Busy Busy

Haven't updated in a while...been busy.

Good news is that I've re-committed to the hike and as of today I've reached ~63% of my total of $2,900.

Thanks to all of you who have generously donated to the LLS to help me help others.

Now the hard part begins.

Training has really stepped up in the last several weeks. With few exceptions, I've been keeping to a fairly strict training schedule and I'm glad I have.

The last 3 training hikes I've finished have all been right around 4-6 hours spent in our boots. We started a 3 weeks ago at Cedar Ridge Preserve over off Mountain Creek Parkway near Cedar Hill.

Cedar Ridge Preserve is an EXCELLENT site for hikes. The 600+ acres used to be maintained by the Dallas Audubon Society. And I've got to say that it's one of Dallas' best kept hiking secrets.

With about 10-12 miles of trails, it offers about the best hiking I've seen to date here in this area. Several trails take you to some of Dallas/Ft. Worth's highest elevation points, (I know, that's not saying much for North Texas) but after you've tackle a couple of trails that take you to 600-700 foot elevations, you'll appreciate this little jewel in southern Dallas county.

The following weekend was supposed to spent along the North shore of Grapevine Lake but, again, it was too windy and too cold for me to justify getting my lazy butt out of bed. Sorry team, but you guys are nuts for hiking in a stiff wind that's cold to boot...yikers!!

So the next day, (beautiful with no wind!!) I went back out to Cedar Ridge Preserve and took my Wiem with me...next time I get a wild hair like that, stop me. Please.

With Axel at about 95 pounds, climbing up and down steep inclines is a chore at best, especially when he decides to go after that dove or rabbit he's just seen. Add to that, I have to have him leashed out there. So, I've got a hiking pole in one hand, a leash with a 95 lb dog in the other and about another 20 lbs of stuff in my pack. Needless to say, I had several "Keystone Cops" moments between keeping Axel from chasing the rabbits, keeping myself upright when I'm headed downhill, and talking to other hikers who were intimidated by Axel (boy that's fun) and the folks who want to pet and talk. Ah well...I asked for it!!

Two weeks ago we spent about 5 and 1/2 hours at Cleburne State Park hiking their outer loop. Nice rocky terrain with gently rolling hills (nothing like Cedar Ridge Preserve). This was really the first day I remember where it's actually been a little warm.

We had folks on the trail who were starting to wilt in the moderate heat and towards the end of the hike I was one of them. Which started me to thinking about Big Bend at the end of May...nice and hot...hydrate, hydrate, hydrate...then drink some more water...

This past weekend was a 6 hour hike at the Ft. Worth Nature Preserve but I didn't make this one either...I noticed that last Tuesday my right foot started hurting. Wednesday it was worse and I think I have a low key stone bruise or just a BOB (big ole bruise) directly on the ball of my right foot. So Fri-Sun, I kept my foot elevated and tried to stay off of it as much as possible. Thankfully it's feeling better and the only thing that I can think of is that my boots may have contributed to the bruise. So it's off to a sports outfitters (or maybe the Army Surplus store) for a new pair of boots...not something I really want to do, but I've learned that if you don't have a good pair of boots, you just won't be hiking very far or for very long.

That's all from here for right now...as the training keeps stepping up I'll keep everyone posted.

DQ