Month: January 2017

Today, I’m sad to announce the demise of a good friend, my Vasque boots. Sometime around 10:00 AM, he began to struggle and he, as well as his twin were pronounced dead shortly after noon on January 21, 2017 over a beer at the Katy Trail Ice House. They will be missed.

Yes my sturdy old boots blew a tread today while walking on the Trinity Forest Trail system. Everything started out great, Leighton and Renee wanted to do a walk today so I joined in. Unlike last week, the weather was dry and much warmer but it started a little overcast but still a great day for a trek.

As we did on our previous visit, we started on the Longacre Trail because it’s the longest but this time, instead of turning around, we continued on the Joppa Preserve Trail all the way to the river.

The only way to get to the AT&T Trail was to walk down Loop 12, across the river to catch the trail there. After joining the trail, we walked another 3+ miles back to the original trailhead which turned out to be about 9 miles.

All of us were in packs, I had very close to my Camino weight in mine plus, 1.5L of water or another 3.3 lbs. My pack was probably close to 18 lbs.

Unlike last week, no pain in my Gluteus Midius, I think the exercises helped that out and I will for sure continue to do them.

My old friend hardly let out a peep as he struggled to complete the trip. Occasionally, there was a clicking or slapping noise…I’d hoped it was a rock stuck in a tread but alas, no, it was the dying gasp of my years old Vasque boot.

I’m distraught enough that there will be no public celebration of his life. Instead, I will remember him as I struggle to find a worthy replacement at REI tomorrow. Time waits for no boot! The Camino is rapidly approaching and I have to find and break in a new pair of boots. I know he would understand.

Actually, I’m very happy this happened now, with plenty of time to break in a new pair. Can’t hardly imagine what it would have been like finding and then enduring the break in of a new pair in Spain, ouch!

Test and inspect your equipment!

For a day that started out cold and dreary, todays walk at the Lake Lewisville Educational Learning Area (LLELA) was great. Yes it was a little cold and yes it was a little (lot) muddy and yes my Gluteus Medius are screaming (more on that later). Even with all of that I, and we I believe, enjoyed the day.

The LLELA is on the Trinity River just below the Lake Lewisville Dam and I would bet that most people in the area have no idea that it’s there. You have the Trinity river continuing it’s journey south towards the Gulf and the wetlands around it support all types of wildlife. We saw heron’s, red tail hawks, cardinals and many other birds. Deer tracks were everywhere and because dogs are not allowed, I expect the prints I saw were probably coyote.

As we entered the our first trail, the Bittern Marsh Trail, there were a couple dozen fisherman and one came out with a nice striped bass. Some were using fly rods, not sure if there were trout stocked there or not.

Physically, I felt pretty good, lugging an extra couple pounds of mud around on my boots was not much fun. I noticed that now, carrying my regular pack (16 lbs) that my gait changed a bit and, as I mentioned earlier, my gluteus medius muscle became sore quickly and I had to just walk through it, Ann noticed it too. We’ll see what tomorrow brings. Either way, it’s back on the treadmill tomorrow, sore or not. Won’t have the luxury of not walking on when we get to the Camino.

Rick could not make this walk, we all missed him and I think he would have really enjoyed the day. We look forward to his joining us when he can.

Ann has requested 5 weeks off, she’s waiting to hear if she can get it or not. It would be great to have her along from SJPP all the way through to Santiago de Compostela but, wherever she can join up if not is great too.

Well, I’m done now. I think I hear the call of Ibuprofen. Next up, Arbor Hills Nature Preserve.