20191227 Training Update

We cannot believe how quickly time is passing… Less than 100 days until we begin our AT hike! Still so much to do.

A point of clarification from an earlier blog. My childhood memory of the trail crossing a road near Weld was correct but the location was not. At Thanksgiving, my father pointed out that the AT crosses on the road from Weld to Rangeley, and that we would have often been on that road during my childhood. As my dad and I talked about the upcoming trip, I could see that he shares my fascination with this lengthy hike. Craig and I enjoyed a four-mile hike in Auburn, New Hampshire with family on the day after Thanksgiving (much more enjoyable than shopping).

We continue to hike outdoors as often as possible, hiking snowy bike paths and roadways. During the past two weeks we hiked several trails of the Frenchman’s Bay Conservancy including Taft Point in Gouldsboro, as well as the Schoodic Bog Loop and other trails along Punkinville Road in Sullivan.

We also hiked the Trenton Community Trail, Blue Hill Woods Trail in Surry, the Harbor Trail from Schoodic Woods, and the Alder Trail to Mountain Road and back. The most challenging was Great Notch Trail with a loop back on Long Pond Trail in Southwest Harbor. Long Pond Trail was completely covered with ice in three separate places. Once we were able to skirt along the edge of the ice; once we cautiously stepped from rocky point to rocky point to cross an 8’ section; and for the third and final sheet of ice we needed to get off the trail completely. If we had decided to take the Long Pond Trail first on this loop we would have turned back and not explored the other trail at all, thereby missing a wonderful hiking experience. Assumptions are tricky!

My annual lab tests for cholesterol, triglycerides and A1C yielded the best numbers I’ve had in years! Exercise truly is the best medicine!

At home, we have a stationary bike, and each of us rides about 30 minutes each day. We are building up to an hour each. We both stretch and do calisthenic and isometric exercises recommended by our physical therapists [excellent services available right here at the clinic in Gouldsboro]. Craig’s plantar fasciitis and my sciatica are responding well to specific stretches. I also enjoy Zumba and/or dancing to strengthen my core and ease out my back muscles after carrying a pack.

We are also purchasing our gear for the trek. More about that in next week’s blog.