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.

Why Can't I Be As Strong As a Chimpanzee??

Don't know if a mentioned that (the preface "Dear Diary" is implied and assumed but it could as easily be "Dear Daughter"!) when I walk in the evening, I like to stop at East Park and do pullups on the bar over the entrance to what used to be the tennis court. Since I've been reading Next of Kin by Roger Fouts, about the American Sign Language (ASL) communicating chimpanzee Washoe and her family of humans and other chimps, I've been wondering why I can't be as strong as a chimpanzee. Toward partially achieving this, I'm trying to learn to hang one-armed from the bar or the nearby children's jungle gym as I think that would strengthen my arms. Not very successful yet as I can only put weight on one arm if both feet are on the ground but maybe if I keep trying I'll build up enough strength to do it.

This evening I tried to apply what I read on the Internet about Chi Walking which is to lean slightly forward and let gravity help with the forward motion. Also, you're not supposed to land on your heels and push off on your toes but rather you land in a mid-foot strike. I'd need to take a workshop to really learn how to do it but the concepts I've read so far on the Chi Running (includes Chi Walking) website are very interesting.

Much Time Spent on Computer Today

fHere I am - all alone. I'm glad no perverts are reading this!! : ) I'm not sure that I'd be cut out for the single life. I need company even if it's only someone snoring on the couch while the TV is blaring. Guess I'm a social chimpanzee!! Yeah, did you realize that all this blather is really being authored by a talking chimp!!

Daughter was going to go camping but they couldn't find any campground in the Jemez that wasn't all filled up. Son in law wanted them to camp at a non-designated spot but daughter hadn't brought along any toilet paper so they came back home after much frustrating hunting for a spot. Grandson was disappointed so son in law was setting up a small tent in grandson's bedroom. That's sweet!!

Today I fruitlessly trolled the internet on such topics as chi running (Google Danny Dryer Blog) and an article"How to Keep Your Feet Happy" that I heard on NPR the other day. One page led to another and another.

Oh, yes, I spent way too much time waiting for pages to load on REI's newly revamped website. I finally called REI and after I whined (gave helpful input) regarding the slowness of their website, I ordered some of the Nalgene BPA free water bottles in slate blue. The store in Albuquerque sold them in Koolaid Red but I'm happier to get blue ones so I can pretend I'm drinking melted blue popsicles - remember those? The whole point of making an order was that DealCatcher.com sent me a link to a deal at REI where if I order anything Kelty I get free shipping on my whole order. It took probably more than an hour waiting for pages to load in Firefox while I read health articles in Safari before I finally decided on a Kelty day pack and the Nalgene bottles. I need a new backpack because my old one leaks - I have to line it with a plastic trash bag - and it also litters my Nalgene water bottles all over the forest. I will never, ever wash my new water bottles in the dishwasher as I lazily did with my milky white, number 2 plastic Nalgene bottles. I read that even the safe plastic ones can leach if they are washed in the dishwasher or get too nicked up.

Since everyone knows that REI stands for Return Every Item, I know that if the backpack arrives and is unsatisfactory, I'll be no worse off than I was but maybe, just maybe, it might be just right for me. I ordered it in chile green and black. The other choices were all black and electric blue and black. I thought that perhaps the green will blend in better when I trespass in the Valles Caldera National Preserve. Thinking about it now, I bet I should have ordered the all black. The green didn't look electric on the website but it may turn out to be very bright. I also think it's prettier and very few of my hikes are trespassing anyway. Can't wait until REI opens up August 15 in Santa Fe! It's much better to pick out a backpack in person and returns will be so much easier than driving to Albuquerque.

BTW, I heard some thunder today but no rain happened. Would have been a perfect day to go to Las Conchas. At least I know I'll go one day when Dorothy and I go.

Will go out to walk my four miles and listen to Prairie Home Companion now.

Glad I Went on Hike

We started downhill from the Sandoval-Los Alamos County Line in Bandelier National Monument toward the Apache Springs Trail. There were 9 people. Total walked was a little over 7 miles. First part of hike was in woods and it wasn't too hot. Lunch was in the trees at American Springs. You could call it a Springs Hike because we saw Apache Springs and American Springs although Robin and I were the only ones who bothered to take a gander at American Springs. The pink and rose colored NM locusts were blooming heavily along the Apache Springs Trail and FR181/American Springs Road - now is their time!! Some of us commented on the haze to the east and our leaders said their water glass was "sweating" this morning. Was it haze or moisture to the east or was the poor visibility due to a wildfire somewhere in Colorado?

Jim says there was a sawmill in the meadow east of American Springs. That's the same area that I explored one year. Even though there wasn't any shade along FR181/American Springs Road, I really wasn't too hot. Around the trail/old road going up toward Tick Meadow, I saw bear tracks and showed them to the group. They enjoyed studying them. We got back in the trees on the Perimeter Trail.

Going along the Perimeter Trail, Jim wanted to show the group an overlook of S Site above the twin water tanks. He took us to an area that looked familiar and it may have been near the FR181 Shortcut Trail. Later, he saw another overlook right before we go down into Valle Canyon and said he had meant to take us to that one.

I had never noticed how the fireline/firebreak coming over from FR181/American Springs Road/FR2997 intersects the Perimeter Trail right before you go down to the ledge that's above Valle Canyon. Anyway, Don and Chuck had went way ahead as usual. Our leaders hadn't made it down to the overlook but continued on the Perimeter Trail toward Valle Canyon and the rest of us were trucking along behind Jim when he decided to take the fireline/firebreak, bypassing the cairned Perimeter Trail. I had at first assumed that perhaps he knew a different way down to the last ledge before the Perimeter Trail dropped into Valle Canyon; but very quickly he thought better of his course of action and bushwhacked downhill to get back on the Perimeter Trail. My left leg was mildly protesting so I said I'd go back to the trail intersection but I stupidly neglected to tell Rich, Robin, and Norm that the trail intersection I was going back to was the Perimeter Trail which would take us back to Valle Canyon. No one followed me or Jim because I think they had lost all confidence in Jim as a leader and never had any in me, plus they weren't familiar with the Perimeter Trail. Rich, Robin, and Norm all continued on the fireline/firebreak trail. When I saw that Jim had gone back up the hill to look for the three, I backtracked on the Perimeter Trail back up to the fireline/firebreak and whoo-ed loudly for the disappeared hikers. When they showed up a short time later they said they didn't hear me but at least it gave my vocal cords some exercise. They showed up just as Jim was going to wait there for them while I was going to go back to tell the group the news.

Two bikers overtook the group in Valle Canyon and all we could hear behind us was their tires on the rocks and gravel but the bikers gave no verbal warning. I didn't know what in the world that noise was! The 4 wheel driver we saw on FR181 was very considerate and slowed down so as not to create too much dust. I think that the bikers assumed that the noise their tires made were sufficient warning. I wonder who has put in small wooden elevation signs in Valle Canyon? When we all got back to Jim's truck at the Valle Canyon trailhead, which he fortunately had left unlocked so hikers could help themselves to soda, I took the two drivers up to their car and called it a good day and a good hike.

Picked up spouse's prescs afterwards. Have to put new registration tag on my car this evening and write some bills to put out in tomorrow's mail. Starving - will have another big salad this evening - can hardly wait to eat!!

Full Moon Night

Walked on Mesa Trail and downtown to library. Listened to Cher's Heart of Stone cassette and admired full moon through gauzy curtain of clouds and framed by tall poplars. Wore Everyday Nike Frees and they seem OK. Have to accelerate this shoe-checking and decide which ones to keep and which to return. Asics seems a keeper, Nike Vomero hurts my heel spur but I need to try it a few more times, the Nike Everyday Free and Nike Free seem surprisingly comfortable.

Finally disputed with credit bureaus the closed accounts that are listed as open. Was a combination of speaking to real people, snail mailing, using an online form, and using an automated phone menu. They'll ask the sources to verify the information they provided.

On Monday, Dorothy was checking out with her binocs, as was I, to see if there were any naked bods to be seen in San Antonio Hot Springs from our aerie lunch perch above the cliffs on the Valles Caldera west rim. She told me some stories about when she took life drawing classes at Fuller Lodge Art Center.

Waiting to hear estimate from SF roofing company, Brian McPartlon Roofing, on recaulking and reflashing our leaky furnace vent pipe. The estimator took digital photos of the vent pipe on which to base the estimate. I was impressed that he showed up for the 9am appointment. LP Roofing, who replaced our roof 13 years ago and came out twice to try to patch the leak, has never called back to set up a time.

I'm looking forward to tomorrow's hiking adventure with the LL group. It will be a hot one but I need company after staying inside and on the phone for most of the day. Thursday I'd like to explore Las Conchas again. I may decide to go up the way I went up last Friday just because it's shorter than walking in from Corral Canyon or Peralta Road. I'd like to also explore the old road and trail at the bottom of the hill. Could be that I won't get back up to Las Conchas on Thursday but exploring the trails at the bottom will be satisfying too. Guess I'll give up for now on ever having a hiking partner other than Dorothy once a week. I had always hoped that I could hike with daughter but she's a very busy lady. Spouse is working too hard and out of shape anyhow. Alice, next door neighbor, has possibilities but I can't imagine her wanting to go up Las Conchas. Maybe if I wait long enough , our grandson would want to hike with me. At least I can get some human company in the meantime by going on some group hikes.

87 Degrees - In the House

A bit hot, I'd say. I have a huge box fan, on high, blowing at me from about 8' away. Makes it bearable.

I think that the round, red rash on top of my right shoulder is from where there was a hole in my Cabela cotton canvas shirt right over the rash. I sometimes get rashes from sun exposure. I've now switched to one of my new Cabela shirts. The old one went into the rag box in the closet. I may scavenge the buttons one day.

The Nike Vomero's seem to hurt my heel spur. I'll try them a bit more. Need to decide on all 4 shoes from the Roadrunner Sports order by end of July.

Made progress on credit reports. Need to call some credit card companies on Tuesday to check on some of the alleged open accounts that we have no record of. Appears to be no fraud but just perhaps closed accounts that are not indicated as such.

Need to buy a cabin in Salida but first need to find out if change of station will happen. Would like to move into a smaller, newer house (condo or townhouse) in Los Alamos and have a cabin in Salida as well. Dreams!

Cañada Bonita Meadow

Spouse and I walked to Cañada Bonita Meadow today from Pajarito Ski Area. Pretty day with blue clouds, lots of green trees and vegetation and some white clouds coming in.

Starving - have to eat supper.

Lower Water Canyon

A few thoughts about the way I feel about Colleen, the VCNP dendroglyph project coordinator. I've read that people often feel repelled by their shadow. I wonder if part of how I feel about her is that I see myself in her. Here's some ways I can think of that we're alike - controlling, honest to a fault, high strung, eager to please and to have others like us. I dropped off the VCNP Visitor Map to her this morning and invited her to go on a hike instead of cleaning up her desk but she wasn't really ready to do that.

When I looked up and saw the Jemez all swathed in white mist and the winds were hellishly blowing and snow and rain were swirling around downtown, I gave up my plans to go up to FR181 and went down to White Rock instead. I was the only one hiking in on the lower Water Canyon trail. I went just past the saddle between Water and Potrillo Canyons and then turned around. The funny thing about my decision to go down to the milder climes of White Rock is that I could look over at the Jemez and the clouds had lifted above the mountains. I bet it would have been fine on FR181. I wish that I could have shown someone the ruby-peach colored domestic irises that I saw growing in Water Canyon today. They were on the right side of the trail, going out, where you first start to see a small arroyo on your right.

I was testing the Nike Free shoes today. One thing I notice is that I really slap my feet down hard. Jolie Bookspan, The Fitness Fixer, says that you don't notice how heavy footed you are in cushioned shoes. I think that's true. The Nike Frees are like walking in bedroom slippers and I really notice that I'm pounding my heels into the ground. I read about the Bones for Life program in Bookspan's blog and it's related to Feldenkrais so I got a few books on Feldenkrais from the library to try to learn more.

One comment about my extraordinary aerobic conditioning in going up the final pitch on Tschicoma yesterday, I didn't see any evidence of that on today's walk. That makes me wonder if the CoQ 10 that I took Tuesday morning was what made going up Tschicoma so effortless? I was only planning to take it once a week but maybe I should try twice a week. I hate to get hooked on taking it but maybe I'm low in it and that's why it had such a dramatic effect. I wonder also if the extra vitamin D had anything to do with yesterday's performance or with how my foot pain seems mostly gone?

FR144 Was So Beautiful

In trying to speed blog, I forgot totally to mention how utterly beautiful the country was today that we traveled through. I'm getting tired and still need to stretch but I want to say a few words. Along FR144, it's mostly at 10,ooo' and above and you really get the feeling of being in a high altitude alpine setting. It's cooler up there for one thing. Other than lots of dandelions I didn't notice a whole lot of other flowers because it's still early. The dandelions are stunted at that altitude - the flowers and leaves are smaller and give the plant the delicacy and the beauty of a true wildflower and not just a domestic, hated weed. The effect of a meadow carpeted with emerald green grass and speckled by short, yellow dandelions is a happy one. The spruce and fir forest is quite captivating even when just seen while driving along the road. Everywhere there are meadows that invite you to stop and explore their secrets. Aspen are plentiful and the place puts on a magical, golden extravaganza in the fall.

From both sides of Tschicoma there are beautiful views - the Jemez Mountains and Valles Caldera toward the south and west and the Nacimientos, Pedernal, Polvadera and Ghost Ranch country toward the west and north. For that matter, the views from all along FR144 are spectacular as well. It's really a Rocky Mountain high experience but without driving up to Colorado!

Daughter Dropped By Tonight

I forgot to mention that daughter called and asked if I'd watch grandson for a half hour while she exercised. I wasn't wanting to go out so I invited her to bring him over here. She brought over the Speed Racer DVD that he was watching and he was content to watch that and look at some kid's magazines I had found in the non-return box of Mesa Public Library's lobby. His face had been painted today at Y camp but it was mostly smeared off. He took home the Boy's Life which he really likes. I went throught the pile of books that I had found for him and determined that most of them are not easy readers so I'll dump them back in the library lobby tomorrow. The Clarks sandals that I gave her fit. They were hardly ever used and too tight on me. I'm happy that they fit her.

Norm's talk at Livermore went well yesterday. He comes home tomorrow, is home a week, and then goes back east to use up a free airplane ticket. He'll see a Yankees baseball game with his brother Andy. He may know more next week about the change of station.