Monday, August 29, 2016

LAKE MICHIGAN

During this entire summer, many times I have hiked on the beach of Lake Michigan. I have done this on the Chicago shoreline near my home countless times. I hiked on the Lake Michigan beach at Illinois Beach State Park nearly 50 miles north of my home on the Wisconsin border. I have hiked on the beach at Indiana Dunes State Park in Indiana. All summer long, no matter how hot it was, it never occurred to me to strip down and actually refresh myself in the lake. Well, of course, that is not completely true - it did occur to me - I just didn't do it. Yesterday my wife and child insisted on joining me on my hike. I was hesitant to allow them to hike with me as I did not want to forgo a true hike at my normal workout speed - y'know, the blistering 4.2 mph speed that I can achieve on a flat surface. I relented, they joined me, they kept up, and upon arrival at the beach at Northerly Island, we stopped, as planned, and enjoyed the beach. For the first time this summer, I refreshed myself in Lake Michigan. I am pretty sure that this was the first time all summer that I was out in the sun with my shirt off. I have developed a first rate 'golfer's' tan. I am so used to being out and about on my hikes alone, it was very different to have two people tag along with me. Our hike to the beach was 6 miles. We did not take a direct route, as we circumnavigated Navy Pier as I often do. Our much more direct and leisurely walk home was 4 miles. For me, a ten mile walk is just 'another day in the office.' For my two 'guests' on the hike - it was something that they were not accustomed to accomplishing. I am fairly certain that when I was my daughters age I never took a 10 mile roundtrip walk to anywhere for any reason at any time. In 1970 I was driven to Hebrew School class at Temple Emanuel in Lynbrook, Long Island - and that was only one half mile from my home. Back in those days, us suburban kids were really pampered, and somewhat clueless.

My very first dip in Lake Michigan this summer at Northerly Island Beach. Over the years, my daughter and I used to go to the beach many times during spring and summer. That was when my hobby was lying down on the sand. Turns out lying down on a sandy beach does not burn too many calories.

The BLUE sky and BLUE water are not 'photoshopped'. As we circled around the Shedd Aquarium the weather was simply spectacular.

There might have been a sign here that said 'no climbing' but I didn't see it - and that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Six mile hike to Northerly Island Beach, with a detour at Navy Pier. 4 mph pace.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
Read - Three Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	55
Quaker - Chewy Granola 90 Calories, 4 bar	360	76	8	4	320	28
	660	141	8	9	1,820	83
L U N C H
Cheese Pizza Slice	400	40	16	25	784	4
	400	40	16	25	784	4
D I N N E R
Buttered Cabbage	123	5	12	1	98	3
Grilled Brussel Sprouts	130	26	5	11	46	0
Chicken Inasal	300	0	14	42	620	0
Read - 3 Bean Salad	300	65	0	5	1,500	40
	853	96	31	59	2,264	43
S N A C K S
DRIED MANGO SLICES	110	28	0	2	1	20
DARK CHOCOLATE COCONUT CHEW	135	14	9	1	17	9
GIN GINS ORIGINAL CHEWY GINGER	80	20	0	0	0	20
VANILLA MACAROON GRANOLA	125	19	5	3	30	7
	450	81	14	6	48	56

Totals	2,363	358	69	99	4,916	186
Your Daily Goal	3,655	457	122	183	2,300	137
Remaining	1,292	99	53	84	-2,616	-49
	Calories kcal	Carbs g	Fat g	Protein g	Sodium mg	Sugar g
	*You've earned 1,725 extra calories from exercise today

If every day were like today... You'd weigh 187.3 lbs in 5 weeks

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
6 mile hike (4mph)	91	1,024
2 mile walk	44	312
2 mile walk	25	428


Daily Total / Goal	160 / 30	1,764 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	1191 / 210	14,776 / 4,130

* * * * * * * * * *

clue·less

ˈklo͞oləs'

adjective

informal

having no knowledge, understanding, or ability.

"you're clueless about how to deal with the world"

synonyms: oblivious, unaware, unmindful, insensible, ignorant, unobservant;

pam·per

ˈpampər/

verb

indulge with every attention, comfort, and kindness; spoil.

"famous people just love being pampered"

synonyms: spoil, indulge, overindulge, cosset, mollycoddle, coddle, baby, wait on someone hand and foot

"Trevor's big sister pampered him"

cir·cum·nav·i·gate

ˌsərkəmˈnavəɡāt/
verb

sail all the way around (something, especially the world).
- humorous
  
  go around or across (something).
  
  "he helped her to circumnavigate a frozen puddle"
- avoid dealing with (something difficult or unpleasant).
  
  "they circumnavigated the issue"

Friday, June 3, 2016

INDIANA DUNES

I keep on finding more proof that in my previous lifestyle, I spent way too much time being an inactive person, content to watch TV for hours on end. These days, I can spend a full week in various hotel rooms and never once turn on the TV. This is because during the time that I used to watch TV - I am often out and about doing something far more rewarding. After my late afternoon appointment ended in Chesterton, Indiana, my customer asked where I was headed next. (Customers of mine are always wondering which of their competitors I am going to visit next.) I said I was going to look for a trail and/or visit the local YMCA. She suggested the Indiana Dunes which were less than 10 miles away. It is ridiculous that in the nearly quarter century of living in Chicago, I had never once made the trip to Indiana to visit the dunes. Even my daughter has been to the dunes, coincidentally within the past two weeks on a school trip. I parked at the visitors center outside the National Park and walked about two miles straight to the beach. I still had to pay $2.00 admission fee entering the park on foot. I was told to look for the Dune Ridge Trail (trail 8) as it was considered the most difficult and it included the three highest peaks, which were nearly 200 feet above beach level. When my hike was over, I had traversed 12 miles. I would definitely go back with my family. It was very challenging to walk uphill in sand, as my feet sunk into the sand with each step. A more perfect end to a visit to Indiana Dunes would have one disrobe from one's hiking clothes and refresh in Lake Michigan, and then catch some rays lounging on the beach. That would be a perfect day. Nevertheless, my completely unexpected, unplanned visit yesterday was near perfect.

I parked for free at the Visitors Center outside the park as I was told that this was perfectly OK, but still paid the $2.00 walk in fee

Entrance to Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore

Before climbing up into the dunes, I walked straight to the beach. In the distant background is the small silhouette of Chicago.

Mt. Tom (the summit of the first of three 'peaks' at the dunes

It is odd to the the elevation of something called Mt. Holden be only 184 feet. (I promise you, it took some effort to get up there)

With each step walking up to the top of a dune (on the designated trail) one's foot sinks into the loose sand.

Taken from the rim of what is called a 'blowout' and looking back into the thick woods which grow on the dunes. During my walk, I did see a wild turkey - although I did not snap a photo of it. I guess you will have to take my word that I saw it.

Your Food Diary For:

BREAKFAST	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
Quaker Oats - Instant Oatmeal Apples & Cinnamon	640	132	8	16	800	48
KELLOGGS - RAISIN BRAN	380	92	2	10	420	36
	1,020	224	10	26	1,220	84
L U N C H
Oscar Mayer Lunchables - Turkey & Cheddar With Crackers Withtout Cookies, 1 package (3.2oz)	260	22	13	12	670	5
Nature Valley - Oats 'n Honey, Crunchy Granola Bar	190	29	7	3	180	11
Lunchables - Ham & Cheddar with Crackers, 1 pkg	260	22	13	14	700	5
	710	73	33	29	1,550	21
D I N N E R
Panera - Thai Chicken Broth Bowl, 1 bowl	290	37	6	23	1,320	6
Panera Bread - French Baguette, 5 oz.	360	72	2	8	880	0
Panera - Half Roasted Turkey & Avocado Blt on Sourdough, 1/2 sandwich	260	24	11	16	470	1
Panera - Chips, 1 bag	150	17	8	2	170	1
	1,060	150	27	49	2,840	8
S N A C K S
Grandmas - Mini Sandwich Cremes, 18 cookies	300	44	14	4	190	18
	300	44	14	4	190	18

Totals	3,090	491	84	108	5,800	131
Your Daily Goal	5,059	632	168	253	2,300	189
Remaining	1,969	141	84	145	-3,500	58
	Calories	Carbs	Fat	Protein	Sodium	Sugar
	*You've earned 3,129 extra calories from exercise today

Your Exercise Diary for:

Cardiovascular	Minutes	Calories Burned
Walking	205	1,798
Add Exercise Quick Tools

Daily Total / Goal	205 / 30	1,798 / 590
Weekly Total / Goal	866 / 210	9,825 / 4,130

.

.