Travel
The meatloaf I made yesterday turned out very well. I had a large helping of it for dinner, and a huge meatloaf sandwich for lunch today. Next I'm going to try the Egg Muffins, but am too full from the sandwich to do it now.
I went to pick up some books I had requested from the library, and a DVD set caught my eye - Ken Burns' "The National Parks--America's Best Idea". There are 5 dvd's and each one is a couple of hours, so it will take a lot of watching to get through them all. I'm taking a little break from it now.
As most readers know 16 years ago I attempted to hike the Appalachian Trail from one end to the other in one go, somewhere about 2100 miles total. I developed bursitis in my hip and had to quit after about 900 miles, and I've never given up on the idea of going back and hiking some more of it. It's like I left a part of my soul on that trail.
I follow a forum called Whiteblaze.net which covers all topics connected to backpacking, gear, the trail, etc., and yesterday came across a 29 yr old who completed the thru-hike this past year. I'm reading his blog account of the hike and have come to the conclusion that I don't ever want to go back and try to pick it up. I would think differently if I was younger, but realize I don't even want to go there now - at least not for any serious distances.
What I do want to do are short trips from 2 days to a week in length, at a moderate pace without worrying about mileage covered. That said, I will probably continue to get "Springer Fever" every year. Springer Mtn in Georgia is the southern terminus of the AT and most backpackers get the longing to go there and start hiking in early spring. In the meantime I will hope to be ready for springtime backpacking in Northern CA and maybe southern Oregon in 2014.
I arranged for an EKG in my doctor's office tomorrow morning, and will be relieved to have all the necessary pre-op tests done. This morning a report of the ultrasound done when I was recently hospitalized was made available to me, and I think I have underestimated the seriousness of the whole thing. My gallbladder is certainly worse off than I thought, so maybe I can understand the doctors' hestiancy to just jump right in without weighing the problems they are sure to run into. I will be glad when the 23rd rolls around and let the chips fall where they may.
Today begins the warming trend to the mid-upper 50's, and then into the 60's. My oldest son reminded me that December is always a cold month in Sacramento, and then the rains start falling and the temperature rises a bit. I don't care for extended rainy weather, but I hope we get an adequate amount of rain to halt the drought we've been under.
- Reconnecting
I've been reading some journals of backpackers who hiked long distance trails that I'm interested in, including the North Country Trail, 4600 miles from the NY/VT border to well into North Dakota. Some parts of it are well maintained and...
- More Photos
I scanned a few more pictures from my backpacking days, and I may have to post them a few at a time. First of all I hae done a lot of thinking about my plans this year and realize that the hernia repair may make it difficult to realize my goals, at least...
- No Blt Today Either
I totally forgot about getting the sandwich at 11 am, which is when I should get there to avoid the crowds as well as assuring they won't have sold out of their wonderful croissants. That is the best part of the BLT! Maybe tomorrow if...
- Some Thouhts On Yesterday's Post
In re-reading my post from yesterday I realize many of you have read a similar post from me for several years. Every now and then I get backpacking fever so badly I just can hardly bear it. And as every year goes by the likelihood that I could...
- Have Dinner In South Africa
Voulezvousdiner Have just launched a new special offer. ...
Travel
Cooking, reading, and DVD's
The meatloaf I made yesterday turned out very well. I had a large helping of it for dinner, and a huge meatloaf sandwich for lunch today. Next I'm going to try the Egg Muffins, but am too full from the sandwich to do it now.
I went to pick up some books I had requested from the library, and a DVD set caught my eye - Ken Burns' "The National Parks--America's Best Idea". There are 5 dvd's and each one is a couple of hours, so it will take a lot of watching to get through them all. I'm taking a little break from it now.
As most readers know 16 years ago I attempted to hike the Appalachian Trail from one end to the other in one go, somewhere about 2100 miles total. I developed bursitis in my hip and had to quit after about 900 miles, and I've never given up on the idea of going back and hiking some more of it. It's like I left a part of my soul on that trail.
I follow a forum called Whiteblaze.net which covers all topics connected to backpacking, gear, the trail, etc., and yesterday came across a 29 yr old who completed the thru-hike this past year. I'm reading his blog account of the hike and have come to the conclusion that I don't ever want to go back and try to pick it up. I would think differently if I was younger, but realize I don't even want to go there now - at least not for any serious distances.
What I do want to do are short trips from 2 days to a week in length, at a moderate pace without worrying about mileage covered. That said, I will probably continue to get "Springer Fever" every year. Springer Mtn in Georgia is the southern terminus of the AT and most backpackers get the longing to go there and start hiking in early spring. In the meantime I will hope to be ready for springtime backpacking in Northern CA and maybe southern Oregon in 2014.
I arranged for an EKG in my doctor's office tomorrow morning, and will be relieved to have all the necessary pre-op tests done. This morning a report of the ultrasound done when I was recently hospitalized was made available to me, and I think I have underestimated the seriousness of the whole thing. My gallbladder is certainly worse off than I thought, so maybe I can understand the doctors' hestiancy to just jump right in without weighing the problems they are sure to run into. I will be glad when the 23rd rolls around and let the chips fall where they may.
Today begins the warming trend to the mid-upper 50's, and then into the 60's. My oldest son reminded me that December is always a cold month in Sacramento, and then the rains start falling and the temperature rises a bit. I don't care for extended rainy weather, but I hope we get an adequate amount of rain to halt the drought we've been under.
- Reconnecting
I've been reading some journals of backpackers who hiked long distance trails that I'm interested in, including the North Country Trail, 4600 miles from the NY/VT border to well into North Dakota. Some parts of it are well maintained and...
- More Photos
I scanned a few more pictures from my backpacking days, and I may have to post them a few at a time. First of all I hae done a lot of thinking about my plans this year and realize that the hernia repair may make it difficult to realize my goals, at least...
- No Blt Today Either
I totally forgot about getting the sandwich at 11 am, which is when I should get there to avoid the crowds as well as assuring they won't have sold out of their wonderful croissants. That is the best part of the BLT! Maybe tomorrow if...
- Some Thouhts On Yesterday's Post
In re-reading my post from yesterday I realize many of you have read a similar post from me for several years. Every now and then I get backpacking fever so badly I just can hardly bear it. And as every year goes by the likelihood that I could...
- Have Dinner In South Africa
Voulezvousdiner Have just launched a new special offer. ...