One Thousand Miles

This has been a tough week emotionally. Is it the changing weather, the time change, or something else? I'm not sure. I spent a few days at home just pottering about and not really accomplishing much. I walked, did some organizing and cleaning, and realized that I never finished making my bedroom a nice relaxing retreat. I haven't put up pictures or decorated at all and I'm tired of the spartan look of it. I now have a new goal for bad weather days - to work on my room decor.

I did go hiking on Thursday to Poke-O-Moonshine fire tower. It was not lost on me that we drove 2 hours each way to hike a mere 5 miles. We stopped for dinner at Paradox Brewery and had a wonderful time. I have to remember that it's as much about socializing as it is about exercise and the emotional lift I get by reaching the top and enjoying fantastic views.

Top of Poke-O-Moonshine

It was a cold day - the high temp was in the low 30's.

I climbed the fire tower to get a pic of the rest of the group admiring the view. 
Rich was busy making a snowman at the edge of the cliff.

I had been toying with taking another trip to my mom's and when I looked at my calendar I could see it was now or not til the end of November, so I headed off to Corning. She was having a hard time (digestively speaking) when I arrived which made me glad that I made the trip, but annoyed that she was dealing with it alone. That is her own doing though - she hates to ask for any kind of help and will suffer rather than speak up.  I tread lightly and with compassion,  rather than get annoyed with her, and just got her settled and fed with a gentle garlic and lemon shrimp linguine. 

Saturday I cleaned from 8 am until 1 pm, then seized upon the warmish weather to get in a 20 mile bike ride in 1 hr 50 min. I made a very nice roast pork dinner which mom really enjoyed, then we played Scrabble.

I came across this engaging goat on my bike ride.

Five bald eagles entertained me for a bit as I walked by the river in town. They were calling to each other and swooping low to get a better look at me. I wished I had a better camera.

 Sunday was grocery day, then a long walk, a quick shopping trip with my sister and I made another apple pie. 

I used Fuji apples which are now a favorite of mine!

My mom remarked that she wished she had a tenth of my energy, but honestly, keeping busy there helps with my sanity. Anticipatory grief is really doing my head in as I've been struggling with it for years. 

Still some color left.

I'm home now after taking the scenic route through the rural farmland of central NY.

I'm a poll watcher tomorrow beginning at 5:30 am until 9:30 pm. It's going to be a long day.

The views were more expansive than the camera is able to capture.

I drove an extra hour to avoid the monotony of the interstate highway.
A couple of podcasts and music from the 70's kept me entertained.

2023 Biking Challenge (1000 miles and 2+ rides per month)

Jan: 1/8 - 18 miles; 1/29 -12 mi

Feb: 2/14/- 14 mi, 2/15 - 16 mi, 2/20 - 21 mi

March: 3/21 - 14 mi, 3/31 - 11.5 mi

April: 4/4 - 20 mi, 4/27 - 15 mi

May: 5/9 - 20 mi, 5/11 - 15.1 mi, 5/14 - 19 mi, 5/21 - 30.1 mi, 5/26 - 7 mi, 5/27 - 8 mi, 5/28 - 20 mi

June: 6/3 - 20.3 mi, 6/6 - 15 mi, 6/8 - 15 mi, 6/9 - 23 mi, 6/14 - 15 mi, 6/15 - 21 mi, 6/16 - 10 mi, 

6/22 - 10 mi

July: 7/8 - 30.25 mi,  7/17 - 11 mi, 7/20 - 20.25 mi, 7/22 - 30 mi, 7/26 - 18.1 mi, 7/28 - 10 mi

August: 8/2 - 16.5 mi, 8/5 - 33.8 mi, 8/9 - 7.7 mi, 8/12 - 6 mi, 8/13 - 13.7 mi, 

8/18 - 20.1 mi, 8/20 - 34 mi, 

September: 9/8 - 26 mi, 9/12 - 17.6 mi, 9/14 - 21 mi, 9/20 - 21.4 mi,  9/21 - 26.7 mi, 

9/22 - 14.5 mi, 9/25 - 30.4 mi, 9/28 - 24 mi

October : 10/1 - 20.1mi, 10/2 - 26 mi., 10/7 - 8.5 mi, 10/11 - 23.5 mi, 10/13 - 27.3 mi, 10/17 - 14.4 mi, 10/25 - 19.3 mi, 10/27 - 18.6 mi

November: 11/4 - 20.2 mi, 

Total Distance: 1001.9 miles