KEEP GOING 60 "I Hit My Target"

Steady Eddie Wins the Day!

 "Don'tcha love them blue shwade shoes?"

On Tuesday of this week I walked part way to UWWO (University of Wild Western Ontario) and all of the way home, recording a time of about 1HR 25 MIN on the hoof.

"Big Star for Steady Eddie"

And yesterday friend Don and I walked downtown (discovered there are no London Knights' tickets available for Friday's game vs Erie Otters!), then back via a meandering route, total time 1HR 20 MIN.

Don keeps a different type of tally, but in my book I recorded KG60, "YES", with a big star. Not because I wore my lovely red runners and matching pork pie hat, but because I set a goal back on November 26 to KEEP ON GOING out the door regularly for 60 more walks, and yesterday I crossed Number 60 off the list.

By the numbers: That's 60 walks in 63 days, for a Get Out the Door Score of 95.2%. Why, if I'd scored 95.2% when I attended UWWO back in the '60s I'd be a rocket scientist right now, eating canapes and flying my private Concorde to Havana to pick up a big fat cigar.

Not bad. Not bad at all.

"Another goal is to hit 27/31, or 27 walks in 31 days

in January. Easy-kapeasy. I hit that goal today."

So, what's next? All I can say is, the GREAT Canadian Comeback continues.

Stay tuned.

Link to Keep Going 58, "Colour Co-ordination"

Photos GH

Keep Going 52 "Red Long-johns"

"Sure, It's Cold Out There"

"After a walk of 1HR, 20 MIN I head straight home"

When temperatures dip below freezing and even my thickest blue jeans don't keep out the cold, I don my trusty red long-johns and head into the wind. That way, on the way home, the wind is at my back and any uphills feel easier on tired legs.

"My Walkin' Buddy is back from warmer climes"

I've noticed that some ducks have a trick up their sleeves as well during very cold days. They gather in groups on the south side of the Thames River (in Greenway Park), close to the outtake pipe from the pollution plant. Duck l'Orange anyone? Anyone? Eeeuuuwww. (Hey, it's a living).

One more photo from 'along the way', adjacent to the aforementioned plant:

KG60 will be reached within the next two weeks and I'll then plan another exciting walking goal with fun and fitness in mind. Happy days!

Link to Keep Going 50

Photos by GH

Keep Going 50 "Cold Weather for Walkin'"

Throwin' a Change Up

Thursday, Friday, Saturday (KG47 - 49) - good and far

I walked to UWO on Thursday and it felt all up hill due to the warm weather and slushy sidewalks. On Friday I took the bus to the university and walked home in one hour. Much easier on the downhill, I must say. And Saturday I walked all over the place, including to a Knights game.

Cold weather turned me back home to my bicycle

On Sunday, after a 15-minute walk toward Greenway Park, I turned back. Too cold for the clothes I was wearing. Once home I hopped onto my exercise bike with a good book. Not a bad change up, I say.

KG50 out of 60 = 83.3% of the way for Goal 2. I think when warmer weather returns I will be plenty ready for shuffling* along to Buffalo.

Photos from along the way:

St. George's Anglican, Wharncliffe, on way home from UWO

Link to Keep Going 46

*shuffling is like jogging, but slower

Photos GH

KG39 - Empty Pathway

Where Did All the People Go?

"Five in a row in January"

Walking habit is getting pretty settled into my daily routine. After lunch I now automatically step outside to sniff the air, then change into weather-appropriate, colour-co-ordinated, high tech walking gear.

Basically, the gear looks an awful lot like my old scruffy jeans, Merrell low-cut hikers and the toque and coat closest to the front of the closet.

Though I saw hundreds of ducks and geese on the River Thames yesterday, few walkers or hikers used the Terry Fox Pathway on a beautiful afternoon. Too bad, so sad.

Link to Keep Going 37 - Heckuva Walk

Photos GH

Keep Going 33

Blackfriars Turn-About

"The Thames is rising. Grab the kids! Run!"

Don and I walked briskly north on Wharncliffe, past Under the Volcano restaurant at Riverside, turned right a block later and took a side street to Blackfriars Bridge where we did a turn-about for home. I made a pitstop at York LCBO to catch a few goodies for tonight's wild festivities.

"Happy New Year's Eve, Kiddies!" 

Link to Keep Going 32

Photos GH

Keep Going 32

Running an Errand, by Walking

"Yesterday's snow - our first for December - is quickly disappearing"

I find this an easy way to get out the door for a walk: Select an important errand - related to a destination 1 - 2 miles from home - and walk there.

Yesterday's walk, KG32, took me - in part - to London's Downtown Library where I ordered microfilm for several 1943 copies of the Montreal Star. Ordering WW2 articles is motivating work!

Charts and graphs related to my walking goals reveal the following:

     I had 23 walks in 31 days in October
   
     I walked 29 times in 30 days in November
     (I missed three days but doubled up twice)

     I may walk 29 times in 31 days in December if I get
     out today and tomorrow. (Hey, I have more errands!)

I'm at the point in The GREAT Canadian Comeback where I don't want to miss getting out the door each and every day. That's a good point.

Link to Keep Going 31

Photos GH

Keep Going 31

Two Kinds of Workout

"Productive exercise - double duty!"

When Don and I walked this afternoon we faced a brisk wind and the coldest temperature in London for quite some time. Quite the workout, I must say.

Along the way we spotted two metal chairs - well rusted - tossed onto a curb. When we stopped to give them the once-over I had a few thoughts, something like this:

Three hours of sanding metal required. Two to three hours to repaint. New hardware needed. Hmmm... brass nuts and bolts would look good. The wood is teak, I'm pretty sure. Solid. Only one slat looks iffy. Easy to sand on my belt sander. What, ten hours of work total? A good Spring workout!

About ten minutes later, walking into the wind, I decided to return after the workout to scoop up the chairs. And together, Don and I did just that.

A refurb seems like the right thing to do in order to save chairs that could easily last another 34 years - i.e., until I'm 100!!

"A worthwhile 'rescue' in my opinion"

Link to Keep Going 30

Photos GH

Keep Going 30

"I'm Makin' a Splash!"

"Timely message from the Boogie Board"

I didn't say anything to my walking partner about this important fact yesterday - "Hey man, I'm halfway!

I reached the halfway point of Goal 2 (Keep Going for 60 long walks, or, KG60) at about 2:30 yesterday, just in time to celebrate in front of NFL playoff-like games on TV... with one cold beer. (Really, just one. I have to watch my stylish* figure).

"After 30 more brisk walks... then what?"

At this rate I should be thinking about what Goal 3 will be by late January or early Feb.

*stylish - that's if we're talkin' pretty short and fairly sturdy in smokin' blue jeans : )

Link to Keep Going 29

Photos GH (Green Hornet-like)

Keep Going - More Photos

Weekend in Lindsay

"A Bridge Far Away (320Km. from my front door)"

Lindsay is a good 'walk-about' town, with paths beside the river and a few spots that serve as vantage points for photos. If you go there, take walking/running gear.

 "A former railway bridge links a river path with city street"

 "A view south of the railway bridge"

"A pleasant view looking south (almost symmetrical to above)"

Link to Keep Going 28 - More Photos

Photos GH

Keep Going 28 - More Photos

Long Walks Via Greenway Parkway

 "I access a riverside trail via a narrow path under a train trestle"

 "The riverside area west of Wharncliffe was once home to boating"

"While walking I recall 13 marathons I completed. Walking is easy, I say"

Merry Christmas. Maybe I'll see you out walking today (before I sit down to a traditional turkey dinner).

Link to Keep Going 28

Photos GH

Keep Going 28

Very Warm Walking

"My Green Hornet outfit includes a toque, but who needs it?"

I have almost reached the halfway point of my second set of walks - entitled Keep Going 60 (KG60) - and, strangely, though the dates are deeper into December the temperatures are getting warmer! Oh yeah, it's time to reduce our carbon footprint, for certain.

I have two favourite loops that take 1 hour and 15 minutes to travel and they both take me through lovely parks. One loop takes me to Saturn Park and back via the Greenway Parkway, and the other finds me turning around on the Oxford St. bridge between Wharncliffe and Talbot (via Harris Park).

All that is missing is a nice covering of snow!

 "I think the runners should watch out for metal signage!"

"I get a good workout on stairs near Blackfriars Bridge"

Instead of saying, 'let's keep on trucking', I'll switch to 'keep on walking'.

Link to Keep Going - More Photos

Photos GH

Keep Going 25 - More Photos

Lovely Lindsay

"Lock system for Trent-Severn, visible from Lindsay St."

I enjoyed four good walks while in Lindsay last weekend. Because a river - part of the Trent-Severn Waterway - passes through the centre of town, and good pathways have been built, scenic views and healthy walks go hand in hand.

 "I spotted a bridge over the river in an east-end neighbourhood"

 "I look south from the centre of the bridge; trail on left"

"I look north from the centre of the bridge; trail on right"

Easy miles in good weather. Good exercise, for sure.

Link to Keep Going 25

Photos GH

Keep Going 25

A Busy Week

December is likely the busiest month of the year for most people. So, how much of a Steady Eddie can I expect to be with so much to do? Well, I've done pretty well up to this point I can honestly say.

I missed one day of walking - Dec. 18 - because I was on the road, but I made up for it the next day. I completed 'a halfer' on Sunday (1hr., 20min.) instead of the usual long walk but went for another walk with family members the same day, so I think I'm hitting walking goals as good as the next guy.

One goal this month - walk 26 out of 31 days. So far I count 21 walks over 21 days. Why, I should hit KG60 ("Keep Going" for 60 long brisk walks) in 5 - 6 weeks. Not bad, I say.

 "While in Lindsay I walked solo and w twin granddaughters"

 "Scenic walking paths beside the Trent-Severn Waterway in Lindsay"

"When back home I like the Greenway Parkway. Not much traffic!"

Link to Keep Going 18 

Photos GH