Open-air Footwear

I’m a bit confused 🤔 

I’ve noticed many of the folks I pass when out walking, who are out walking themselves, wearing flip flops or sliders or sandals or something similar. Believe it or not, there was even this one dude who was actually jogging in sandals, no socks (sock with sandals is a whole different rant), I kid you not!

This seems super uncomfortable to me. Putter’n around the house, at the beach or pool I can see but walking any distance, especially running seems odd to me. However, full disclosure, I’m not a flip flop or sandal kinda guy so there’s that.

Just an observation that I find unusual.

Carry on.

Hi Ho, Hi Ho…

Despite the humidity and downpours, I was still able to get seven days of walking in!

Here are the stats for the week, Monday to Sunday -

Disregard my laziness in May and June above.

Making up for it here in July!

Found a couple nice walking trails in Greeneville!

A Brisk Walk Today!

Despite it being a frigid 24 degrees today, I bundled up, braved the elements and got in a 2.7 mile walk this afternoon at the university -

I was so preoccupied when I first arrived, getting myself bundled up from the wind, that I failed to noticed these four ladies next to the pathway. By the time I got my gloves off and pulled my phone from my back pocket and unlocked it they were turning and runing off -

Displaying their namesake "white-tailed" tails as they pranced off, across the road and up the steep embankment towards the railroad tracks they went -

With all the open spaces and farmland available in this area, these girls seem to enjoy the city life of JC.

I'm "Knot" Kidding...

So, the good news is the knot I've had in the center of my back for over a week now no longer bothers me...as much!  Unfortunately, that pain has been replaced with a total body, head to toe ache, after spending a couple of hours yesterday shoveling the incredibly heavy wet snow!

The majority of snow fell over night Saturday, then turned to rain for most of the day on Sunday.  Most of yesterday stayed just above freezing but the temperatures dropped overnight back into the twenties, which has frozen everything into solid blocks and sheets of ice, see pic below taken this AM!

The lazy folks, several of my neighbors fall into this category, who neglected to get out to clear the snow from driveways, walkways, stairs and their vehicles are gonna be sorry, as the temperatures are predicted to stay below freezing for most of this week.

My neighbor plows my driveway whenever it snows, which I appreciate immensely!  However, I still need to get out there to clear the edges that the plow doesn't get, clear the walkway, back deck and stairs.  I also shovel a path to my pool house and make sure to clear the door of snow, just in case I need to get in there for some reason.  I also shovel out the fire hydrant that is just across the street.

It's times like these that I'm SO thankful for my whirlpool tub, to help ease the aches and pains!

#Blessed

Keep Moving Folks!

Drum roll please...

Here are my 2024 walking breakdowns and totals, as captured by the app Strava -

194 walks

191 hours

706.6 miles walked

We're onto 2025!

Longest Walk Yet!

I helped a friend move some motorcycles around this past Saturday afternoon, which included grabbing lunch.  My friend is a fan of Burger King, so that's where we stopped.  Now, I am not a fan of these fast food places as they're really not good or healthy for you but I'm also not one to pass up a meal.  Since I also lack self control I grabbed a couple burgers🍔🍔.  However, and although I just stated my lack of control, I did muster up enough to stay away from the fries and onion rings. Yeah, small victories am I right?!

As punishment, and to try to rid myself of the guilt, I put in my longest walk (not run as indicated in the screen shot below) on Sunday morning, an invigorating and refreshing 6-mile jaunt in 27 degrees temps -

Alas, with the holidays here, and my love of eating, seems I just might be putting in more of these long treks!

A Tangled Looking Mess

Well, we finally got some rain today!

It's been almost or close to 2-months that we've gone without any measurable rainfall, so it's long overdue.

As a matter of fact, it's been so dry that Massachusetts has been under a "red flag" warning for quite some time now, with dozens of brush fires being fought throughout the state. We had a 12-acre brush fire here in Franklin, and not too far from me, just this past weekend!

It's so bad that the powers that be here in Franklin just yesterday issued a mandatory FULL water ban for the town effective immediately, which means no outside water use at all.

Today we finally got rain and it's been raining all day long.  So, since it's been a rainy and wet and dreary day today I decided to take a ride to the Natick Mall and get me daily steps there, inside.  The Natick Mall is quite large, so I was able to log 2.78 miles.

I use the app Strava to keep track of and log my route and distance.  I found the map it created today, showing my route, comical and not what it usually shows.  Seems the laps I did, as well as the stores I popped into, including bathroom breaks were all tracked in a very messy backwards L shape - 

Today's walk at the mall -

One of my typical walks mapped out nicely -

It's been a while since I've been to a mall, OMG!  More on this to come...

You Can Call Me Forest (Gump)

Below is a screen shot from my walk (disregard the "Morning Run" reference in the screen shot) yesterday morning, a personal best distance at 5.20 miles, and marked my 47th day in a row of walking at least 3 miles each day!

As you can see my total miles walked the six days this past week is 29.76 miles!

Alas, now if I stopped eating like I have two assholes, I might even get to my target weight goal...

On A Roll!

Although, it's raining this morning, today will be my 36th day in a row that I have walked at least 3 miles.

I prefer early morning walks, again before all the shitheads stir and venture out and there are just SO many of them too!  It's so quiet and peaceful first thing, plus it's been so darn hot and humid that getting out before it heats up is a good thing.

A Great Sunday!

What an incredible day yesterday was weather wise, absolutely perfect!  It was made even better with an 131 mile motorcycle ride with friends and a delicious lunch curbside!

The weather was SO nice that I capped the afternoon off with a 3.37 mile afternoon walk (disregard the "run" reference in the screen shot below), see my route below - 

Ended the day with fresh sheets on the bed, a couple loads of laundry done, a nice relaxing shower and a bowl of cereal while watching Goliath on Prime Video.

#Blessed

Dew, Dogs And Deer

My early morning weekend walks are the best!  So quiet and peaceful; an ideal time to go.

The lawns were covered in dew this morning.

I came across a couple different groups of deer; one pair who crossed the road in front of me as I approached and the second pair calmly keeping an eye on me from a distance as I walked by.  Oh, I saw you both standing statuesque trying to blend in.  You gotta get up earlier than that to fool me.

A handful of dog walkers, and their 4-legged companions, were out this morning too.

Well, Good Morning To You Both!

Early morning weekend walks are the best!

Getting up and out before all the assholes start to stir, so peaceful.

Plus, if you put your phone away and actually take in the walk, you just might start noticing things that you'd otherwise walk right past.  Like these two taking in the warmth of the morning sun.

Gosh, my iPhone 12 camera takes terrible pictures.  It's also possible, ever so slightly, that it's the camera operator that has the issues...

Serenity Now!

Early Saturday morning walks are the best!

So quiet and peaceful, if you can get it in early before all the assholes wake and start venturing out.

If you pay attention and look around, take a break from and get you heads out from your silly phones, there's so much to see.

I wasn't quick enough with my camera to get a picture of all 5 deer, just this one brave doe who stood her ground as I rooted in my pocket for my cell.

Get Moving!

Get out there and just do it!

Run Forest Run!

Although, I'm not Forest, I snuck out for a run at lunchtime today.

I typically run down to the local school and then around the building and then head home, which is about 3-miles.  That was working fine over the summer and when I run after work but now that school is back in session I stay clear of area.

So, being that it was a school day, I took a new route today, one that doubled my usual distance - a 6-mile run!

Although, hot and humid out there, it was a great run!  Awesome feeling when you're done and all your pores are open and the sweat is dripping off you, invigorating!

Morning Serenity!

Early morning weekend walks are the best!

Heading out just about sunrise is the ideal.  Before others are out walking or jogging or biking, and before there are many vehicles driving by.  Less noise, less exhaust, more peacefulness.

This time of year and with the temps warming up, the spring peepers were still singing!  Crows were cawing, woodpecker banging away and the geese honking.  Here are some pics of the wildlife not yet disturbed by the coming days hustle and bustle -

Turkey vulture -

Canadian Geese -

Red-tailed Hawk -

This is what looks to be a well worn and traveled path leading out of the marshy woods to the street.  Seems a "Deer Crossing" sign would be appropriate in this area - 

I also saw a good sized muskrat come out from the wetland and poke around along the sidewalk.  He was too fast for me, so no pic.  Sadly, the one pic I could get the following morning is not one anyone would want to see here, as the dude was run over in the street, alas.

Daily Walkabout!

Taking my daily walk!

I've always said I wish I was 6" taller...

I'll Take It!

Here's my 2022 walking totals for the year.

Honestly, I thought I did better but happy none the less.

The 259 days were at least 2-miles each day!

BIG difference in how I feel, how I sleep and how I look. I've lost weight and inches.

Early Morning Walks Are The Bestest!

Early morning walks are my favorites!

Getting out before the hustle and bustle starts, and while things are calm and peaceful, is very relaxing.

If you pay attention and listen - for those that do it, put your darn phone away, you can see a lot!

Wildlife for instance is often out and about, like me, before all the knuckleheads ruin it.

A trio of female turkeys minding their own business and in no hurry -

A grey heron, a camera shy grey heron at that, flying off.  He didn't waste anytime taking flight as soon as I stopped to try and get a pic -

Two pair of Mallards taking a chilly swim -

A darn doe deer.  The others were nearby but this was the best pic I could get -

A Brisk Walk This AM!

Even though we got over 12" of snow yesterday, I still headed out this morning for my 2+ mile walk.  I was on the fence about it, thinking I would have to trudge through the snow covered sidewalks, but I was completely SHOCKED to see when I opened my shades that the town had plowed the sidewalks all the way up to the school!  I took that as a sign and off I went!  It was slippery in spots, as it was only about 16 degrees out when I departed, but was careful and made it back without any incidents.