There were 17 people counting Eric and Adam, our leaders's son and grandson. Eric carried Adam in a baby backpack. It was cute watching our leader feed little bits of Oreo cookies to Adam to keep him happy. He was a very good 13 month old baby and got to run around at lunch. He liked when I played peek-a-boo with him, taking my mask off and on. Our leader had to cut the hike short because her toe was giving her pain. The hike was advertised as 7 miles but only turned out to be 3 miles. We got back to the East Fork TH at 12:30pm - early - just as rain began.
This hike begins at the Roland Pettit Trail but quickly goes west up the hill and over the ridge north of Las Conchas Picnic Area and then goes down to the official East Fork Trail. We took the abbreviated version of hike #74 in our leaders's book. We had to cross the East Fork twice. The leaders said the crossings would be easy because the water was low but it must have rained since they checked because I had to take my shoes and socks off for the first crossing although others said they found a log to cross on further downstream. The second crossing was easy - rock-hopped across. I see that a bridge is being built to replace the last old, rickety bridge - yippee!
I felt lonely after the hike. Maybe it was because it was so short and the group seemed to be speed-walking, except for our leader - Doris stayed back with her - and I didn't feel I connected with anyone in the short time frame. The after-hike social time was cut short because of the rain.
Afterwards, I drove up to the Ocean and hiked little beyond Paintball Road. I did some stretches back at the Ocean. I think there are ghosts on the Camp May Road Route because I felt even lonelier hanging out at the Ocean! It looked dark and I could see lightning and hear thunder but it never rained while I was there.
I would like to know the difference between White Mountain Ragweed and Wild Cosmos. I thought sure that Dorothy had called White Mountain Ragweed what Doris called Wild Cosmos today. I'll check with Dorothy. I'm sure that Doris is correct but perhaps the other name is correct too.
I'll do email tomorrow as that will be good to do when the pruners are here.
I discovered last night that our kitchen sink trap has a slow leak. I'll call Waller's one day.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Kwage Mesa Trail and Engineering Marvels
Although I saw no mad dogs or Englishmen on this trail this afternoon, it was hot enough! Clouds were building over Pajarito and I thought "Hot dog - it would be fun to go to Kwage Mesa and watch the clouds build over the Sangres and the Jemez and maybe it would get overcast and cool off - WRONG! Clouds built but they didn't do anything and the trail was sunny and dry but I had it all to myself as no one else was so stupid! I went on the trail to the right of the dressage arena instead of the old road to the left of the dressage area that I usually take. The official Kwage (also called North or Horse Mesa) Mesa Trail winds and winds across the mesa and seems longer than the 1.4 miles that Craig Martin says it is. The only living beings I saw were large raptors flying around, waiting for something to die.
Walking along, I had views to the south of Los Alamos Mesa and the Los Alamos Airport. The cap on the old dump on the side of Los Alamos Mesa, at the south edge of the airport, looks like a dam with the earth above the cap shaped like a funnel. I need an engineer to explain that one to me. If you cap an old dump, why would you build an earthern funnel above the cap? Maybe I could figure out things if I had brought my binoculars.
I could also see that work has begun on the Airport Basin site. It's between De Colores and the Industrial Park on Los Alamos's Main Hill Road and the site is on the steep south side of the mesa and is above some breathtakingly steep cliffs on Los Alamos Mesa that plunge straight down to Pueblo Canyon.
I also wanted to take a gander at the road work on Diamond-Conoco Hill. It looked exciting but it still looks like piles of rubble to me. Pity the homeowners in that area. I didn't realize that Volvo makes excavators but there it was shoveling dirt with Volvo emblazoned on its rotating cab.
Walking along, I had views to the south of Los Alamos Mesa and the Los Alamos Airport. The cap on the old dump on the side of Los Alamos Mesa, at the south edge of the airport, looks like a dam with the earth above the cap shaped like a funnel. I need an engineer to explain that one to me. If you cap an old dump, why would you build an earthern funnel above the cap? Maybe I could figure out things if I had brought my binoculars.
I could also see that work has begun on the Airport Basin site. It's between De Colores and the Industrial Park on Los Alamos's Main Hill Road and the site is on the steep south side of the mesa and is above some breathtakingly steep cliffs on Los Alamos Mesa that plunge straight down to Pueblo Canyon.
I also wanted to take a gander at the road work on Diamond-Conoco Hill. It looked exciting but it still looks like piles of rubble to me. Pity the homeowners in that area. I didn't realize that Volvo makes excavators but there it was shoveling dirt with Volvo emblazoned on its rotating cab.
LA Roofing: Not Above Reproach?
I tend to think that LA Roofing exaggerated the need for our roof to be replaced. So far two different people have told me that even in the case where narrow crown staples (better to use broad crown staples or nails) have worked their way up to the top of the shingle, the asphalt shingles are self-sealing and will, in effect, seal any penetration caused by the staples. The roof is only 13 years old and not every staple is showing. There are some diagonal lines of staples showing on the roof. I stood on the ladder while LA Roofing was here and even commented to them that I could see large numbers of shingles that did not have the tell-tale black line of the staple head. The owner also acted like that was what was causing the leak around the furnace exhaust vent and that it was imperative to replace the roof ASAP. When I asked when I might have a problem if I didn't, he gave no further elucidation. I think the reason he lit up a cigarette and smoked in my face, without asking if I minded, is that he's stressed when he tries to convince a potential customer that 1+1=3!!
Monday, July 14, 2008
West Rim Above La Cueva
Dave and Faye didn't show up. I realized too late that they don't have a computer at home and wouldn't receive Dorothy's emails regarding today's explore. Dorothy will call them to apologize.
We went in a very short distance on FR376 South and turned left on an unmarked road that led to an area where people camp above La Cueva where we parked. Actually, two other cars were there when we got back a little after 3pm. One drove out before we did and the other looked like it was staying. We also saw some campers near the intersection of FR604 and FR376 on our way back.
After lunch above Wildcat Canyon, we headed back, planning to go back the way we came which included going up and over a tall hill but a thunderstorm intervened. Instead, we walked down FR604 to FR376 and eventually cut over to where Dorothy's car was parked. The rain was coming heavy for a while but Dorothy and I both broke out our golf umbrellas and were happy. Happy also were we that the thunder and lightning were not directly overhead and we were off the rim. But, I've gotten way ahead of myself.
The rim above La Cueva is beautiful with views of La Cueva, San Antonio Mountain, Redondo, Redondo Border, etc., and all the way to Los Griegos, Pelado, and Las Conchas. We saw several trees along the rim that had been split by lightning so I highly doubt the SFNF is going to make an official trail right along the edge. The view down to the tent rocks was stupendous and I wonder how the forest service managed to let that beautiful natural wonder become private property. There's a big house right at the base of the tent rocks. After we got off the rim and intersected FR604, we walked up a hill from the road and found a fence signed Posted No Trespassing Keep Out. Then we came to a fence corner and another fence continued at a diagonal to the posted one but maybe the private property didn't even though there was one more posted sign on the diagonal fence.
We encountered several more fences and gates and they were all in excellent condition and hard to crack. One gate, we had to take apart at the opposite end because the part with the wire latch was so wedged into the gate post because they used barbed rather than barbless wire for the latch. Another fence, I had to untwist wire so we could pull the two strands apart to get under it. A vexing day for fences but I will come armed with the red pliers next time!
I was looking at the topo map this evening and I really don't see how Dorothy will scale the cliffs down to Battleship Rock but we will have a good time exploring.
Sunday, spouse and I went to the Hotrock Rim Trail because he wanted to hike there. It was cool and overcast but later turned sunny but not as warm as it can be. We walked to Pajarito Canyon and on the way back, took the side trip on the bench beneath the rim trail. That's a lovely area. I think it would be interesting to get into WR Canyon via that bench trail.
We went in a very short distance on FR376 South and turned left on an unmarked road that led to an area where people camp above La Cueva where we parked. Actually, two other cars were there when we got back a little after 3pm. One drove out before we did and the other looked like it was staying. We also saw some campers near the intersection of FR604 and FR376 on our way back.
After lunch above Wildcat Canyon, we headed back, planning to go back the way we came which included going up and over a tall hill but a thunderstorm intervened. Instead, we walked down FR604 to FR376 and eventually cut over to where Dorothy's car was parked. The rain was coming heavy for a while but Dorothy and I both broke out our golf umbrellas and were happy. Happy also were we that the thunder and lightning were not directly overhead and we were off the rim. But, I've gotten way ahead of myself.
The rim above La Cueva is beautiful with views of La Cueva, San Antonio Mountain, Redondo, Redondo Border, etc., and all the way to Los Griegos, Pelado, and Las Conchas. We saw several trees along the rim that had been split by lightning so I highly doubt the SFNF is going to make an official trail right along the edge. The view down to the tent rocks was stupendous and I wonder how the forest service managed to let that beautiful natural wonder become private property. There's a big house right at the base of the tent rocks. After we got off the rim and intersected FR604, we walked up a hill from the road and found a fence signed Posted No Trespassing Keep Out. Then we came to a fence corner and another fence continued at a diagonal to the posted one but maybe the private property didn't even though there was one more posted sign on the diagonal fence.
We encountered several more fences and gates and they were all in excellent condition and hard to crack. One gate, we had to take apart at the opposite end because the part with the wire latch was so wedged into the gate post because they used barbed rather than barbless wire for the latch. Another fence, I had to untwist wire so we could pull the two strands apart to get under it. A vexing day for fences but I will come armed with the red pliers next time!
I was looking at the topo map this evening and I really don't see how Dorothy will scale the cliffs down to Battleship Rock but we will have a good time exploring.
Sunday, spouse and I went to the Hotrock Rim Trail because he wanted to hike there. It was cool and overcast but later turned sunny but not as warm as it can be. We walked to Pajarito Canyon and on the way back, took the side trip on the bench beneath the rim trail. That's a lovely area. I think it would be interesting to get into WR Canyon via that bench trail.
Friday, July 11, 2008
A Mish Mosh of a Day and Blog
I started off the day feeling somewhat lonely and depressed but managed to dissipate the entire day. My bladder woke me at 7am when I wanted to sleep in. Then, after breakfast, I started feeling sorry for myself and wished that I had set my alarm for 6am to go with the BESC hiking group just to have some company! Here's how I managed:
Went to talk to John across the street to ask if Olivas Tree Service told him one price and then charged another higher one when the job was finished as that's how Western Trees always did to me. Nope - Olivas stuck to the price he had quoted John. Olivas will prune our ash, mugo pines, and cherry tree on this coming Thursday morning. He did a good job on John and Ginny's humongous willow tree.
I spoke to Joe at the LAC Building Permit office. He suggested that I get several more opinions before I replace the roof based on what LA Roofing told me. He also said that it's possible that since asphalt shingles are self-sealing that they may seal around the staple tops. He mentioned names of three local roofers - George Roofing (George Vigil), Richard's Roofing (Richard Martinez), and David Espinoza Roofing. He said that David Espinoza hand nails all the roofs instead of using staples. I called Espinoza, not even mentioning the staples and asked him to come out to look at the furnace vent pipe leak. He sounded a bit impatient but said he'll come next Tuesday at 10am. He only has a BB rating with BBB of NM. Perhaps I should check again what ABC Roofing Specialist's rating is. Richard's Roofing had an AA, I think. I want a condo!!
Then I went to MPL and trolled the free stuff in the lobby and looked in the bookstore. I was hoping the interlibrary book called something like the Good Foot book would be in but it wasn't. Then I went to WR to the MPL branch there and trolled the freebie box there and afterwards went to the Jemez House Thrift Shop where I bought for one whole buck some exercise videos that I'll preview tonight on fast forward while I kegel. Then, since it seemed cooler and somewhat overcast, I decided to walk the Hotrock Rim Trail, still feeling sorry for myself. I think I need to reserve an old pair of shoes just special for walking that lava trail. Instead, I used a mostly brand new pair of Merrell's from REI. BTW, REI in SF now won't open until the end of September.
Then home and waded through email on the computer, made some phone calls. Daughter called to ask if she could bring grandson over while she jogged so I made the pizza (easy - pizza shell, canned spag sauce, bags of shredded cheese) for grandson and spouse. After supper, spouse took grandson to Baskin Robbins. I cooked up bunch of beet tops that daughter had given me. She bought a lot of red beets to make borscht for a dinner she's going to tonight. While I was trying to get my supper underway, I heard trapped bird sounds from the woodstove. The poor thing was scratching and practically squeaking and whimpering to get out so I closed up everything and opened the front door. Man, that little birdie flew out to that beautiful light and freedom as soon as I opened the woodstove door and then sat on my car for a moment, collecting itself.
OK, after all that humaneness to the bird, well it does not apply to the squirrels that are burrowing under our back porch slab!! John told me that Go Die Gopher has styrychnine in it and he's used it for gophers but found a dead squirrel instead. I didn't need to think twice and went to Metzger's this morning to buy some. When I opened the back patio door, there was a squirrel that popped into a hole under our back porch. After supper, I left him a little treat. I hope I don't burn in Hades for killing squirrels but I already have dead gophers on my conscience so what's another squirrel? I tore out the sunflowers in the rocks to cut off the food supply so as not to attract them. God bless the soul of that poor defenseless squirrel but I like them much better in the forest. I'm afraid that when their family gets to big for under the porch slab, they'll move into the crawl space. The awful thing is that grandson loves squirrels!!
Aren't you sorry you asked about my day??? : )
Went to talk to John across the street to ask if Olivas Tree Service told him one price and then charged another higher one when the job was finished as that's how Western Trees always did to me. Nope - Olivas stuck to the price he had quoted John. Olivas will prune our ash, mugo pines, and cherry tree on this coming Thursday morning. He did a good job on John and Ginny's humongous willow tree.
I spoke to Joe at the LAC Building Permit office. He suggested that I get several more opinions before I replace the roof based on what LA Roofing told me. He also said that it's possible that since asphalt shingles are self-sealing that they may seal around the staple tops. He mentioned names of three local roofers - George Roofing (George Vigil), Richard's Roofing (Richard Martinez), and David Espinoza Roofing. He said that David Espinoza hand nails all the roofs instead of using staples. I called Espinoza, not even mentioning the staples and asked him to come out to look at the furnace vent pipe leak. He sounded a bit impatient but said he'll come next Tuesday at 10am. He only has a BB rating with BBB of NM. Perhaps I should check again what ABC Roofing Specialist's rating is. Richard's Roofing had an AA, I think. I want a condo!!
Then I went to MPL and trolled the free stuff in the lobby and looked in the bookstore. I was hoping the interlibrary book called something like the Good Foot book would be in but it wasn't. Then I went to WR to the MPL branch there and trolled the freebie box there and afterwards went to the Jemez House Thrift Shop where I bought for one whole buck some exercise videos that I'll preview tonight on fast forward while I kegel. Then, since it seemed cooler and somewhat overcast, I decided to walk the Hotrock Rim Trail, still feeling sorry for myself. I think I need to reserve an old pair of shoes just special for walking that lava trail. Instead, I used a mostly brand new pair of Merrell's from REI. BTW, REI in SF now won't open until the end of September.
Then home and waded through email on the computer, made some phone calls. Daughter called to ask if she could bring grandson over while she jogged so I made the pizza (easy - pizza shell, canned spag sauce, bags of shredded cheese) for grandson and spouse. After supper, spouse took grandson to Baskin Robbins. I cooked up bunch of beet tops that daughter had given me. She bought a lot of red beets to make borscht for a dinner she's going to tonight. While I was trying to get my supper underway, I heard trapped bird sounds from the woodstove. The poor thing was scratching and practically squeaking and whimpering to get out so I closed up everything and opened the front door. Man, that little birdie flew out to that beautiful light and freedom as soon as I opened the woodstove door and then sat on my car for a moment, collecting itself.
OK, after all that humaneness to the bird, well it does not apply to the squirrels that are burrowing under our back porch slab!! John told me that Go Die Gopher has styrychnine in it and he's used it for gophers but found a dead squirrel instead. I didn't need to think twice and went to Metzger's this morning to buy some. When I opened the back patio door, there was a squirrel that popped into a hole under our back porch. After supper, I left him a little treat. I hope I don't burn in Hades for killing squirrels but I already have dead gophers on my conscience so what's another squirrel? I tore out the sunflowers in the rocks to cut off the food supply so as not to attract them. God bless the soul of that poor defenseless squirrel but I like them much better in the forest. I'm afraid that when their family gets to big for under the porch slab, they'll move into the crawl space. The awful thing is that grandson loves squirrels!!
Aren't you sorry you asked about my day??? : )
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Las Conchas Peak
The Las Conchas Peak hike went well Monday. David wasn't impressed with the route up. All along he had wanted to go up from Peralta Road up a pass. I must admit that watching everyone pick their way up the rocky south side of Las Conchas and burying themselves in the shrubs to do it, made me realize that David was right but I wasn't familiar with any other way.
Everyone seemed to like the views from on top but the caldera views were probably somewhat disappointing to Dorothy. I had forgotten how blocked toward Redondo the top of Las Conchas is. The best views of Redondo were from the next peak to the south - Hermit Thrush Peak.
After lunch, David wanted to go down a different way and no one protested! He went down from the northeast corner of the mountain and it was a very good way down - not too steep. He built some small rock cairns as we went down and we built another brush cairn when we intersected the Peralta-Paliza Trail.
When we got back to the Peralta-Paliza Trail, Dorothy suggested that we shortcut the trail by going downhill to another section of the trail and we all agreed. However, Dorothy wasn't paying complete attention because we kept asking her to identify this and that flower so we ended up going down to Peralta Road. Basically, I think that Faye and David both wanted to go down the shortest way and they would head off and we all mindlessly followed. I marked where we came out on the road with a stone cairn. I'd like to try to go to Las Conchas again from that point and going up the way we came down on this past Monday. I think that David and Faye are excellent mountaineers.
Annette walked back with me to my car parked at the bottom of Peralta Road. We walked out through Corral Canyon but cut up the hill, before NM4, to go east along an old road that went alongside the private property. The road intersected the Peralta Road fairly close to my car and we walked back on the road.
Today I mailed off the Roadrunner Sports shoes for a refund. I also mailed 3" of our toaster oven plug to get a new one under warranty as it had began working only intermittently. It was only 7 months old and a Black and Decker model.
I walked in the woods alongside Camp May Road for the first time in a long time. It was in surprisingly good condition as far as trash. I had decided anyway that I'd be ignoring trash except on a yearly basis. Someone knocked down a few of the rock cairns in the area near Paint Ball Road. I had forgotten how hard it is to pull myself up Guardrail Hill! I'm out of practice!!
Tomorrow I hike with the WI. They'll go to the East Fork Area but the one further west with the pit toilets, I think. Annette emailed me where they are going but if I want to get on the email list, I have to ask Ginny Bell.
Everyone seemed to like the views from on top but the caldera views were probably somewhat disappointing to Dorothy. I had forgotten how blocked toward Redondo the top of Las Conchas is. The best views of Redondo were from the next peak to the south - Hermit Thrush Peak.
After lunch, David wanted to go down a different way and no one protested! He went down from the northeast corner of the mountain and it was a very good way down - not too steep. He built some small rock cairns as we went down and we built another brush cairn when we intersected the Peralta-Paliza Trail.
When we got back to the Peralta-Paliza Trail, Dorothy suggested that we shortcut the trail by going downhill to another section of the trail and we all agreed. However, Dorothy wasn't paying complete attention because we kept asking her to identify this and that flower so we ended up going down to Peralta Road. Basically, I think that Faye and David both wanted to go down the shortest way and they would head off and we all mindlessly followed. I marked where we came out on the road with a stone cairn. I'd like to try to go to Las Conchas again from that point and going up the way we came down on this past Monday. I think that David and Faye are excellent mountaineers.
Annette walked back with me to my car parked at the bottom of Peralta Road. We walked out through Corral Canyon but cut up the hill, before NM4, to go east along an old road that went alongside the private property. The road intersected the Peralta Road fairly close to my car and we walked back on the road.
Today I mailed off the Roadrunner Sports shoes for a refund. I also mailed 3" of our toaster oven plug to get a new one under warranty as it had began working only intermittently. It was only 7 months old and a Black and Decker model.
I walked in the woods alongside Camp May Road for the first time in a long time. It was in surprisingly good condition as far as trash. I had decided anyway that I'd be ignoring trash except on a yearly basis. Someone knocked down a few of the rock cairns in the area near Paint Ball Road. I had forgotten how hard it is to pull myself up Guardrail Hill! I'm out of practice!!
Tomorrow I hike with the WI. They'll go to the East Fork Area but the one further west with the pit toilets, I think. Annette emailed me where they are going but if I want to get on the email list, I have to ask Ginny Bell.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
July 4th Daze
Recap:
Thursday - Went to Santa Fe. Spouse went to Pearle Vision to have reading glasses remade a second time. Shopped Vitamin Cottage. Made return at Borders and bought new Rodney Yee dvd - A.M. Yoga for Your Week. Was only $10. Did one segment so far and it's good. Has 5 twenty minute segments.
Friday - Got up 6am to go to BESC hiking group which leaves at 8:05am but no one was there. Probably they took July 4th off. We went to Apache Springs and hiked to edge of Frijoles Canyon and back. Saw couple hiking with dog but it was a nice dog. Maybe they were the Utah SUV and didn't want to leave dog in car. Saw a family with child younger than grandson and also a couple. It was good to get an early start. Can't for the life of me remember what else I did later in.
Saturday - Blender had broken. After 2 days of using food processor as blender - not good as it doesn't result in smooth, drinkable breakfast-lunch smoothies but instead makes chunky, chewable smoothies - we went to SF again to buy a new blender. Bought a GE 800 watt blender at Walmart - $67. Two year warranty is hilarious as it sounds like it excludes coverage of everything that could possibly go wrong with it. I'll give it a 3 month trial (time period you can return stuff to Walmart). I'd like a VitaMix but $549 is a bit steep!! Ate lunch at Red Lobster - lunch portion trout, broccoli, asparagus, salad - so delicious (I'm starving as I'm writing this!!).
Sunday - Got late start to Jemez - around 11am. Went to Corral Canyon. Spouse walked 1 mile in and then sat down to eat his lunch while I continued on for my 4 miles RT. Went up Calzada Trail to T intersection and out a little on Peralta-Paliza Trail. Saw 2 groups of cows - a little unnerving. On way back, it rained a little and thundered a little but I made it back alive. I caught up on the computer and will eat my kale-wild rice dish now. I have to get up at 5:30am tomorrow to pick up spouse at RPM and take him to work. His car is acting up. We replaced the windshield wipers on my car today. Actually, the lady at Auto Zone replaced them with ones I purchased there. They were pretty ragged at the end of the drive home from the Jemez in the rain!
Update on 4 shoes ordered from Roadrunner Sports: None of them really helped my feet. I'm going to mail back all four using their label that will charge $9.49 to my credit card for the return postage and insure the package. It's worth it to get the shoes out of my life. I'm currently trying out some Brooks shoes from REI.
Thursday - Went to Santa Fe. Spouse went to Pearle Vision to have reading glasses remade a second time. Shopped Vitamin Cottage. Made return at Borders and bought new Rodney Yee dvd - A.M. Yoga for Your Week. Was only $10. Did one segment so far and it's good. Has 5 twenty minute segments.
Friday - Got up 6am to go to BESC hiking group which leaves at 8:05am but no one was there. Probably they took July 4th off. We went to Apache Springs and hiked to edge of Frijoles Canyon and back. Saw couple hiking with dog but it was a nice dog. Maybe they were the Utah SUV and didn't want to leave dog in car. Saw a family with child younger than grandson and also a couple. It was good to get an early start. Can't for the life of me remember what else I did later in.
Saturday - Blender had broken. After 2 days of using food processor as blender - not good as it doesn't result in smooth, drinkable breakfast-lunch smoothies but instead makes chunky, chewable smoothies - we went to SF again to buy a new blender. Bought a GE 800 watt blender at Walmart - $67. Two year warranty is hilarious as it sounds like it excludes coverage of everything that could possibly go wrong with it. I'll give it a 3 month trial (time period you can return stuff to Walmart). I'd like a VitaMix but $549 is a bit steep!! Ate lunch at Red Lobster - lunch portion trout, broccoli, asparagus, salad - so delicious (I'm starving as I'm writing this!!).
Sunday - Got late start to Jemez - around 11am. Went to Corral Canyon. Spouse walked 1 mile in and then sat down to eat his lunch while I continued on for my 4 miles RT. Went up Calzada Trail to T intersection and out a little on Peralta-Paliza Trail. Saw 2 groups of cows - a little unnerving. On way back, it rained a little and thundered a little but I made it back alive. I caught up on the computer and will eat my kale-wild rice dish now. I have to get up at 5:30am tomorrow to pick up spouse at RPM and take him to work. His car is acting up. We replaced the windshield wipers on my car today. Actually, the lady at Auto Zone replaced them with ones I purchased there. They were pretty ragged at the end of the drive home from the Jemez in the rain!
Update on 4 shoes ordered from Roadrunner Sports: None of them really helped my feet. I'm going to mail back all four using their label that will charge $9.49 to my credit card for the return postage and insure the package. It's worth it to get the shoes out of my life. I'm currently trying out some Brooks shoes from REI.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Daily Life
Daughter's dropping grandson off soon because she wants to exercise early. She has to pack this evening for CO trip.
Heard from McPartlon Roofing. Estimate was for $500 to renew caulking on furnace exhaust vent pipe and reseal flashing - no parts, just sealant, caulk, and labor and no warranty since it's not a McPartlon roof system. I declined, of course! Called LA Roofing but he was at bank and said call back and leave message. Haven't heard from him either. LP Roofing never called back either. The furnace room was bone dry after yesterday's storm which makes me think I shouldn't even bother. Problem will probably recur when roof gets loaded with snow and ice this winter as that may wedge under the flashing and make it lift up.
Been seeing neighbor Irma some evenings. She's so sweet. I see her walking with her tiny dog, Chippie. Both her and the dog are so tiny! How could I ever had been mad at her over the stupid lights, especially since she cared enough to put up a porch overhang which somewhat diminished the problem?
Need to read my Science Daily newsletters and the calorie restriction newsletter which I've been letting pile up and also need to read the New York Times health headlines as there's a lot of them that have accumulated and also need to look up some stuff about heel spurs (it can be so painful at times but hip problem may be getting better) and about blenders (mine may be dying - I would love a VitaMix!!).
Getting very hungry!!
Heard from McPartlon Roofing. Estimate was for $500 to renew caulking on furnace exhaust vent pipe and reseal flashing - no parts, just sealant, caulk, and labor and no warranty since it's not a McPartlon roof system. I declined, of course! Called LA Roofing but he was at bank and said call back and leave message. Haven't heard from him either. LP Roofing never called back either. The furnace room was bone dry after yesterday's storm which makes me think I shouldn't even bother. Problem will probably recur when roof gets loaded with snow and ice this winter as that may wedge under the flashing and make it lift up.
Been seeing neighbor Irma some evenings. She's so sweet. I see her walking with her tiny dog, Chippie. Both her and the dog are so tiny! How could I ever had been mad at her over the stupid lights, especially since she cared enough to put up a porch overhang which somewhat diminished the problem?
Need to read my Science Daily newsletters and the calorie restriction newsletter which I've been letting pile up and also need to read the New York Times health headlines as there's a lot of them that have accumulated and also need to look up some stuff about heel spurs (it can be so painful at times but hip problem may be getting better) and about blenders (mine may be dying - I would love a VitaMix!!).
Getting very hungry!!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Starry Nights and Hurried Days
May have to go soon to pick up spouse at Reel Deal. He's there with grandson watching Wall-E. Before that, we went with grandson to Ponderosa Campground and walked out to the Indiana Jones Booby Trap Hideout Knoll.Grandson and spouse had a picnic while I walked out past Witch's Broom Tree and back for my 4 miles. They got back to the car just 10 minutes before I got back. Grandson remodeled and moved the Indiana Jones Booby Trap Hideout.
I saw a dried up elk or deer skin off but near the main Escobas Mesa Trail. The only bone around was a foreleg bone. Seemed strange.
The new Kelty backpack is lovely but it hits my hip just like my old one does and after a while it made my left shoulder ache. I need to try to adjust it. I really like all the extra room it has but that means that anything I carry falls to the bottom and it's not comfortable on my hip.
Friday night the skies cleared just enough for me to see this celestial line-up in the southern skies: Jupiter, Sagittarius (Tea-kettle), Cat Eyes, and Scorpio. What a beautiful sight they all were. Stargazer says a real light show is coming up for July 4th which will include Mars, Saturn, Regulus (I'm unsure on that but it's whatever one is in Leo the Lion), and the crescent moon!
Saw Lee today at the library. She was out with her boyfriend - George? He's such a gentleman. I saw him walk around to let her in the car. I guess that could get tired to me after a while. She's not hiking because she's been having some nosebleeds.
Yesterday was Santa Fe and there wasn't much leftover time.
I saw a dried up elk or deer skin off but near the main Escobas Mesa Trail. The only bone around was a foreleg bone. Seemed strange.
The new Kelty backpack is lovely but it hits my hip just like my old one does and after a while it made my left shoulder ache. I need to try to adjust it. I really like all the extra room it has but that means that anything I carry falls to the bottom and it's not comfortable on my hip.
Friday night the skies cleared just enough for me to see this celestial line-up in the southern skies: Jupiter, Sagittarius (Tea-kettle), Cat Eyes, and Scorpio. What a beautiful sight they all were. Stargazer says a real light show is coming up for July 4th which will include Mars, Saturn, Regulus (I'm unsure on that but it's whatever one is in Leo the Lion), and the crescent moon!
Saw Lee today at the library. She was out with her boyfriend - George? He's such a gentleman. I saw him walk around to let her in the car. I guess that could get tired to me after a while. She's not hiking because she's been having some nosebleeds.
Yesterday was Santa Fe and there wasn't much leftover time.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Tidbits of Minutiae Written at Breakneck Speed
While waiting for Wednesday's hike to begin, I mentioned that ticks seemed non-existent this year. Faye piped up that when she came in from gardening last week she discovered one of the tiny deer ticks on her. David came up to Emily before the hike to ask about if pliers and wire were needed to cut and repair the fence and said he had some; but Emily, wise girl that she is, figured that any fence could be handily scaled. Leon had started ahead of the group because he's very slow and he waited at the fence for us. His arms are like thin sticks. There were 22 paying customers and 24 people total. Two were planning to turn around ( and did well before the Big Ditch) to drive two more cars up to the Valle Grande trailhead to shuttle hikers back down. One of the paying customers also turned around. There was a couple - maybe the Quinns - that had lived in White Rock but now are living in Hong Kong and will be in the area until sometime in August. We started hiking sometime after 9am and got back to the Valle Grande trailhead a little before 4pm. Leon ran out of water a near the bottom of the Valle Grande trailhead and someone shared with him. On the way up to the cars, Renate begged for some plain water because all she had left was water that she had mixed with some evil sports drink that she said made her sick to her stomach. I gave my email address to Annette to hopefully be put on the list of people that receive info on where the WI go each week. Ginny sends the emails out but she seemed unenthused about adding another email. The group tended to shelter in the shade of conifers while they were traversing the inner sanctum of the Valle Grande. There's a lot of Jacob's Ladder growing in Valle Canyon. In the caldera, we could see elk in the distance to the west. Annette has done some trespassing up into Valle Canyon. Also once she and some others walked up to Cerro Grande from along the fence line beginning in Valle Canyon. Leon commented wistfully that he had forgotten how beautiful Valle Canyon was. That's all the minutiae I can think of right now.
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