Bike on the Bike Again Still

Awesome!

I’m going to a later church service this morning to hear one of my co-workers preach at the Salvation Army, so I decided to make good use of the extra time.  I went on my usual bike ride up Pusch Peak on East McGee.  Much better today!  It was still hard, but my legs did better and I didn’t feel ill when I got home like yesterday.

I left a half hour earlier than yesterday and the temperature was almost 90 both days!  When I got back at 9:00 (same time I left yesterday) it was already 92.4.  Expecting maybe 108 this afternoon.  We topped out at 106 yesterday, I think.

It is that time of year.  Seeing as how I have trouble exercising after work, (it is too hot to hike at 5:30pm) I’m starting to think I can do my bike ride every morning before work!  Why not?  It gets light around 5am.  I can get up by 5ish,  (I’m usually up around 5:30 anyway)  drink my coffee and a smootie while I read my Bible until 6ish, then I could ride from around 6:00 to 6:30 and still have plenty of time to get to work by 8:00!

Great idea.  Now I just need implementation.

Back on the Bike!

I’m tellin’ ya.  If you are exercising regularly, don’t stop!  I was doing very well with my diet, hiking and biking in March and April until my business trip to Las Vegas in mid April.  It knocked me out of my routine and I allowed myself to stay out of my routine… until today.

I’ve been eating right again (for the most part) all week, but this morning was the first day back on the bike.  I love where I live.  Right across the street from Pusch Peak, so I am able to do a somewhat intense 4 mile ride from my front door.  The first two miles (and about 20 minutes) is uphill.  Pretty brutal today!  Intense even when I am in shape.  The second two miles (about 10 minutes) is back downhill!  The reward :-)  It is fun!

I had my two cups of coffee first thing this morning and two eggs on whole wheat bread.  A couple of hours later I pumped up the tires on my mountain bike and hit the road.  I was just before 9am and already 90 degrees!  Seeing as how we are already over 100 (it’s 10:57am right now) 90 isn’t so bad :-)

Honesty, the first part of the climb wasn’t as bad as I thought it would be.  Don’t get me wrong, I was breathing hard at the half way point where I stop to catch my breath and drink some water.  But I was happy that my legs were holding up well.

The second half of the climb is the toughest and I considered quitting, but I pressed through.  By the time I got home I was hurting!   I almost thought I was gonna lose my breakfast, but I got past it.  An hour and a half later I feel pretty good :-)

My endurance is definitely what I have lost the most.  My leg strength some, but it’s my heart and lungs that need to catch up the most.  I guess more hiking and biking is in order!

Watch Your Step

I’ve been hiking the Pusch Peak Trail for about two years now.  It’s my favorite.  It’s challenging and it’s beautiful.  It can get quite steep and there are places with a lot of loose rock.  Perfect combination for slipping and landing on your rear.  Especially on the way down.

Every time before I hike I pray.  I ask God to keep me from accident and injury, and to use the exercise to burn fat and build muscle.  It’s a good prayer and I know God has been honoring that request.  He is so good, you know :-)

When I’m back on my way down the trail is when choosing my footing well is key.  It’s easy to fall.  I spend a lot of time on the way down asking God to help me choose my steps wisely and to help me to not fall.  I have noticed a curious thing, and I believe God is using the illustration to show me something.

When it’s really steep and the danger is high.  If I slip and I know it’s a place on the trail I could really be badly hurt if I fall.  During those times, I have a laser focus.  I’m talking to God and carefully considering and choosing every step.  It’s in these places of the trail I have yet to fall.  No.  It’s when the trail levels out a little.  When I’m paying less (or no) attention that the next thing I know I’m on my rear!

It’s an illustration of our walk with God!  When the going is dangerous.  Life threatening maybe.  We tend to watch our step, lest we fall.  The higher the danger, the more careful we become.  If we have a close relationship with God, these are times that we pray over every decision.  Sometimes even crying out for direction and guidance.

When do we fall?  (Besides when we blatantly choose to disobey)  It’s when we aren’t paying as close attention.  Life has leveled out.  We can go it alone in our own strength. Sometimes, the next thing we know we are on our backside.

On the trail I’ve learned.  When I think the going is easier to pay a little more attention.  Don’t get lulled into a false sense of security.  I’m still learning that in my walk with God.  I believe I am getting better, but that’s exactly when to beware.

1 Corinthians 10
¹² Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed that he does not fall.

¹³ No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

As Christians, even if we fall, we have a God who will save us.  Don’t get me wrong. Depending on the slip there can be severe consequences.  God will not be mocked, we will reap what we sow.  But God doesn’t treat us as we deserve.  He knows we are but dust.  His mercy is great and He is looooong suffering.  He is slow to anger.  If you find yourself falling headlong, you have a God who will help.

Psalm 37
²³ The steps of a man are established by the LORD,
And He delights in his way.
²⁴ he falls, he will not be hurled headlong,
Because the LORD is the One who holds his hand.
²⁵ I have been young and now I am old,
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken
Or his descendants begging bread.

Even if your mistake causes your death, God ultimately has you.  You end up in His presence.  Your family will be sad though, so watch your step!

Proverbs 4
²⁶Watch the path of your feet
And all your ways will be established.
²⁷ Do not turn to the right nor to the left;
Turn your foot from evil.

Honor God and follow Him as close as you can.  Jesus told His disciples just before He was captured in the Garden of Gethsemane.  This was His last heart to heart with His disciples, so it must have been important!  (Of course, EVERYTHING Jesus said was important)  If you want to know God better?  Obey Him.

John 14
²¹He who has My commandments and keeps them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.”

All of this is fading away.  A new creation is coming!  In light of eternity, what really matters?  Our relationship with God!  Knowing Him and making Him known.  He paid a high price because He couldn’t bear to be separated from us.  He also paved the way so we can come to the Throne of God with our requests.  We can get to know Him even before we see Him face to face someday!!!

Watch your step and you’ll have happy trails (and yes, a few trials too, just like everyone else :-)

Squirrely

I’m really enjoying the hiking!  I can feel it in my legs.  My clothes are starting to fit better (I still have a long ways to go though).  The neatest thing about hiking as a way of exercising is the wildlife!  Even the rattlesnakes!!!  The scenery is really cool too :-)

Today, I’m a half mile into the hike, just before it starts getting steep.  All of a sudden about 10 feet in front of me this squirrel darts onto the trail.  He’s running toward me, sees me, and veers to my right and past me.  He didn’t miss a step and was movin’!  Then I notice another squirrel is chasing him!  He sees me, puts on the breaks and retreats in front of me to my left!  These were not those little ground squirrels (I guess around here they are all ground squirrels!  You know what I mean).  They were pretty large and moving fast!  I don’t know if it was a little “muskrat love” or a some sort of fight?  I just kept walking.  I figured they would work it out :-)

Diamondback!

Finally, I saw one.  Not that I was looking really, but I was starting to wonder.  I’ve been hiking around here for a couple of years now and have only seen two snakes.  Both of them high tailing it away from me, and all I saw was their tails.  No rattles on either.  No diamondbacks.  Until today.

I was doing my usual Pusch Peak hike.  I was nearly to the first saddle and I was climbing up the trail minding my own business when I heard him.  The rule is, freeze.  Locate the snake.  Back away slowly.  I know that.  Everyone knows that!  What did I do?  I jumped back.  Located the snake.  Backed away quickly!

He was probably 6 feet in front of me and to the left.  Maybe at 10 o’clock.  I don’t think I was ever in any danger since he was that far away.  He was definitely curled up though! I’m not sure who scared whom the most.

After I calmed down a little.  (I did get a shot of adrenaline!)  I was a good 12 to 15 feet from him now and I just watched for a minute.  His rattling had stopped.  More confirmation I was far enough away.  I could see him tasting the air and starting to move slowly down the rock he was on.  He wasn’t on the trail, so that was good.  At first I thought, well, I’ll play it safe and just go back.  Then I looked up and saw how close I was to my destination, and I was thinking of going up to the second saddle. So, I noticed I could go further right of the trail and give the snake a wide berth.  And that’s what I did.  I was kicking myself for not bringing my camera.  Still, the picture I found and posted above is pretty close to what he looked like!

As I climbed away, he slithered slowly the other way.  I watched him go.  This time I was above him so I had a good look.  He was a good 3-4 feet long.  I saw either four or five nubs on his rattle. (nubs?)  Anyway, if I remember my snake aging method, that would put him at about two years old.  He was thick and looked healthy!

I’m just glad that God put early warning systems on them diamondbacks!  Otherwise, it might have been a bit different of a story.  As it was, it turned out it was awesome!

Tea para Me

The English are on to something.  It’s the second day in a row that I’ve been enjoying a spot of tea!  I like the Earl Grey (cause I like to taste my tea!) but it’s also Green Tea (anti-oxidants baby!).  Earl Grey Green Tea. I found it at Safeway.  For all of their high prices they have a couple of things I like.  Good produce and good tea assortment.

Which reminds me.  My Dad worked at Safeway in California.  The story I remember is that he was the youngest assistant manager in the state at 19!  Way to go Dad!  I also remember hearing that he would bring home the slightly expired milk.  Good savings!  Of course, it stunted my growth :-)

So, back to the tea.  It’s nice to sip some tea and ramble about whatever for a few minutes with friends or on your blog.  I like mine with a spoonful of honey.  I’m heading out to a dentist appointment and then to the store.  I’m out of the 100% pure unfiltered unheated honey that I get from Sprouts.  I just recently learned that most store honey is heated so that it is in that semi-liquid state.  That apparently kills a lot of the good micro-organisms in the honey that are good for you!  The good stuff has bits of pollen (and bits of bees) and is much better for you.

There. I got off subject again.  Tea.  Yes, the English have it figured out.  Take a break in the afternoon.  Relax for a bit.  Get a shot of some caffeine and you’re ready for the rest of the day!  For me that’s go to the Dentist and get my new bridge installed.  Hit a couple of grocery stores for some supplies.  Then either hike up Pusch Peak like yesterday, or do the bike ride up to the Pima Canyon Trailhead.  I have a long ways to go to lose this weight, but if I keep eating right and exercising, it’s just a matter of time.

Man, this tea is good :-)

Liking the Hiking

Three of the four last days I’ve been hiking 1,000 feet up Pusch Peak.  Great exercise!  My legs are getting stronger and I think my pants are fitting better.  I gotta stay consistent.  There are no short cuts to losing weight and getting in shape.

One great advantage I have is that this hike, while challenging, is very fun!  The views are great.  The terrain is cool.  The wildlife is abundant.  For example.  Today I was walking along and a rabbit hiding in a a bush ten feet in front of me scampered off.  Later while climbing the mountain, a small bush just four feet to my left rustled and I turned in time to see the tail of a snake slithering away.  It wasn’t a rattler, which is always good!

Also today (and yesterday) were the wildflowers.  They are busting out everywhere! Check it out on my site for larger versions of the shots below.

I had the most disconcerting thought hiking yesterday.  I was a little more than half way up my climb and was resting.  I could here this buzzing sound.  Hundreds? of bees swarming hundreds of flowers on the mountainside.  VERY cool!  Unfortunately, I’ve watched too many specials on Africanized Bees.  I know that if I cause one to accidentally sting me that I could be toast.  “Killer Bees” can chase their victims up to a quarter of a mile while on the attack!  They fly up to 13 mph or something.  At a sprint I could probably out run them even while my hamstrings would be tearing apart.  After all, it would be life or death!  But, on a steep hiking trail?  There would be no escape.

I hike alone and generally like it that way.  I have my cell phone with and I have even received calls on the trail, so in most urgencies, I would be fine.  Even hiking with a friend, could either one of us escape a vicious attack of “Killer Bees” intent on saving their honey from hikers marauders, much less save each other?

I’m gonna push these paranoid thoughts out of my mind and continue to enjoy my hikes.  I always pray for God’s protection before I hit the trail!  Besides.  I LOVE BEES!  I even wanted to be a bee keeper when I was younger.  Who knows.  Maybe someday!

The Extra Mile

When does 340 feet feel like a mile?  When it’s almost straight up!

I did my usual part way up Pusch Peak hike yesterday.  Since I had the day off, I decided that I had time, and just enough extra water, to climb to the next “saddle.”  My normal hike starts at 2,682 feet at the parking lot on Linda Vista.  I then hike about a mile and a half up to the “first saddle” on Pusch Peak.  That’s about 3,670 feet, so just short of 1,000 feet vertical.  It’s a really fun and challenging hike, although you have to be careful coming down.  It is steep and the loose rock can help you to fall!

Once I made it to the “first saddle,” I rested and looked up to the next one.  It’s very vertical, and according to Google Earth, it’s 4,010 feet above sea level.  That’s another 340 feet.  So up I went.  I’ve just started hiking and biking again, so I’m not nearly in my best shape.  I had to rest several times on my way up.  However, Once I got up there, the view is AWESOME!  Here’s a look at my apartment complex taken from the “second saddle” in July of last year:

Now the entire hike all the way to the top of Pusch Peak from Linda Vista is 2,679 feet (vertical), which means the “second saddle” is over half way up!

This is really good to know, because I may have found a more direct, although much steeper, way to the top of Pusch Peak!  The last time Michael and I climbed to the top, it took over 6 hours round trip!  Of course, now that I think about it, I was out hiking 3 hours yesterday.

My legs are sore.  That’s a good thing!

Like an Old Friend

I just finished (what used to be) my usual hike part way up Pusch Peak. It was hard work. Not as bad as I thought it would be, but it’s tough when take several months off. I haven’t made the partial climb since October! That’s like 1/3 of a year!!! Too long.

Still, it was exactly how I remembered it. Beautiful boulders, cacti, the sweet smell of the desert. I do like it here so. The first part of the hike is the Linda Vista Trail. It’s a nice meandering loop that’s nice for a more casual hike, although the first 3/4 of a mile does have an elevation gain of about 300 feet. It’s also a horse trail, so there is “hockey” to avoid :-) After the first 3/4 of a mile you come to a small metal sign that marks where you hang a right. It’s shortly after that that the real climb begins! Here’s a picture looking up to my eventual destination. The first saddle is maybe another 1/2 – 3/4 of a mile of trail, but it’s another 700 feet up!

The incline works the lungs and works the legs! (my favorite part) If you keep going you can get to the top of Pusch Peak. I’ve done it twice. Last time when Michael was here for Spring Break. It’s an AWESOME hike if you have all day (6 1/2 hours) and lots of water! This is the best web page I’ve seen that explains the whole climb: www.u.arizona.edu/~sandiway/hikes/puschpeak/index.html

Going down is especially good for the quads. Care must be taken because of the loose rock. Picking my way down the steep slope using my quads to control my descent has to be my favorite part! I also like the wildlife. Usually quail and lots of lizards. Lots of flies too in the Summer. Bummer. Hopefully no rattlesnakes! Haven’t seen one yet in two years plus :-)

When I’m in shape I can go up and down in under an hour and a half. Today took me two hours. I was encouraged! First, I didn’t die! Second, I wasn’t in as much pain (lungs nor legs) as I thought I would be in. I always pray beforehand for God to keep me from accident and injury. To use the exercise to build muscle and burn fat. On the way down I pray for sure footing. If you were with me you’d here me say, “Thank You Lord,” when I have little slips that don’t turn into big slips!

Whadda ya say we do it again tomorrow?!

Snow in Oro Valley!

Yesterday was so cool. Literally. 40′s most of the day with a chilly rain. The snow level was down to about 3,800 feet at one point in the late morning. You could see the snow piling up on Pusch Peak across the street from work. AWESOME!

I filled in for Alan yesterday, so I got off work about Noon:30 and I was driving home in the light rain.  I checked my temperature sensor in the car. 39 degrees! I was excited about the forecast. Up to 18″ of snow on the top of Mt. Lemmon. I was already planning my trip for Wednesday afternoon.

I tuned in Erin Christiansen on KGUN 9 On Your Side at 5:00 & 6:00 to see the pretty snow pictures. They showed video from Oracle. 2-4″ fell there!  That’s just above 4,000 feet and maybe 1/2 hour up the road.  If I wasn’t so tired after filling in on the early morning shift, I would have gone.

I was tired and in bed a little after 7:00.  Around 8:10 I was awakened by the wind kicking up and then what sounded like sleet hitting the bedroom window. I got up and looked out.  It was sideways sleet and/or snow pellets!  My rubber tree plant was blown over, so I went out to upright it.  (it’s probably frozen right now)  My deck was covered in snow pellets with it drifting on the side!  The desert below was actually covered.  SNOW in Oro Valley!  It came down fast and furious for about 10 minutes and that was it.

This has been one of the snowiest years in the western U.S.  Same for parts of the Great Lakes and Midwest.  It’s been cold too. I f I had more time this morning, I would document all of the cold and snow in China and other parts of the Northern Hemisphere.

Bottom line is, the Sun is coming out of it’s warm phase. Global warming believers may be in for a rude awakening, although it may take a few years for it to sink in. I’m hoping they don’t get higher carbon taxes passed first.  It’s just a waste of money that will weaken the economy.

On the bright side. I get to visit the snow on Mt. Lemmon tomorrow!!!

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