HOUSTON (DAY 96)

Friday was a long day.
Woke up at 4:30AM
by 5:00AM on my way to Midway Airport.
7:00AM flight takes off for Houston
Plane lands approximately 9:30AM
Supershuttle drops me off at my hotel around 10:30AM
Amazingly, I was able to check into my room early.
11:00 changed clothes, and hiked 5 miles.
and then rest of the afternoon, a couple of meetings with fabric companies.
Dinner with colleagues.
and finally got to sleep around 11:00AM

ST. JOSEPH RIVER ELKHART DAY 45

Arrived in Elkhart for the second time in as many weeks with about one hour of sunlight left in the day. Immediately changed into some walking clothes and left my hotel. It appeared that I could reach the St Joseph River in downtown Elkhart, so I basically headed that way, crossed a couple of bridges to turn around and when I was done, I had logged a six mile hike.

Meanwhile.... Day 46 of calorie consumption in the neighborhood of 1000 was successful.

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SPELUNKER

It might be a bit of a reach for me to call myself a spelunker, as the cave that I explored yesterday during a hike at Perry Farm Park after my appointment in Bourbonnais, Illinois was only about 20 feet deep, but is's the only cave that I know of within many miles of Chicago, so for me, this is spelunking.

I hiked Perry Farm Park once before and saw this same cave. For yesterday's visit I was prepared with my flashlight and walking stick.  With the illumination from my flashlight I was able to take a proper selfie by balancing the phone on a ledge and using the automatic timer. 

from Merriam-Webster.com

SPELUNKER: one who makes a hobby of exploring, studying caves. 

Spelunker sounds like the noise a pebble makes when you drop it down a deep hole and into dark, hidden water far below. But there's nothing dark or obscure about the etymology of the term. We borrowed "spelunker" from Latin spelunca, which in turn derives from Greek spelynx. When you get to the bottom of things, you find that both the Latin and Greek words mean "cave." Although "spelunker" might sound neat, be careful: some cave-exploring enthusiasts prefer the term "caver."

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, October 10, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Eggs - Poached, 4	300	2	20	26	599	2
C2o - Coconut Water With Pulp	200	52	0	0	300	48
	500	54	20	26	899	50
L U N C H
Baby Spinach	50	8	0	5	0	0
Trader Joe's Water Crackers, 12	180	36	3	6	120	0
	230	44	3	11	930	0
D I N N E R
Weight Watcher's  Cabbage Soup	300	31	1	7	235	17
Pork Italian Style Meatball,  3	320	4	25	19	840	1
	620	35	26	26	1,075	18
S N A C K S
Colby & Monterey Jack cheese	160	0	14	10	260	0
Trader Joe's - Mango O's	250	50	3	6	198	15
	410	50	17	16	458	15
Totals	1,760	183	66	79	3,362	83
Your Daily Goal	3,150	394	105	158	2,300	118
Remaining	1,390	211	39	79	-1,062	35
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,220 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 218.8 lbs in 5 weeks     

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December 20, 2016 was my first visit to this same  cave.  It was a bit colder that day!

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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).

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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 .


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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.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE...

IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have walked as much as I did last week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have accumulated as many steps as I did.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have lost 3 pounds in one week.
IT'S BEEN A WHILE since I have been so confident.

Last week, I walked....92 miles

...17 miles on Saturday
...12 miles on Friday
...16 miles on Thursday
...16 miles on Wednesday
... 7 miles on Tuesday
...11 miles on Monday
...13 miles on Sunday

Last week, my total steps as recorded by my fitbit 229,176
The last time, I stepped so much was the week that ended November 26, 2016 when I hit 231,085.

I do not aspire to walk this much all the time. There were weeks during the past summer where my urban hiking was zero. Somehow, I had lost my desire to traipse through Chicago neighborhoods seeking some level of fitness. I am glad that I have recaptured the desire in recent weeks. Walking is good exercise, it contributes very little when it comes to weight loss, but it sure doesn't hurt.

Compared to some of my more recent jaunts, my hike on Sunday was a low key affair. It was just 7.5 miles. This particular urban hike was with my 15 year old daughter, and I always enjoy when she joins me.

Your Food Diary For:

Sunday, September 24, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Quaker Oats instant grits - Instant Grits, 4 package	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
	400	88	6	8	1,240	0
L U N C H
Little Salad Bar - Asian Chopped Salad	385	46	21	7	1,190	25
365 Organic - Water Crackers, 4 crackers	70	12	2	1	50	0
Here - Beetroot dip, 2 oz	70	12	2	4	230	0
Vita Coco - 100% Pure Coconut Water	240	60	0	0	148	60
	765	130	25	12	1,618	85
D I N N E R
Hot Dog with Bun, 2	600	45	37	21	1,640	6
	600	45	37	21	1,640	6
S N A C K S
Whole Foods Wasabi Rice Crackers	250	52	3	4	177	0
	250	52	3	4	177	0
Totals	2,015	315	71	45	4,675	91
Your Daily Goal	3,042	380	101	153	2,300	114
Remaining	1,027	65	30	108	-2,375	23
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,112 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 227.3 lbs in 5 weeks 

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TAKE ME TO THE RIVER

Sometimes I start my urban hikes with no plan whatsoever, and I go wherever the wind blows me. Yesterday, I actually had a rudimentary plan when I began. I wanted my hike to take me to the river'. I wanted to shadow the Chicago River through as much of downtown as I could.  Then I wanted to get onto Roosevelt Road and head east towards the Museum Campus and Northerly Island. I knew that if my urban hike began this way I was going to pack on some miles. Indeed I did just that. When I finally arrived home, a bit more than four hours after I set out, I had travelled 17 miles. This was my longest hike since January 4th, more than eight months ago. Seventeen mile hikes are not something I aspire to do every day, but when the legs are willing and time permits and the weather is perfect... well sometimes seventeen miles hikes just happen.

This is the view of Chicago looking north from Northerly Island (which is south of the City)

I found this mural as I went under the pedestrian bridge that leads to  the Museum Campus (and Soldier Field)

I have always liked this spherical stone sculpture that stands guard near Soldier Field

Normally, I am not a fan of graffiti, but I will make an exception for this  display of patriotism found off the beaten path at Northerly Island. This painted concrete is normally only visible to passing boats.

This view is from the walkway that circles the Adler Planetarium.

Here is something that you don't see every day. This giant head is part of the 'Floating Museum' that was set up at Navy Pier during the summer.

Your Food Diary For:

Thursday, September 14, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Egg - Poached Eggs	300	2	20	25	629	1
Quaker Oats instant grits	200	44	3	4	620	0
	500	46	23	29	1,249	1
L U N C H
Kikka Spicy Tuna Avocado Roll	500	81	13	16	1,364	11
	500	81	13	16	1,364	11
D I N N E R
Campbell's Chunky - Manhattan Clam Chowder	240	36	6	10	1,600	6
Johnsonville Smoked Turkey Sausage	240	8	12	20	1,480	4
	480	44	18	30	3,080	10
S N A C K S
Roundy's Oats & More With Honey Almonds	520	104	8	12	600	24
	520	104	8	12	600	24
Totals	2,000	275	62	87	6,293	46
Your Daily Goal	4,509	563	150	226	2,300	169
Remaining	2,509	288	88	139	-3,993	123
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 2,579 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today...   You'd weigh 217.7 lbs in 5 weeks     

Chicago has changed over the years, but the river has always been there.

I WENT TO HAMILTON

Yesterday I went to Hamilton. No, not the play. I went to Hamilton, Ohio. I visited a customer in this Cincinnati suburb and after my afternoon appointment finished, I took a hike which began along the Great Miami River. When my hike was completed, I had logged 10 miles.

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Your Food Diary For:

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Turkey and cheese 1 sandwich	310	37	10	19	1,320	6
Detour - Lean Muscle Bar, 1 bar	370	33	12	32	460	3
	680	70	22	51	1,780	9
L U N C H
Premo King Club Footlong - Foot Long	560	74	14	32	1,960	6
	560	74	14	32	1,960	6
D I N N E R
Sushi - Spicy Salmon Roll	660	124	9	24	1,840	30
	660	124	9	24	1,840	30
S N A C K S
Hersheys - Dark Chocalate Bar, 1 bar	190	25	12	2	15	21
Fit Crunch Protein Bar - Cookies and Cream	380	27	16	30	490	6
	570	52	28	32	505	27
Totals	2,470	320	73	139	6,085	72
Your Daily Goal	3,623	453	120	182	2,300	135
Remaining	1,153	133	47	43	-3,785	63
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,693 extra calories from exercise today

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       Your Exercise Diary for:

Tuesday, April 25, 2017

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
10 mile suburban hike	153	1,693
Daily Total / Goal	153 / 30	1,693 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	155 / 210	1,811 / 4,130