrance to Green Park, and followed gravel and wooden-plank walkways to a pond near Cove Rd. Very peaceful area. I recommend you walk through the park yourself, perhaps before a turkey dinner this weekend.

 "At 1PM Don and I set out to enjoy MM8"

 "We walked along Springbank Drive toward Green Park"

"The pond was quiet. Nobody walked the new pathways but Don and I"

Link to Long Road Back 7

Photos GH

Long Road Back 7

Off On The Right Foot

"I support free wifi at Milos'"

Don and I had a good long walk yesterday, the first of the week, and planned our second together for 1PM today. I'd say that's a good start for the week. By next Thanksgiving Monday I'll be ready for at least one scoop of my wife's fine dressing, w a side of gravy for dipping.

Photos: The photos start with 'free wifi' (at Milos' w my compliments!) and end with a battle 'way up high' (over Valu-Mart's parking lot in Old South).

"Strike three"

Link to Long Road Back 6

Photos GH