Training Log Archive: CharlieIn the 30 days ending Apr 30, 2016:
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Saturday Apr 30, 2016 #
8 AM
Hike 1:03:47 4.32 mi (14:46 / mi) +275m 12:20 / mi
ahr:178 max:248 slept:4.5 weight:163.4lbs
Around the neighborhood. I seem to be catching up to the local litterers. Only picked up one can, of the familiar blue color.
Early to tell how this injection is going to work out, but I felt relatively better this morning than usual.
Early to tell how this injection is going to work out, but I felt relatively better this morning than usual.
Friday Apr 29, 2016 #
1 PM
Note
slept:7.5 weight:163lbs
I went to get my spinal injection. This was quite a different experience from yesterday. Yesterday I was at the big hospital outpatient "pavilion", lots of desks with attendants pointing one in all directions, filling out some more forms, waiting a long time, hanging out a bit in one of four exam rooms associated with my particular doc, etc. Probably interacted with at least 12 different people.
Today was a visit to a solo practitioner, one assistant, office in an old house in Avon. Very pleasant, not much paperwork. I had brought the CD of my MRI and we talked about that for a while. When we finally got around to doing the injection, the whole thing was over in somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes, and I was on my way out the door half an hour after I had arrived.
First there was a little novocaine applied, then the steroid injection into the left side of my spine. A little bit of a strange feeling down my leg briefly, more of a bit of pressure than anything else, but didn't last.
He told me I might feel better right away because of the novocaine, but that would wear off, and I might also have some numbness. The effects of the steroid (assuming it works) might kick in after about 48 hours, or might take as much as a week.
Walking out of there, my back and hip discomfort was greatly abated, but I felt a little awkward walking. Almost not noticeable, just a little off. I had a little failure going to step up into the truck, but the second time was ok. Now that I am home I am feeling a bit tired, but my back still feels better. Not feeling like anything active this afternoon, though.
Today was a visit to a solo practitioner, one assistant, office in an old house in Avon. Very pleasant, not much paperwork. I had brought the CD of my MRI and we talked about that for a while. When we finally got around to doing the injection, the whole thing was over in somewhere between 5 and 10 minutes, and I was on my way out the door half an hour after I had arrived.
First there was a little novocaine applied, then the steroid injection into the left side of my spine. A little bit of a strange feeling down my leg briefly, more of a bit of pressure than anything else, but didn't last.
He told me I might feel better right away because of the novocaine, but that would wear off, and I might also have some numbness. The effects of the steroid (assuming it works) might kick in after about 48 hours, or might take as much as a week.
Walking out of there, my back and hip discomfort was greatly abated, but I felt a little awkward walking. Almost not noticeable, just a little off. I had a little failure going to step up into the truck, but the second time was ok. Now that I am home I am feeling a bit tired, but my back still feels better. Not feeling like anything active this afternoon, though.
7 PM
Note
AOWN: Really handsome and very large black bear came wandering through the yard. R&I agreed that it looke like about 450 lb. shiny coat, big face, a very nice looking animal, and we judged best observed from a distance. He walked around from the field to the west, past the hot tub and around to the middle field, paused for a while by the blueberry bushes - nothing useful to him there, strolled over to the apple trees - ditto, and then ambled down the driveway. Maybe he was making notes of where to come back later in the year.
Thursday Apr 28, 2016 #
6 AM
PT exercises 1:00:00 [3]
slept:6.25 weight:162.8lbs
Usual session with Eric. Always improves things.
9 AM
Note
Visit this morning with the spine doc, one Dr Moss. Like many of these guys, the scheduled appointment time is just a suggestion. Perhaps a good sign that there is more or less an empty waiting room, but no reasonable way to estimate when I might be called.
10 AM
Note
I got in at the spine docs at about 9:50, had some more X-rays, met for a while with the jr. spine doc, who did a pretty detailed exam, then with the eminence grise himself. He confirmed that there is some degenerative disc disease, but not a surprising amount. I have no nerve deficits. The worst of it is at L3-L4, where there is a fair amount of inflammation, and that site is consistent with the location of the pain I have. He thinks an epidural steroid injection would be helpful, and I am having one tomorrow. If it works, it may work within a week or so. I am then to go back and see him in 3 weeks. Depending on whether this does what I want, there may be surgical options in the offing, but not now. So generally good news, of course pending how this all works out.
Wednesday Apr 27, 2016 #
9 AM
cycling 58:07 12.28 mi (4:44 / mi) +234m 4:28 / mi
ahr:141 max:216 slept:8.5 weight:162.6lbs
With Rhonda and Lindsay from Pleasant Valley. Just an easy ride. Fairly cool out. HRM acting up badly. Sometimes washing it improves its act.
Tuesday Apr 26, 2016 #
6 AM
PT exercises 1:00:00 [3]
slept:4.0 weight:161.6lbs
Session with Eric, moving up to twice a week, at least for now.
Other 20 [3]
9 ring pull-ups. I think this will start to get easier, now that I have evened them out. The right one had been an inch or so lower.
Monday Apr 25, 2016 #
8 AM
Hike 2:20:10 11.39 km (12:18 / km) +505m 10:04 / km
ahr:116 max:176 slept:7.5 weight:163lbs shoes: 2011 NB MT840
Rhonda's good idea to go hike the Tunxis trail loop. First time in a while. I was a bit surprised by the amount of mud and standing water, given how dry it seems otherwise. I did a lot of rolling first, trying to quiet my butt and ITBs. The dog had a fine time. We had a brief encounter with our former neighbor Stuart, who moved away last year but was driving nearby and stopped for a walk on Doyle Road for old times' sake.
Sunday Apr 24, 2016 #
9 AM
Orienteering 47:27 *** 2.06 mi (23:02 / mi) +106m 19:52 / mi
ahr:131 max:168 spiked:6/13c slept:9.0 shoes: 2014 icebugs
Long Brown course at West Point. Very sore and stiff to start and feeling vulnerable. Not my best navigation, either. On the way to 1 there was a sea of green pointy stuff, wandering this way and that to get through with as little damage as possible, I ended up way off to the right, just left of the big patch of bare rock and cliffs, then pulled up short and looked pretty hard at some other dot knolls along the way. Must have lost at least 3 minutes with that foolishness. Then I intended to go south to the trail and around to 2, but another sea of green and I found myself angling uphill to get away from it, finally crossed the power line and came over the top. Not much difficulty finding it, but a very slow route, so maybe another 2 minutes. Then 3 was not too bad, especially once I realized I had to go past the power line first. 4 was fine, a couple of extra cliffs along the way, but basically right on line. It was along the way to 4 when I looked at my watch and saw the dreaded 00:00:00. Sometimes I punch it to start and it beeps, but doesn't actually start. Not the first time this has happened. I really need to watch it to confirm that it is actually starting. So I missed the first 17 minutes or so of the course with my track. Then 5 was more or less ok. I was a line low coming to it, and it looked more like a cliff than a dot knoll to me, but it had a flag on it, so I had to go punch it. 6 was fine. I found the slot in the big cliff and followed it up all the way and in. Now I understand what happened at 7. I was heading south to get around the big cliffs halfway, found a place to climb up and thought I was going straight east and into it, but with all the up and down I got off to the south. Well off, halfway to 8. Saw the people heading south and had to go back north a fair amount. 8 should have been easy, and it wasn't too bad, but I did end up having to hook around back into it. 9 was just a mystery. I thought I had come right into it, came over a knoll and into a rocky area at the foot, looking just like the map, but no control. So I decided to wander N a bit and found it. Didn't look quite as convincing as the first place I found, but it did have a flag. 10 was pretty much a disaster. Headed for 7, but then I didn't actually find 7 the second time. Then I thought the giant cliff between 10 and 11 was the cliff with bare rocks near 10, so that led to all kinds of unhappiness, before I figured out I was too far East and got over to the right area. Then swapping leads with Janet Findlay for a while. 11 was fine, 12 was fine, although I had trouble getting out of 12 and ended up going back north to the trail instead of having the discipline to fight out east or south. I saw Boris sitting by 13, who encouraged me on my power walking up the hill. Nice, but I had thought I was running.
Now that I am home, the level of soreness and fatigue is calling into grave question my plan to run (or walk) the Billygoat in 2 weeks. If I can't find someone to ride with, it may just all be too much.
Brown Long Map.
Now that I am home, the level of soreness and fatigue is calling into grave question my plan to run (or walk) the Billygoat in 2 weeks. If I can't find someone to ride with, it may just all be too much.
Brown Long Map.
Saturday Apr 23, 2016 #
Event: West Point National Meet
10 AM
Orienteering race 42:46 *** 3.2 km (13:22 / km) +111m 11:23 / km
ahr:126 max:150 spiked:5/8c slept:6.5 weight:162.2lbs shoes: 2014 icebugs
Middle distance Brown course at West Point. Back is pretty sore, certainly more of a struggle than last month in California. Started slowly to 1. Somehow it seemed farther than I was expecting, so I was just looking around a lot on the way, but saw the big rootstock in front of the control. Then 2 was a pretty nice leg, pretty straight, coming between the two knolls just above it and straight in. Fine to 3, except I didn't look far enough around the cliff to see the control, so reluctantly went down and checked the next cliff, mapped as bare rock on the edge of the circle, and then doubled back for it. Then down to the intersection at the water stop and S on the trail thinking I would go off the boulder 50M south, but no boulder there, and now that I look at it the symbol is a building, but no building there either. No harm done, because the spot was obvious. Wormed my way between the green and somewhat reluctantly crossed the stream. Up to my waist! And hard to get out on the steep bank on the other side. It wasn't until I was on the way to 5 that I saw there was a bridge a bit farther up. Anyway, once I was across, pretty easy to find #4, and there were a few folks there, anyway. Then I got a bit off to the right on the way to 5, near the stream, and past the bridge, but no troublefinding the control, going up the little streamlet ditch to it. Started back toward the bridge, but found a place to cross the stream on rocks, and headed uphill. Eventually I came out on the E/W trail, but a bit confused, and it seemed like climbing up on the N side of the stream was helpful, so it ended up a bit of a circuitous route. I saw a 4 meter boulder across the stream and thought that it would have to be on the map, but then I saw that the clue was 4 M boulder, so all set. The last few were trivial.
Brown Middle Map.
Brown Middle Map.
11 AM
Note
The walk back from the finish was pretty painful, basically as long as the walk to the start plus half the course, and over rocky sidehill much of it. Joe was apparently clever enough to figure out a way to get across the swamp on a beaver dam. Very tiring, and perhaps not optimal course planning.
2 PM
Orienteering 19:34 *** 2.26 km (8:39 / km) +43m 7:54 / km
ahr:145 max:162 spiked:16/17c shoes: 2012 MT101 Black
Brown Sprint at West Point. Easier than the morning, but still sore and hobbled. Maybe lost a bit of time here and there, including going almost to 3 on the way from 6 to 7, and getting past 14 and then cutting back in to it, but the only real error was 15, where I drifted below the lower big cliff and had to think about it a while before I climbed up, maybe a minute or a minute and a half lost there. Just for perspective, I saw 8 right away leaving 7, more or less ran to it as fast as I could. Andis passed me, probably doing the leg in half the time it took me or maybe even less.
Brown Sprint Map.
Brown Sprint Map.
Friday Apr 22, 2016 #
8 AM
Other 20 [3]
slept:9.0 weight:161lbs
8 ring pullups.
12 PM
Hike 36:09 2.0 mi (18:06 / mi) +160m 14:30 / mi
ahr:122 max:173
I had to drop the car off for a bit in Collinsville, so I walked up Sweetheart Mtn a bit to kill half an hour. I got a nasty hot spot under my heel on the way down. Not a favorable development the day before an o-meet.
Thursday Apr 21, 2016 #
6 AM
PT exercises 1:00:00 [1]
slept:7.0 weight:162.8lbs
Resuming the weekly sessions with Eric. He always does me a lot of good. My back continues to be quite sore, but maybe a little better today than the last couple of days.
Other 10 [3]
5 full hang ring pullups. Interesting. The limitation seems to be initiating the pullup from the bottom, which draws on some forearm strength. The left is not strong enough right now, so there is a little imbalance in the first part of the movement, as I am mostly starting the pull on the right.
5 PM
Hike 59:41 4.22 mi (14:09 / mi) +307m 11:32 / mi
ahr:124 max:165
This is the best thing I seem to do for my back, and right now is the best it has felt since I got home from Italy.
Wednesday Apr 20, 2016 #
9 AM
Note
Had a nice visit with walk this morning. He dropped off some maps on his way over to Peoples State Forest, stayed to chat a while. Very pleasant.
12 PM
Hike 1:04:51 4.34 mi (14:57 / mi) +311m 12:14 / mi
ahr:107 max:163 slept:7.0 weight:162.8lbs
With Rhonda. I was feeling pretty sore and limited this morning, and this walk is the best thing I seem to be able to do for myself, especially the steepest of the uphill sections.
I have a couple of spine appointments set up, one for next week and one for the week following. Maybe I'll know more after that.
I have a couple of spine appointments set up, one for next week and one for the week following. Maybe I'll know more after that.
Tuesday Apr 19, 2016 #
9 AM
Hike 1:09:00 [2] 4.29 mi (16:05 / mi) +305m 13:10 / mi
slept:7.0 weight:163lbs
With Rhonda. No track, as Garmin was misbehaving. The excellent customer support people got it working again promptly when I got home. This included a stop to chat up our neighbor Shannon, and I found a bag along the road and filled it up with various submoron detritus, including the inevitable twinkling Bud Light cans.
2 PM
cycling 50:49 12.46 mi (4:05 / mi) +170m 3:55 / mi
ahr:117 max:149
I needed to go to AAA, and Zack suggested I ride there and he would pick me up. An easy ride in that direction. The back is rather more sore than it has been lately. Maybe it is the residue of having seen my MRI.
Monday Apr 18, 2016 #
9 AM
Note
slept:6.0 weight:164.4lbs
I went to see the esteemed Dr Beebe this morning, a man who knows well the inner workings of my shoulders and knee. This time I was there to hash over the results of an MRI on my spine. Nasty enough in the L3-L4 region that he is packing me off to visit with a spine surgeon. So that explains, perhaps, why things have been so uncomfortable there, although the prospect of back surgery is not a jolly one.
1 PM
Hike 39:06 2.42 mi (16:09 / mi) +189m 13:00 / mi
ahr:109 max:141
Neighborhood walk with Rhonda. She is even a bit more jet lagged than I, so we did the shorter loop. It still did me a bit of good, but I really need to do the long one.
Saturday Apr 16, 2016 #
Note
Pleasant cab ride to the airport at Napoli, chatting up the driver in Italian. I think is is the first trip I have had where I have felt absolutely confident to have a detailed conversation with pretty much anyone. I do well when I am talking with someone, but I have not yet mastered the ability to overhear a conversation between native speakers. He was an enthusiast for going up Vesuvius, which we had thought we might do, but never got around to, and for the comic actor Totò. He pointed out the cemetery where Totò is buried, and I remarked that he had been dead for quite a long time (nigh on 50 years now). He said yes, but his films live on. I suppose they do, but I can't say I have seen more than about one of them. Rhonda was remarkably patient with the whole episode.
The airport at Napoli is very new seeming, and one of the nicest and most efficient I have seen. Very impressed. However, we are now cooling our heels as our flight is delayed, hoping to make our connection.
The airport at Napoli is very new seeming, and one of the nicest and most efficient I have seen. Very impressed. However, we are now cooling our heels as our flight is delayed, hoping to make our connection.
4 PM
Note
Flight was delayed enough in Naples that we missed the connection, and now we are guests of Aer Lingus overnight in Dublin. Could be worse, or so I thought. There were quite a few of us getting shuttled over to the hotel, and a fellow of about 75 remarked to me that this was the worst thing that ever happened to him. I was a bit stunned. "Really, this is the worst? Well, you are quite a lucky man then, if nothing worse than this has ever happened to you." Seems that is not what he wanted to hear.
Friday Apr 15, 2016 #
9 AM
Note
Train to Sorrento, and then a boat ride fro Massa Lupense around and to Capri. We spent about two hours on the small boat (driver and 9 passengers) getting there, seeing various grottoes, the excellent rock formations known as I Faraglioni and the renowned Faro Punto Carena, a place apparently well known to J-J. Then we had 4 hours on the island before the return trip. Of the many thousands of tourists who descended on the island from a parade of ferries, I estimate that approximately two had come with the express purpose of hiking up to the ruins of Villa di Iovis, the Villa of the Emperor Tiberius. It could have been 4, but G&L had been there before and instead went to see the Villa of Nero's wife at Oplontis.
Capri is remarkably steep. We walked up to the main square, then started on the path to the Villa, only to be confronted with a sign saying it was closed for security reasons. That is, they don't seem to think it is worth the trouble to hire someone to admonish tourists not to break off souvenirs, so easier to just put up a fence. I doubt that anyone else on the island noticed. Then we regrouped and started on the path to the natural arch, a stunning feature, but currently undergoing repairs to forestall a fate like that of the old man of the mountains. We then reformed again, and set off on a path to a viewpoint over the arch. All these paths are paved walkways, but after a bit we saw a sort of hiking trail off to the side, disappearing up into some scrubby woods, and off we went.
After a bit we encountered a couple of older gents walking their dogs and chatted them up in a mixture of tongues. They thought it would be good for us to take a different trail that led to I Faraglioni, and then rejoined one of the paved paths and eventually led us back to the center from the other side. A very nice excursion. Some of our other shipmates had taken a chair lift up to the high point on the opposite side of the island, which would also have made a good excursion, but I think having been once is absolutely adequate, and I don't expect to return.
Capri is remarkably steep. We walked up to the main square, then started on the path to the Villa, only to be confronted with a sign saying it was closed for security reasons. That is, they don't seem to think it is worth the trouble to hire someone to admonish tourists not to break off souvenirs, so easier to just put up a fence. I doubt that anyone else on the island noticed. Then we regrouped and started on the path to the natural arch, a stunning feature, but currently undergoing repairs to forestall a fate like that of the old man of the mountains. We then reformed again, and set off on a path to a viewpoint over the arch. All these paths are paved walkways, but after a bit we saw a sort of hiking trail off to the side, disappearing up into some scrubby woods, and off we went.
After a bit we encountered a couple of older gents walking their dogs and chatted them up in a mixture of tongues. They thought it would be good for us to take a different trail that led to I Faraglioni, and then rejoined one of the paved paths and eventually led us back to the center from the other side. A very nice excursion. Some of our other shipmates had taken a chair lift up to the high point on the opposite side of the island, which would also have made a good excursion, but I think having been once is absolutely adequate, and I don't expect to return.
Wednesday Apr 13, 2016 #
8 AM
Hike 1:37:06 4.99 mi (19:27 / mi) +32m 19:04 / mi
ahr:92 max:177 slept:8.0
Round 2 of looking for the beach. I had looked on google satellite view and found what looked like a small park with some beach access, and not far from where we had been a few days ago. When we got there, it turned out not to be much of a park. All fenced off and completely unmaintained, just a tangle of vegetation. There was a path along the western side and we went down to the beach. 200 meters offshore was a lovely outcrop island, looked like castle ruins. The beach is all black sand, but absolutely covered with trash. We were about to head back the way we came when we ran into a man with a little cart filled with scuba gear. He seemed to be preparing to go out to the island to dive, and he encouraged us to head NW along the beach where it was cleaner, so we did. It was cleaner in relative terms, but not so much on an absolute level. After a bit we came to a huge parking area, separated from the road on the inland side by a fence, and a handful of walkers and joggers. We pressed on and came to a large abandoned warehouse sort of building, and it looked like there might be an exit there, but we were chased back by a couple of fairly aggressive dogs. So back along the fence to where we found a couple of jersey barriers that we could go between, and back toward home. Near the apartment the bell started ringing when we crossed the tracks, so we looked back to see the gate come down and watch the man who operates the crossing. Strange that it is not more operated. Just then a fellow on a motorino coming downhill tried to make an abrupt stop and lost control, the motorino going one way and him another. He was a bit shaken, but after checking himself over he declare to us that he was ok. Meanwhile the crossing operator was pointing at him and yelling something. Not very helpful.
12 PM
Hike 36:39 1.5 mi (24:26 / mi) +3m 24:18 / mi
ahr:74 max:84
To lunch in town with G, L and R, excellent grilled whole bream and sea bass.
Hike 47:54 2.24 mi (21:23 / mi) +20m 20:48 / mi
ahr:82 max:101
Back by a slightly different route, stopping at the store for supplies. This seems to be the worst day of the trip for general back flexibility and comfort, so kicking back on the floor for a while this afternoon.
Tuesday Apr 12, 2016 #
Note
We thought we were going to the Archaeological Museum in Naples this morning, but it was a bit of a fiasco. We took the train in and a cab to the museum, only to find that it is closed on Tuesdays. After thinking not very long about it, we just turned around and went back.
1 PM
Hike 3:35:09 6.51 mi (33:03 / mi) +72m 31:57 / mi
ahr:79 max:128 slept:7.0
After lunch Rhonda and I went back to the excavations in Pompeii to see the northwestern part that we had missed before. Now we have a better idea of why the guide didn't take us there. This area contains many of the most famous and well preserved houses, but it was almost all fenced off because of restorations, or for generally unknown reasons. We did visit the House of the Faun and the Villa of the Mysteries, both of which were quite fine. Then we walked back through the excavations to the eastern end and out to the Piazza of the Sanctuary in town.
Monday Apr 11, 2016 #
9 AM
Hike 3:31:53 4.2 mi (50:27 / mi) +21m 49:41 / mi
ahr:69 max:95 slept:6.75
Strolling around the ruins with R, G&L and our very knowledgeable and lovely guide Ilaria. We covered about 2/3 of the site, seeing many of the buildings and paintings we were familiar with from our Roman architecture course, but also seeing and learning a lot more.
1 PM
Hike 24:23 1.09 mi (22:22 / mi) +15m 21:27 / mi
ahr:83 max:97
Back to the apartment after lunch near the main square.
4 PM
Hike 1:53:19 5.07 mi (22:21 / mi) +28m 21:58 / mi
ahr:83 max:109
Excursion with Rhonda around Pompei and Torre Annunziata, looking for the coastline. Pretty elusive, very industrial area, no discernible public access, finally came to a marina that promised a view of the sea, but we were chased off by a security guard, so we headed back. We got stopped for a rather long time at a rail crossing, which eventually produced a very short, slow moving train. Rhonda was relatively anxious by the time the bars came up, but I had been unwilling to duck under them. Rhonda found a little wine bar rather precariously located on a small traffic circle on the way back.
Hike 16:06 [3] 0.73 mi (22:03 / mi) +1m 21:57 / mi
To the market with Rhonda and Leslie to get supplies.
8 PM
Hike 15:47 [3] 0.78 mi (20:14 / mi) +20m 18:47 / mi
Back from the market
Saturday Apr 9, 2016 #
Note
Travel day, Rome to Napoli Centrale, then the local train from Napoli Garibaldi to Pompei. Our apartment is a short walk from the station and from the Porta Marina entrance to the excavations. One of the better lunches of the trip at the restaurant downstairs, pasta frutti di mare and grilled swordfish, squid and shrimp.
Friday Apr 8, 2016 #
9 AM
Hike 3:26:26 10.54 mi (19:35 / mi) +186m 18:34 / mi
ahr:89 max:120 slept:7.0
Very nice morning. We were out and about before the others were up. I forgot to turn on the watch until we were past Porta San Paolo, so the real distance is probably another mile more. We more or less followed the Laurentian Wall until we reached Porta San Sebastiano, then down the Via Appia Antica until we came to the road that cuts through the catacombs, a beautiful park, and it cuts off the busiest section of the old Appian Way. It is at least a kilometer long, and when we came to the end, we were beyond disappointed to find a locked gate. Faced with walking all the way back out we came on a workman who told us we could just sound a button and the gate would be opened. Pretty lucky, and lucky to be able to speak with people here. Then we continued by the Villa of Maxentius, a Roman emperor. This villa was the site for the filming of Ben Hur. There is a way through there to the Parco Della Caffarella, but the gate didn't open until 10. We continued past the tomb of Cecelia Metella, thought about going to Capo di Bove, but instead turned left and crossed Via Pignatelli and went on a path into the park. We had an o map, but it was pretty useless. A very muddy printing, and no defined boundaries. We never definitively matched it up with the terrain. Too bad, as it is quite a lovely park. Larger and wilder than the very manicured Villa dei Borghesi we had been at yesterday. Eventually we found our way to an information area near the Via Latina and picked up a Park map. Not very high quality as maps go, but it had some named features, so more useful than the o map. I had it in mind to find the tomb of Annia Regilia, and it took some hunting. Unfortunately it is only open on Saturdays, so we could only look through the gate. Then we got on a road through the park that eventually wound through some very high end houses and villas and got back to the Via Appia Antica. Back to Porta San Sebastiano and then continued on the Appian way past the baths of Caracalla and the Circus Maximus, by the Temple of Portunus, and over the bridge to I Vascellari, because Rhonda was wanting their chicken with sesame and spinach, and where I was happy to have spaghetti alle vongole with little roasted cherry tomatoes.
Thursday Apr 7, 2016 #
8 AM
Note
A very fine dinner with the group at Da Paolo, small trattoria at the corner. Certainly no English spoken here. Excellent spaghetti alle vongole, and even better ravioli stuffed with spinach and ricotta in a light tomato cream sauce. Then R&L went home, while George and I did a bit of exploring on the other side of Viale di Trastevere, where the nightlife seems to be centered. We stumbled on the very beautiful Byzantine church of Sant'Egidio, where there was a choir concert, beautiful singing in a large and highly decorated church with an intricately coffered ceiling and large expanses of gold leaf.
10 AM
Orienteering 1:05:54 3.56 mi (18:31 / mi) +85m 17:14 / mi
ahr:95 max:121 slept:6.0
Teams of two on 2012 sprint course at Villa Borghese Park. What a beautiful park! R&I went out a bit ahead, walking all the way, but purposefully. No navigational problems, although the rootstock at #14 is no longer there. So many monuments! Interesting to see the diverse people memorialized, including an Azerbaijani poet and a Uruguayan war hero. I had rolled and stretched extensively before we left, and felt pretty good during the excursion. And G&L finished right behind us.
We had taken a bus to the Piazza della Repubblica, and the metro from there. From the finish we went down the hill to the Piazza del Popolo and walked from there to Piazza di Spagna, where we dropped off G&L at the metro and we walked back.
We had taken a bus to the Piazza della Repubblica, and the metro from there. From the finish we went down the hill to the Piazza del Popolo and walked from there to Piazza di Spagna, where we dropped off G&L at the metro and we walked back.
Hike 1:54:54 3.18 mi (36:08 / mi) +82m 33:27 / mi
ahr:81 max:99
Walking back, meandering. We stopped to look at the Ara Pacis through the large window, but didn't go in, and walked all around the Mausoleum of Augustus, which was entirely fenced off. I had read a year ago that it had been restored, but apparently it is not open to the public at this time. Back and forth across the Tevere, crossing once on the Ponte dei Angeli with its Bernini sculptures by the Castel Sant'Angelo, stopping for lunch in Trastevere near the apartment.
Wednesday Apr 6, 2016 #
9 AM
Hike 3:45:47 5.27 mi (42:51 / mi) +3m 42:46 / mi
ahr:77 max:114 slept:7.0
We took a trip to the ancient Roman port city of Ostia today. I had been there a year ago with Tullio and Giulia, but the others had not. What a great day! I was feeling pretty satisfied, getting some directions from various locals to buy a bus ticket, find the right bus, etc. We caught the 3b bus to Piramide, then the train to Ostia Antica and the excavations. We had learned about these in our Roman architecture class, and it is fascinating to go there, to sit in the old theater, walk through the baths and the houses and public spaces.
After a few hours of that we went to lunch at Monumento, not far from the ancient city. I had been there last year and remembered it as wonderful, but maybe it was even better. After telling G, L & R how good it was, I was gratified not to disappoint them. For me the highlight was the moscardini (fried baby octopus with leeks). When I say "baby", they weren't even an inch long. Delicious. Then we had ravioli stuffed with fish and in a sauce of whole baby clams and tiny tomatoes, and fettuccine with porcini mushrooms. We parried the insistence that we have cake, but had some grappa given to us despite our protestations. And some really good coffee. So now this is the favorite restaurant.
After a few hours of that we went to lunch at Monumento, not far from the ancient city. I had been there last year and remembered it as wonderful, but maybe it was even better. After telling G, L & R how good it was, I was gratified not to disappoint them. For me the highlight was the moscardini (fried baby octopus with leeks). When I say "baby", they weren't even an inch long. Delicious. Then we had ravioli stuffed with fish and in a sauce of whole baby clams and tiny tomatoes, and fettuccine with porcini mushrooms. We parried the insistence that we have cake, but had some grappa given to us despite our protestations. And some really good coffee. So now this is the favorite restaurant.
2 PM
Hike 14:12 0.46 mi (30:53 / mi)
ahr:89 max:116
Back from the restaurant to the train, stopping to look at the 15th century castle and defensive tower.
5 PM
Note
To the Campidoglio museums with Rhonda, while the others got some rest. Lots of statuary, very beautiful and interesting. My favorite was Marforio, but many many wonderful sculptures, as well as some great Renaissance and later painting and tapestries. Then back in time to go out for gelato with George.
Tuesday Apr 5, 2016 #
9 AM
Hike 3:19:24 3.99 mi (49:59 / mi) +109m 46:04 / mi
ahr:75 max:121
Just being a tourist, colosseum in the morning, then Roman forum and palatine hill. Fascinating stuff, but too crowded. Then we wandered back to I Vascellari for a late lunch, spaghetti con aglio, olio e peperoncini and lovely chicken with spinach and sesame seeds. Then a bit of a nap.
6 PM
Hike 1:57:36 6.35 mi (18:31 / mi) +140m 17:20 / mi
ahr:93 max:125
Rhonda and I got it in our minds to go see the tomb of the baker at the Porta Maggiore, more or less the other side of town and off the map I had. So we made a few mistakes, ended up at the Porta Giovanni first, but figured it out. We have been pretty interested in this tomb for a long time, so pretty excited to find it. Than back home again, arriving around 8, in time to go out for gelato with George and Leslie.
Monday Apr 4, 2016 #
10 AM
Hike 48:28 1.68 mi (28:51 / mi) +74m 25:22 / mi
ahr:71 max:93
This was the walk over to Trajan's market with Leslie and Rhonda, and then into the Museum, while George was resting. Many interesting things from our Roman architecture class, particularly the arches and clerestory in the grand hall. We stopped at Da Teo for lunch on the way back. This was a favorite place from when we were here 4 years ago. We split a salad, rigatoni all'amatriciana and chicken and peppers. All excellent, maybe the peppers the best part.
5 PM
Note
We took a cab to Termini, then the train to Capannelle, where our friend Tullio picked us up. Then home to get Giulia and we went for a walk on the old Appian Way. Lovely. We walked as far as the tomb of Cecilia Metella and back, then I went home with Giulia, chatting in Italian, while the others took a quick trip to the excellent Parco degli Acquedotti, to see the old Roman acqueducts. We had a very pleasant dinner at Tullio and Giulia's. Giulia is a person Rhonda really admires in the kitchen. Tullio was nice enough to drive us back home after.
Sunday Apr 3, 2016 #
8 AM
Note
slept:8.0
Out for a brief walk that turned out a bit longer, as there is quite a bit to see. Investigated the bus situation, as we plan to take the bus to the train station when we need to go there, stopped for a cappuccino and pastry at the closest local bar, then strolled over to Largo Della Torre di Argentina to admire the cats. The cats there are fed and cared for by a local shelter, which also sterilizes and vaccinated them and offers them for adoption. Then to Trevi, admiring piazzas and churches along the way. Trevi less crowded than yesterday and certainly worth seeing again. Stopped for lunch nearby, sharing four different salads. At the Piazza Della Colonna we encountered a very talented military marching band, with a very pleasant repertoire. We next stopped at a very well stocked market to get supplies for tomorrow's breakfast. Finally to Piazza Navona and gelato at the renowned Tre Scalini, and admiring the three fountains there. Then home to relax, getting back a bit after 2.
3 PM
Hike 53:14 3.1 mi (17:10 / mi) +47m 16:24 / mi
ahr:86 max:115
Stroll along the Tevere with Rhonda while G&L rested. There is a bicycle path along the western bank, and fairly long staircases to get down to the paths along the banks. Lots of people out on a warm afternoon. A bit on the east side, but the path there is all cobbled.
Saturday Apr 2, 2016 #
Note
slept:2.0
Our flight got in around 11, shuttle into town. The Rome airport is very efficient. We were at the apartment around 12:10. Met Rodolfo the owner, then went out for lunch and a walk around town, across the Tevere, past the ruins at Largo Argentino with all the cats, to the Pantheon, Trevi Fountain, Piazza Venezia with the Victor Emmanuel Monument, Campidoglio and Forums. A stroll through the Teatro Marcello, with some reconstruction going on there, and back to the apartment in Trastevere for a much needed nap, and to await George and Leslie. Las time we were here, Trevi fountain was empty and under repairs. Beautiful clean water now, quite a sight but impossibly crowded in a Saturday afternoon.
Friday Apr 1, 2016 #
9 AM
Rowing Machine 8:50 [3] 2.0 km (4:25 / km)
slept:6.75 weight:166lbs
decidedly less energy today than Wednesday, but got it done. Now another two week break from the erg.