WRIGLEY FIELD

Me and my girl took a nine mile walk on Sunday... It is getting harder and harder to remember what day it  is when everyday is pretty much the same... Wake up, do not work, amuse oneself doing something, go to sleep, Wake up next day, repeat

.

LEWIS AND CLARK AND MARC

I woke up in a Howard Johnson's in Springfield, Illinois. I pointed my car south for the two hour trip to St. Louis, Missouri for two appointments. I took a five minute break during the day to eat a Subway sandwich. During my visit my yarn shop customer, I had told one of the employees that I was looking for a good place to hike in the afternoon. It turned out this this woman was well aware of one of the best and most rigorous hikes in the area. She suggested that I take the 'Lewis and Clark' trail in Weldon Springs which was only about 20 miles west of St. Louis. What a great, rigorous amazing hike I had. 

I did pass exactly one other human being on this trail. This photo was taken with my 10 second timer.

When I arrived at the trailhead I was faced with two choices, I could take the short loop trail, the Clark Trail which was listed as 5.3 miles with a notice advising that this hike would take 3 hours.  The signpost directly under this sign announced the Clark Trail which was 8.2 miles which would take 5 hours. 

I did not have five hours of daylight left or anything close to that amount of time. But I did think that perhaps I might be a faster hiker than the average hiker. I started out prepared to only hike 5 miles, but hopeful that I would be able to hike the entire 8 mile loop. As it turned out, I am apparently a bit faster than the average hiker who approaches this trailhead. I completed the 8 mile loop trail in 2 hours, 18 minutes. Admittedly, I didn't stick around too long in any one spot to enjoy the few stunning views and/or rest. My agenda was to complete the 8 mile loop long before darkness set it. I was successful.

Missouri River which was mostly hidden during the hike 

This description was directly lifted from alltrails.com

Lewis and Clark Trail - Lewis Trail is an 8.2 mile moderately trafficked loop trail located near St Charles, Missouri that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is best used from March until November. 

Stunning views of the Missouri River Bluffs, Best hike in Metro Area 

This is the most scenic hike in the Metro St. Louis Area. Three sections of the trail pass by limestone cliffs and bluff escarpments where hikers enjoy a beautiful view of the Missouri River. These sections require you to take a short spur off of the main trail. The bluffs are usually about 25 yards from the main trail. These sections come up in the first 2 miles of the hike. Moderately strenuous for Missouri hiking. One possible, yet easy, creek crossing in wet weather. Be sure, at the creek crossing, to take the fork that heads NORTH or else you will be doing the full 8.2 mile loop (Lewis Trail).

.

Your Food Diary For:

Wednesday, October 4, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal- Maple	480	96	6	12	780	36
	480	96	6	12	780	36
L U N C H
Subway - Turkey Breast Foot Long	560	92	7	36	0	14
Harvest Bay - Coconut Water	160	40	0	0	400	24
	720	132	7	36	400	38
D I N N E R
Bento Nouveau Sushi - Spicy Salmon Roll	560	77	20	19	750	13
Navel Orange	75	19	0	1	2	13
Red Delicious Apple	95	25	0	1	2	19
	730	121	20	21	754	45
Totals	1,930	349	33	69	1,934	119
Your Daily Goal	2,931	366	97	147	2,300	110
Remaining	1,001	17	64	78	366	-9
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,001 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 227.1 lbs in 5 weeks .


.

I have taken urban hikes in Chicago, walked 10, 12, 15 miles around town, and when I return home by total 'floors' as reported by the fitbit can be less than 5. My hike on the Lewis and Clark trail, ended at precisely 100 floors. That day, two years ago, when I hiked Half-Dome in Yosemite, and climbed about 4800 feet to the summit - my total 'floors' that day were 'only' 563 - and that was from a dawn to dusk hike. Yesterday's hike was very rigorous for a hike just 20 miles away from downtown St. Louis that was completed in less than two hours, twenty minutes.

SWEET 16

Yesterday was my daughter's 'sweet 16.'  She is not quite yet fifteen years old. It was her 'sweet 16' because she joined me in an urban hike that was not concluded until we had trekked 16 miles. 

We did not set out to walk quite so much. My daughter continues to surprise me. She likes to join me in my urban hikes and I like to have her around. I get plenty of practice walking alone, so it is nice to be walking with someone else. Yesterday, it was her idea to walk over to a place called 'Stan's Donuts,' which is about two miles north of our home. This is that part of the recounting of this urban hike which I am pleased to report, because someday she will re-read this blog and be even more amazed. It was my daughter's idea to first walk downtown three miles and then hike back up north three more miles (more or less to return to where we started) and then finally to walk the two miles to 'Stan's Donuts.' This is precisely what we did. We eventually met my wife at Mariano's Market where we all had a meal together. Still we were not done. We walked home from Mariano's. When this urban hike was completed, we had travelled 16 miles throughout the city. That was a 'sweet 16' indeed. 

.

.

This girl, nearly 15, during her 'sweet 16.'

.

Your Food Diary For:

Friday, December 30, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker - Instant Oatmeal- Maple, 5 packet	800	160	10	20	1,300	60
	800	160	10	20	1,300	60
L U N C H
Kirkland - Pre-Cooked Bacon	240	0	18	18	1,050	0
Cod With Lemon	250	3	6	43	501	0
Fried Shrimp	100	4	0	42	0	0
Butternut Squash	50	12	0	1	0	2
Creamed Corn	100	5	9	1	15	3
	740	24	33	105	1,566	5
D I N N E R
Sushi - Salmon Avocado 1 Roll	400	55	11	17	0	0
	400	55	11	17	0	0
S N A C K S
Crunchy - Oats 'n Honey	190	29	7	3	180	11
Dark Cocoa Melting Wafers	500	55	30	7	102	48
	690	84	37	10	282	59
Totals	2,630	323	91	152	3,148	124
Your Daily Goal	4,279	535	142	214	2,300	160
Remaining	1,649	212	51	62	-848	36
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,349 extra calories from exercise today

.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Friday, December 30, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
16 MILE URBAN HIKE	249	2,657
Daily Total / Goal	249 / 30	2,657 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	876 / 210	9,514 / 4,130

.

The way that I have been (over)eating lately... I should be damned glad that my weight on Saturday morning was 'only' 240.2 lbs. I have definitely been going in the wrong direction lately and I know that I will likely overeat fondue prepared at home this evening. I guess like everyone else in America, I will be making a New Year's Resolution for 2017. Start eating better (again) like I did when I first started on December 24, 2014 when I weighed 309 lbs. 

WRIGLEY FIELD

Perhaps you have heard about all the emotional tributes written in colorful chalk on the bricks that are on the outside of Wrigley Field. Apparently this is a new tradition. On Sunday morning, I walked over to Wrigley Field as I wanted a photo of myself in front of the World Champions Marquee sign in front of the building. The most popular spot to take a photo in front of the chalk messages was the photo that I am posting below. WE DID NOT SUCK 2016. Perhaps not the most inspiring message ever written, but for Cubs fans, it seemed to resonate with a lot of people. There must have been at least 3000 people milling about the stadium on Sunday morning, doing precisely what I was doing, taking photographs.

.
The walk to Wrigley Field from my home is just under 4 miles. My urban hikes tend to be closer to ten miles when the time permits and the weather is cooperative. Sunday morning, was such a day. The extra hour of sleep allowed for an early start after lounging around a bit in the morning. By the time my Wrigley Field urban hike was completed, I had logged 13 miles. Always an excellent way to start a day.

.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, November 6, 2016

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Special K - Vanilla Almond	660	150	9	12	1,020	54
Califia Farms - Coconut – Almond Milk	225	5	20	5	850	0
	885	155	29	17	1,870	54
L U N C H
Volpi - Mozzarella and Prosciutto Roltini	360	3	24	36	2,370	0
Okami - California Roll Sushi	560	108	8	8	1,680	20
Kirkland - Organic Roasted Seaweed Snack	200	10	15	10	400	0
	1,120	121	47	54	4,450	20
D I N N E R
Kirkland Meatloaf With Mashed Potatoes	600	44	34	30	1,400	10
	600	44	34	30	1,400	10
S N A C K S
M&M's - Crispy - 1 package	180	28	7	2	55	22
Costco - Chocolate Cake	500	70	33	7	522	44
	680	98	40	9	577	66
Totals	3,285	418	150	110	8,297	150
Your Daily Goal	4,446	556	148	223	2,300	166
Remaining	1,161	138	-2	113	-5,997	16
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,516 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 199.5 lbs in 5 weeks .
.

       Your Exercise Diary for:

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
13 MILE URBAN HIKE	175	2,480
Daily Total / Goal	175 / 30	2,480 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1011 / 210	16,285 / 4,130

.


.



from chicago.cbslocal.com

Cubs Fans Begin New Tradition Writing Emotional Tribute Messages On Wrigley Wall

October 31, 2016 4:53 PM By Vince Gerasole

.

CHICAGO (CBS) —  A new tradition is underway at Wrigley Field. Normally, in front of the ballpark at the Clark and Addison intersection, you’ll see fans screaming, “Go Cubs!” But on the other side of the ballpark, a quieter and unexpectedly emotional tribute to the Cubs is taking form. Letter by letter and brick by brick, with colored chalk, fans are leaving their mark. “I am putting ‘finish strong’ because that’s what needs to happen,” resident Eric Pitts says.“I am dedicating it to all my grandparents,” Edgewater resident Sam Barnes says. “I am trying not to chock up, honestly, because I remember growing up watching the games with them. “It’s impressive. It just happened naturally,” Pitts says of the new tradition. Now overnight, the Sheffield [and Waveland] side of Wrigley has turned into one emotional place. “Baseball and family. That’s what it’s all about,” Pitts said. And more often than not, it’s what they’re writing about.“We got a ‘Bobbo’ here with hearts and arrows,” fan and West Dundee resident Julie Spindler says. The Korean War kept her dad from playing with the Cubs. “I just know he’s here,” she says. Beside a brick wall, she feels his embrace. The love and the energy coming from the building; it’s not just the wall it’s the building. And somehow, in spite of all the celebrations, a quiet side of Wrigley, Monday, is speaking volumes.“If these walls could talk and now they kind of sort of are,” one fan says.The wall is growing at such a spontaneous pace that the Cubs tell us they haven’t had a chance to take it all in yet. But you can if you take a stroll down Sheffield [or Waveland].
.

.