Exercising for endurance

"There's something wrong with this picture."

Well that was me yesterday. Events transpired against me. I had scheduled 9:00 am to 11:00 to be at the gym. It was the old "good intentions and $1.40 will get you a coffee at Timmy's." However I got some nagging errands done and unexpectedly got to spend time with people important to me. It doesn't get any better than a gelato with grandkids. And there were four of them. That was good!

You may recall reading elsewhere that this whole exercising, eating right, etc. thing was forced upon me by Dr. Berti and her suggestion that I read Younger Next Year and take it to heart.

Finally at mid evening I left for White Oaks. Upon opening my sports bag I discovered that my shoes were still at home. I dutifully drove back, picked up my shoes and went back. There, I admitted it. That in itself should make me feel better. This stuff happens when you're 67.

Encouraging me to get there was my inevitable reward, 15 minutes in the Steam Room at the end of those hurting circuits laid out for me by my personal tormentor/trainer. And, it turns out, the Steam Room was in fact worth it all! I sometimes think that the reason I put myself through the hurt of the circuits is to experience the reward of the Steam Room. The price I paid was missing Jon Stewart. Oh well, I guess I'll never know what little gems I missed. No I won't go to his web site to belatedly watch it.

Weekend Update

Well it's Tuesday evening. We've celebrated my 67th, and we're home from the cottage.

A quick update reveals that the weekend started out with a birthday party for the old guy. The kids and grand kids did a bang up job of making me feel like 67 is the best age ever. Food, fun, friendship of family, and not in that order. It can't get any better than that !

Then Sunday morning attending the huge 'vette show at Reif Wines. Then off to Vic and Sheri's cottage on Lake Erie. Four other couples were there at various times as well. We lucked out with the weather. A couple of Salerno grand kids brought their grandma and grandpa Wiens with them. And just when we guys needed an ego boost we made the mistake of playing euchre with our wives. Surely it was luck that caused the women to kinda win.

Oh, I did get in an hour and 45 minute cycle along the Lakeshore Blvd. How is it that the strong winds blowing off the lake are head winds coming and going?

Algonquin count down

Well, I had mentioned the fall from the bike during my time trial kedge. The recovery time for the aching muscles is a day or so longer than anticipated. So today it's golf with Ted Wiens instead of the strength work out. That will resume tomorrow.

We got the canoes and food barrel, (empty of course) ordered from the outfitters today. I'm looking forward to the camping experience with the boys as adults now. Tomorrow I spring the menu upon them. And they have a chance to suggest changes. this'll be an interesting interchange. But I think they'll enjoy the bannock.. not too sure about steel cut oatmeal, tinned mackeral and herring. Hopefully they'll surprise me. I know the fresh fish, bacon, eggs n stuff will be well received.

Tomorrow we're checking out the equipment to make sure it's still intact and that the tent has not become a sieve.

Elsie and I are at Vic n Sher's cottage for the weekend, until Tues. So the push is on to get all of the errands done before we leave for Algonquin.

I don't have an actual picture of the park, but this will have to do, another camping experience, another time.

Canoeing in Algonquin

August 7th through 10th grandsons Mitch, Travis and another friend are accompanying me on an adventure. We will be fishing, camping and portaging a number of Algonquin's lakes. We're new to this type of adventure but have an experienced Algonquin traveller, their uncle Harry acting as our consultant and outfitter. Pictures will be appearing shortly.

My first Kedge

I'll explain kedge later.

Suffice it to say, yesterday I did my first cycling time trial.

It was 41 km's with the last km climbing the beautiful but (and only for me) tough Niagara escarpment.

My friends Steve and Manisha made the 7:00 am. ride easier by gently pushing me, and for sure helping me to achieve a faster time. I did it in 1:48 with a fall and pedals locked at Hwy 8 and Mountainview, but we finished. We had a brilliant breakfast at Relay in Beamsville with Kim and Harry before heading back to Niagara.

My goal is to do this trip each birthday week and to keep improving on the time each birthday. At age 72, we'll see if it's time to modify the goal.