Training Log Archive: CharlieIn the 31 days ending May 31, 2015:
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Sunday May 31, 2015 #
11 AM
Gym 25:00 [3]
slept:7.75 weight:165.2lbs
Resurrecting the exercises I was doing in the fall and winter. Maybe they were working better than the newer stuff, as I am certainly not getting any better now.
2 PM
Orienteering 25:59 2.03 km (12:49 / km) +75m 10:49 / km
ahr:118 max:145 shoes: 2011 icebugs
Testing a potential picnic sprint course. Maybe a little too hard, as some places have gotten thicker than they used to be.
3 PM
Note
Somehow the winch on the Polaris got burned up, did not seem economically fixable, so we ordered a new one. I was hoping it would be plug and play, but different mounting pattern, different electrics. Outside my comfort zone. We looked at it for a while, and then I called my neighbor Steve. He and his son Joe hunt here and are always eager to help us out with something. They came over, confirmed that the old one was indeed toast, ran home with it to drill new holes in our mounting plate, and had it hooked up in a remarkably small amount of time. I would probably still be looking at the hopelessly inadequate instructions. Excellent neighbors, anyway, even if they couldn't do magic like this.
Saturday May 30, 2015 #
2 PM
cycling 1:09:20 13.36 mi (5:11 / mi) +235m 4:55 / mi
ahr:107 max:147 slept:6.75 weight:165lbs
Around W Simsbury with Rhonda. Not moving fast, but neither was she. Warm day.
Friday May 29, 2015 #
5 AM
Gym 45:00 [3]
slept:7.75 weight:163.6lbs
Part of Rhonda's morning class, which ended up abbreviated, and some of the limber stuff.
3 PM
Note
Thought there was going to be a bike ride today. A lot of negotiating with the likely participants (R&Z), who ultimately decided they didn't want to go. Instead, Zack and I spread the rest of the processed stone we got yesterday to fix low spots in the driveway, I did some rototilling and he did some mowing, and there was a bunch of other yard work.
7 PM
Other 30 [3]
12 ring pullups. Seems best not to do these every day at this point, or even every other day. Need to let the muscles recover more.
Thursday May 28, 2015 #
7 AM
cycling 1:34:35 20.16 mi (4:41 / mi) +225m 4:32 / mi
ahr:113 max:151 slept:8.5 weight:165.2lbs
With Rhonda, from PV, a little further this time. A bit damp after last night's t-storms. I was thinking that this was perfect conditions for the visual disturbance I sometimes get, damp, overcast or shaded, early in the day, mild exercise. It didn't take long to show up, about 15 minutes in. Only lasted 1 minute, though, as we rode out from beneath trees and were in bright sunshine, which sends it packing. Then another brief interlude about 10 minutes later, and gone for good after that.
Started to bug my L arm and L lower back with about 2 or 3 miles to go. At this point the L triceps is the weakest link in my cycling. Legs and saddle area ok.
Started to bug my L arm and L lower back with about 2 or 3 miles to go. At this point the L triceps is the weakest link in my cycling. Legs and saddle area ok.
Wednesday May 27, 2015 #
8 AM
Hike 25:00 [3] 2.3 km (10:52 / km)
slept:7.0 weight:165.2lbs
What a difference a day makes. Yesterday I could barely do this. Today my back is much looser, almost normal, at least for hiking. A mystery, mostly.
Other 30 [3]
11 ring pullups, best so far for 2015, and not pushing it to avoid straining anything. With a little effort I could get at least one more, but don't want to risk it.
3 PM
cycling 56:16 12.31 mi (4:34 / mi) +90m 4:28 / mi
ahr:108 max:146
With Rhonda from PV. I thought we were going up Sandy Brook Rd, but this was all she was up for. She just got back around midday from NYC where she had been a participant in the final fitting of the wedding dress, and she was pretty tired.
Tuesday May 26, 2015 #
Note
slept:10.0 weight:163.8lbs
Not much time today, and back pretty tender. One PR today, though.
C • OK 4
Monday May 25, 2015 #
Note
Did a bunch of more or less useful things around the house today. Pulled multiflora and euonymus out of the side field and a few other places, freed some azaleas from an onslaught of Virginia creeper, about an hour and a half of laurel wrangling, washed and vacuumed the truck for the first time in at least a couple of years, tried but failed to dismantle the ailing brushmower for a while. Sprayed a bunch of poison ivy. The multiflora was mixed with enough stinging nettle that my hands and forearms tingled most of the day.
Thinking that there is enough repair that the brushmower needs that I may just get myself a new one. Thinking the same for the truck, although I hope to put that off for at least another year.
Thinking that there is enough repair that the brushmower needs that I may just get myself a new one. Thinking the same for the truck, although I hope to put that off for at least another year.
3 PM
cycling 56:08 12.28 mi (4:34 / mi) +70m 4:30 / mi
ahr:109 max:145 slept:6.0 weight:166.4lbs
With Rhonda from Pleasant Valley. Pollen pretty thick today. Eyes very scratchy.
Sunday May 24, 2015 #
Event: WCOC Pond Mountain
8 AM
Orienteering 50:10 1.93 mi (26:00 / mi) +57m 23:49 / mi
ahr:101 max:158 slept:5.5 weight:166.4lbs shoes: 2011 icebugs
Setting out white and yellow before the race. Then settling in to run the finish and results part of the show.
2 PM
Orienteering 46:53 1.33 mi (35:15 / mi) +127m 27:11 / mi
ahr:111 max:145 shoes: 2011 icebugs
Picking up, W side. Bill took the W, Y and southern controls, I took the central and Eastern ones.
3 PM
Orienteering 31:59 0.95 mi (33:40 / mi) +55m 28:32 / mi
ahr:101 max:130 shoes: 2011 icebugs
Picking up, E side, getting sore, glad that Alex et al are picking up the most remote ones. A nice chat with Greg Balter while waiting for Bill to return with his controls. Nice day, lots of people came, and seemed to have fun.
A couple of glitches. Two controls misplaced. Streamers were hung carefully and in the right places last month, but then two controls got hung a bit carelessly on nearby streamers left over from another meet. Once again it is time for me to learn to mark control numbers on vetting tape. People were very nice about it. Results fixed to remove any incorrect DNFs.
Otherwise quite a nice day, including the first sighting of Mr. Tarry at a non-Billygoat event in quite a long time.
A couple of glitches. Two controls misplaced. Streamers were hung carefully and in the right places last month, but then two controls got hung a bit carelessly on nearby streamers left over from another meet. Once again it is time for me to learn to mark control numbers on vetting tape. People were very nice about it. Results fixed to remove any incorrect DNFs.
Otherwise quite a nice day, including the first sighting of Mr. Tarry at a non-Billygoat event in quite a long time.
Saturday May 23, 2015 #
8 AM
Orienteering 2:30:00 [3]
slept:8.0 weight:165lbs shoes: 2014 icebugs
Putting out controls and water at Pond Mt. Bill and I rode out together, reasonably efficient operation. Lovely day to be in the woods, and Pond Mt is a fine place for it.
4 PM
cycling 40:00 [3] 8.7 mi (4:36 / mi)
Family ride from Pleasant Valley. Jess and Jonathan are here for the weekend and the five of us took a leisurely spin around the river roads. That are taking Zack fly fishing tomorrow.
Friday May 22, 2015 #
7 AM
PT exercises 25:00 [3]
slept:8.0 weight:164.8lbs
limber series. I have been feeling particularly weak, vulnerable and sore since the traction yesterday, but this improved me enough to be able to walk straight.
Hike 25:00 [3]
dog loop with R & S
Other 1:30 [3]
10 ring pullups, 5 ring dips, 10 pushups, 10 ring pullups. Careful with the dips, they are pretty stressful on my shoulders. Not for every day at this point.
9 AM
Note
Last night I was showing Zack where I was doing some laurel wrangling and he asked why I didn't just use the brushmower on it. Why is often a pretty loaded question with Zack. I tried to explain the reasons: rocks and sticks in the way, the stress of trying to cut things bigger than about an inch in diameter, my unwillingness to cut anything else. He was undeterred. Or at least undeterred until the drive chain and the mower spindle both broke. The chain is an easier repair. Broken enough that I will just get a new one. I have broken the spindle before. That is more of a hassle. It is hard to get apart, and then I have to take it to a welding shop to get it put back together. I will need to take it apart also to see what other parts I might need before I order the chain.
2 PM
Note
Annual golf outing, a rousing success, with PG and Zack. We had some adventurous shots, some fine weather and companionship, and finished like it was an easy game, PG just missing holing out in 2 from a trap, and I missing about a 10 foot birdie putt, but two pars on the last hole aren't bad. Zack didn't get a par there, but had an awesome finish regardless.
And then home to a fine dinner with PG and Gail, Rhonda and Zack.
Probably the first time I have played with PG in five or six years, remarkably enough.
And then home to a fine dinner with PG and Gail, Rhonda and Zack.
Probably the first time I have played with PG in five or six years, remarkably enough.
Thursday May 21, 2015 #
7 AM
PT exercises 30:00 [3]
slept:8.0 weight:165.8lbs
Didn't do as many of the exercises today because we did traction instead. Felt pretty good while it was happening, but kind of unsettled after, and more or less uncomfortable the rest of the day. Hard to know what to think.
12 PM
Note
half an hour or so of laurel wrangling. Hard to ever catch up with any significant amount of it, but I do feel accomplishment when I clear a patch, no matter how small.
2 PM
Note
Annual dermatologist check. Not bad. Got about five little spots frozen off, sort of less than average for recent years. Nothing of note. So good news.
Wednesday May 20, 2015 #
5 AM
Gym 1:00:00 [3]
slept:5.0 weight:167lbs
Rhonda's morning class
1 PM
Note
Walking around with folks from DEEP, checking some places for a potential New England Cottontail habitat project. They want 10 acres, which is more or less ok with me, but there are apparently several layers of people they need to line up to get the project authorized. I just want to kill mountain laurel, which is not that interesting to them.
Tuesday May 19, 2015 #
6 PM
Other 30 [3]
slept:7.5 weight:165.2lbs
2 x 4 ring dips. practice helps
Monday May 18, 2015 #
11 AM
PT exercises 45:00 [3]
slept:7.25 weight:163.6lbs
PT appointment, lots of exercises, some harder than others.
6 PM
Other 30 [3]
8 ring pull-ups, 2.5 ring dips. Could have done more pull-ups.
Sunday May 17, 2015 #
Event: NEOC: Mt. Tom
8 AM
PT exercises 15:00 [3]
intense but abbreviated limber session before heading off to Mt Tom
10 AM
Orienteering 1:42:18 *** 7.34 km (13:56 / km) +397m 10:58 / km
ahr:145 max:169 spiked:9/12c slept:7.0 weight:164.6lbs shoes: 2014 icebugs
Green Course at Mt Tom. This was the best effort so far this year in terms of my back. First time I didn't seize up half way around. Still a long way to go. Limber session before leaving this morning probably helped. Saw a lot of nice people there, including the usual gang and a few more, perhaps drawn by the challenge series. Had a nice chat with Marcello, both of us happy to have someone to speak with in Italian. Navigation was good up through 7, but then really struggling with 8 and to a lesser extent 9. Also dropped a minute or so on 12, not finding the little depression. So maybe 20 or so minutes lost in total.
Click on map for DOMA view
Click on map for DOMA view
Saturday May 16, 2015 #
8 AM
Hike 2:01:19 5.04 mi (24:04 / mi) +9m 23:57 / mi
ahr:85 max:106 slept:7.0
With Fazli and Rhonda, just a little farther than yesterday morning, and as far as we could go on Eel Point. More wildlife, including a bunch of really handsome oystercatchers preening for us, various sanderlings, sandpipers and plovers. Really missing out by not having binoculars, but a beautiful day and a beautiful walk. Rescued two more horseshoe crabs, stranded upside down next to the water. I hope they were happy to get dunked back in.
Friday May 15, 2015 #
8 AM
Hike 1:48:36 6.61 km (16:26 / km) +10m 16:19 / km
ahr:84 max:109 slept:7.5
With Rhonda and Fazli along the beach west to Eel Point and back. Stunning scenery, saw no other people, very clean. AOWN count included several seals out by the point, greater black-backed and herring gulls, adults and immatures; lots of cormorants, egrets, lots of nesting piping plovers. Rescued a large horseshoe crab who had gotten flipped over by the surf and was stuck on his back. If we hadn't flipped him over he would certainly have made a meal for a gull.
1 PM
Hike 2:52:28 10.15 km (17:00 / km) +48m 16:36 / km
ahr:77 max:99
Another nice hike at Nantucket conservation property off Madaket Road, down to the south shore and back. Grasslands, ponds, scrublands, and finally the beach. Very nice walk. Lots of birds, shadbush and high bush blueberries in bloom.
Wahoo app is not downloading tracks. Hope to get them when I get home.
Wahoo app is not downloading tracks. Hope to get them when I get home.
Thursday May 14, 2015 #
9 AM
Hike 1:00:00 [1]
slept:8.25 (rest day)
Along the beach at Eel Point with Rhonda and Fazli, from Fazli's daughter's wonderful place.
12 PM
Hike 1:00:00 [1]
Another very pleasant walk, this time at the Linda Loring Nature Foundation, directly across Eel Point Road. Wonderful.
Wednesday May 13, 2015 #
5 AM
Gym 50:00 [1]
slept:6.5 weight:166lbs
Rhonda's morning class, well attended. Karen, Jan, Laurann
9 AM
Rowing Machine 8:35 [3] 2.0 km (4:18 / km)
Tuesday May 12, 2015 #
7 AM
cycling 1:07:33 13.44 mi (5:02 / mi) +236m 4:46 / mi
ahr:113 max:146 slept:6.0 weight:164.4lbs
Around W Simsbury with Rhonda. Surprised that it was spitting a little. Pretty sticky this morning.
Monday May 11, 2015 #
5 AM
Gym 50:00 [3]
slept:7.0 weight:165.8lbs
Rhonda's morning class, with Karen. Really stiff and sore after o yesterday.
11 AM
PT exercises 1:00:00 [1]
PT session. 10 minute warm-up on the elliptical, then lots of stretches and exercises, left me in a bit better condition, however temporarily.
2 PM
cycling 58:30 [3] 12.46 mi (4:42 / mi)
Family outing from Pleasant Valley, me, Rhonda and Zack.
4 PM
Note
Trimming laurel along the dog loop with the brush mower. Pretty hard work. The mower does a good job, but there are rocks to look out for, and I don't want to cut any of the other stuff growing along the sides. Eventually ran out of gas, but I was only 150 yards from the barn by then, so pretty lucky.
Sunday May 10, 2015 #
Event: WCOC Mashamoquet State Park
8 AM
PT exercises 25:00 [3]
slept:6.5 weight:166.8lbs
Some pre-o limbering, before getting in the car to stiffen up again on the way to Mashamoquet.
10 AM
Orienteering 1:47:54 *** 8.6 km (12:33 / km) +254m 10:56 / km
ahr:128 max:152 spiked:8/13c shoes: 2014 icebugs
Red course at Mashamoquet Brook SP. Nice course by Rich N. Hot day. I think some folks opted for Green, might have been smart. My back was pretty tied up after about 7 controls.
Trail for a bit, then straightish to 1, noting the promised big unmapped stonewall on the way. A little high on the way to 2, mostly to get around a big deadfall, then saw the flag off to my left where I was generally looking for it. On compass from the field corner to 3, moving a little right to get around some laurel. Over the wall and R of the not very convincing marsh, could see the tree and the flag from a distance. A couple of green runners coming in from another direction.
Tried to thread my way through the laurel on the way to 5, got hung up a few times, popped out on the trail and looked for the low spot, and across, in good contact all the way in. Headed south for 6 to the big rocks and tried to angle toward the control, but got sucked way too far uphill, had to hunt a bit, finally found the big cliff, but no control. So where would it be if not here? Tried the next one down and voila!
Down the ridge line toward 7, getting tired, thinking I'd gone a long way, looked in a few reentrants on the way, finally got there. 8 was pretty easy, although the area wasn't much field-checked. Looking for the big cliff and reentrant, found it, and then not too far beyond it. Heading more or less along the bottom of the slope toward 9, above the marsh, headed up and doing fine, but came to another marsh and thought for a bit that it was the one just S of the control, so hunted in mt laurel for a bit until I confirmed it was not. Then up hill to the bag, easy, but a slow climb up there with a very sore back.
Heading to 10. Second time going through the laurel across, this time finding a clearer path. Then N along the trail, cutting off when it started to get steeper, above the big cliff, but then not heading down close enough to the marsh, checking a bunch of tiny re-entrants before realizing I needed to be lower.
Followed the stream to 11, trail for a while, cutting the corner to 12, although 12 was pretty hidden. Started to go down the steep hill, decided I wasn't in that much of a hurry and went around, but got confused about what was a stream and what was a pond, so lost a bit on 13.
Map and route - click on map for doma view.
Pretty nice crowd developing around the finish by the time I left, but I had to get home. Nice visit with J-J. Always fun to see him.
Trail for a bit, then straightish to 1, noting the promised big unmapped stonewall on the way. A little high on the way to 2, mostly to get around a big deadfall, then saw the flag off to my left where I was generally looking for it. On compass from the field corner to 3, moving a little right to get around some laurel. Over the wall and R of the not very convincing marsh, could see the tree and the flag from a distance. A couple of green runners coming in from another direction.
Tried to thread my way through the laurel on the way to 5, got hung up a few times, popped out on the trail and looked for the low spot, and across, in good contact all the way in. Headed south for 6 to the big rocks and tried to angle toward the control, but got sucked way too far uphill, had to hunt a bit, finally found the big cliff, but no control. So where would it be if not here? Tried the next one down and voila!
Down the ridge line toward 7, getting tired, thinking I'd gone a long way, looked in a few reentrants on the way, finally got there. 8 was pretty easy, although the area wasn't much field-checked. Looking for the big cliff and reentrant, found it, and then not too far beyond it. Heading more or less along the bottom of the slope toward 9, above the marsh, headed up and doing fine, but came to another marsh and thought for a bit that it was the one just S of the control, so hunted in mt laurel for a bit until I confirmed it was not. Then up hill to the bag, easy, but a slow climb up there with a very sore back.
Heading to 10. Second time going through the laurel across, this time finding a clearer path. Then N along the trail, cutting off when it started to get steeper, above the big cliff, but then not heading down close enough to the marsh, checking a bunch of tiny re-entrants before realizing I needed to be lower.
Followed the stream to 11, trail for a while, cutting the corner to 12, although 12 was pretty hidden. Started to go down the steep hill, decided I wasn't in that much of a hurry and went around, but got confused about what was a stream and what was a pond, so lost a bit on 13.
Map and route - click on map for doma view.
Pretty nice crowd developing around the finish by the time I left, but I had to get home. Nice visit with J-J. Always fun to see him.
Saturday May 9, 2015 #
Note
slept:6.25 weight:165.8lbs (rest day)
Too many parties this weekend. Was trying to get myself out for a bike ride, but not much zip, a little gentle laurel wrangling instead.
10 AM
Gym 20:00 [3]
Part of the limber series, some of the PT exercises.
6 PM
PT exercises 30 [3]
Maybe the beginning of a calisthenics program. 7 pullups on the rings, 10 pushups. See if I can keep it up.
Friday May 8, 2015 #
5 AM
Gym 50:00 [3]
slept:7.25 weight:164lbs
Rhonda's morning class.
2 PM
cycling 1:03:00 [3] 13.75 mi (4:35 / mi)
More or less the same ride as yesterday, but this time with Rhonda. I have a long way to go. Getting a little easier on my butt, but the back was complaining a bit, and the left triceps is not up to it yet. Maybe some pushups would help.
Thursday May 7, 2015 #
8 AM
PT exercises 1:00:00 [3]
slept:8.0 weight:165.2lbs
Good session of PT. Lots of stretching, massage, etc. Many different exercises. Can't tell yet how much good it is doing. Brian the PT guy thinks that the root cause of this is stiffness and arthritis in the spine, and that the soft tissue aspects of it are more fixable.
1 PM
Note
Rhonda and I went over to Central Connecticut State Univ today to check out the Italian program. Had a nice chat with a couple of professors, and will plan to take some courses in the fall. Turns out that attendance is free for CT residents over 62. Pretty good deal, it seems. Professors chatted me up in Italian, seem happy to have me in their advanced classes. Rhonda is thinking about taking a beginner's class and an English class, so we could ride over there together on class days.
5 PM
cycling 1:00:00 [3] 13.5 mi (4:27 / mi)
With my friend Mike from Pleasant Valley, out to Rte 8 then back down the other side of the river. Cindy met us, but she was going a lot further so we parted company at Rte 8.
Wednesday May 6, 2015 #
5 AM
Gym 1:00:00 [3]
slept:5.5 weight:166.8lbs
Rhonda's morning class, well attended.
Woken up in the night for the second night in a row by the chattering and carrying on of porcupines. They have been eating the bark off some young chestnut trees next to the deck. I think porcupines are pretty cool, but I am not that enthusiastic about them setting up housekeeping next to the house. Particularly because the dog doesn't have much sense about whether to chase an animal that is full of spines.
Woken up in the night for the second night in a row by the chattering and carrying on of porcupines. They have been eating the bark off some young chestnut trees next to the deck. I think porcupines are pretty cool, but I am not that enthusiastic about them setting up housekeeping next to the house. Particularly because the dog doesn't have much sense about whether to chase an animal that is full of spines.
9 AM
Gym (limber) 25:00 [3]
I've generally been doing these most days, but not necessarily doing the whole set. Today I did.
2 PM
cycling 1:34:12 18.06 mi (5:13 / mi) +203m 5:02 / mi
ahr:130 max:178
Nice day, by myself. Part way up Sandy Brook Rd. Had thought about going further, but my back was complaining by the time I got to the 9 mile mark, so turned back there. A long way to go.
Tuesday May 5, 2015 #
11 AM
cycling 59:56 11.77 mi (5:06 / mi) +63m 5:01 / mi
ahr:113 max:157 slept:7.5 weight:165.8lbs
Out and about with Rhonda, ran into our friends Cindy and Mike in our travels
Monday May 4, 2015 #
Note
Had a very nice, if brief, conversation with Katia after the day 2 race yesterday and before we headed out to Kent. Katia had some books to recommend to me and some other tips for my quest to learn Italian. She also confirmed my suspicion that anyone in Italy who orienteers would know Giovanni.
5 AM
Gym 40:00 [3]
slept:6.25 weight:165lbs
Just me and Rhonda this morning, out in the gym, abbreviated class.
Posted the weekend's maps.
Posted the weekend's maps.
10 AM
Note
Saturday after the race I couldn't get my contact lens out, probably too dehydrated. Pinched at it several times, and then it came off the center of my eye and I couldn't track it down. Sunday I had to do something, so I put in another one. Seems to work ok, but on the way home I had left it in to use at Pond Mtn, and suddenly it flipped off the center, and I couldn't find that one either. Dug at it off and on, getting my eye more irritated. In the morning I went in to see the eye doc, Dr. Dan. Nice guy, and more or less a neighbor. He got me under all his bright lights and fancy magnification, peered and poked for 10 or so minutes, said maybe it had just come out. I said I didn't think so, because it sure felt like something was in there. So then he put some dye in my eye, looked around again, and eventually found it lurking way up under my upper eyelid. And then it took another 10 minutes or so more to coax it out. Finally it was at the edge and I could grab it with my fingers. He offered to look for the other one, but I told him not to bother. In my hand I had both of them, writhing together like a couple of snakes in heat. Interesting. He pronounced it the most well-hidden contact lens he has come across. I assume that at some point lens 1 drifted close enough to lens 2 and grabbed it. Lucky it didn't happen when I was on the course.
3 PM
cycling 39:00 [3] 8.7 mi (4:29 / mi)
Not a lot of time, but good to get out on this absolutely perfect day, one lap around the river from Pleasant Valley with Rhonda.
Sunday May 3, 2015 #
9 AM
Orienteering 1:19:25 [3] 3.38 mi (23:30 / mi) +233m 19:21 / mi
slept:8.0 shoes: 2014 icebugs
Brown X Day 2 at West Point. Not quite as knackered by the course as yesterday, but pretty uncomfortable. Back held up more or less ok through about halfway to 7, then much slower and more labored after that. Turns out I mispunched at 6. Maybe the only code I wouldn't have checked in the two days, as I almost always do. Apparently I punched in at #38, whichever one that is, instead of at the correct #80. Otherwise several smallish errors, one bigger one.
To 1, around most of the laurel, a bit low on the slope, climbed to the cliffs just E of the right ones, but could see where to go from there. Some nasty stuff on the way to 2, lots of saplings, had it pretty well figured out all the way, though. Really thick saplings leaving 2, and then got stuck climbing down some nasty cliffs and rocks. Across to the right cliff at 3, but didn't see the flag tucked around the corner, so up a line or two to the top, stop to read the clue, and back down and got it. Probably 2 minutes loss.
Long slog over to 4, pretty darned straight, I think. Picked up a bit of trail crossing the reentrant, then under the steep stuff, skirted to the left to keep out of barberry, saw the upper stonewall and the hemlocks, let them lead me in. It was a bit further than I thought. I had a fastest split on this leg. Doesn't happen often. Then a clunker. Attempted to go S to the road, thinking I would take it to the bend and attack from there, looking for the fenced in area on the way. Instead I apparently headed more SW, picked up the road past the sharp bend, and started running downhill with it. Not sure how far I got, so headed back up a bit, then up looking for the rocks, trying to look around a lot. Found some other likely looking ones, and wasn't too far off. Lucky. Probably another 2 minutes of error.
6 seemed like a really good leg, felt confident, but saw a flag way too quickly and somehow appear not to have checked the code. QR reveals where the flag was and how far off I was. Bummer.
Headed generally W/SW, picked up the trail, thinking I would then find the marsh N of the control, but there were a lot of trails there, and I got on an unmapped one that took me W of the cliffs W of the control, and I really wasn't at all sure where I was. So I backtracked, got back to were the trail was near the hill 6 was on, and was a little more careful. Got it fine that time. Probably 5 or 6 minutes, not unrelated to my error at 6.
Going ok to 8, thought I had gone far enough and stopped to look around, saw another flag, went to look at it, etc. Lost about 2 minutes.
Back around under the cliffs, but lost track of how far I had gone and climbed too soon. A lot of pretty scary sidehill through the rocks, then almost stepped on the control, thinking it ought to be right here, and there it was. 10 - Down part of the way, then up the slot after the big cliffs stopped and over, pretty easy.
Went to the road for 11, not sure if that was best, since I couldn't really run the road, and had to climb at the end. Back and across above the big rocky knoll L of the line, picked up the trail for a while, then could see the flag at 12 from a distance. Down the hill, not finding the trail along the lake in the laurel, but pushing on through whatever places seemed the most open to the bridge and in.
Map and route (click map for DOMA view):
.
To 1, around most of the laurel, a bit low on the slope, climbed to the cliffs just E of the right ones, but could see where to go from there. Some nasty stuff on the way to 2, lots of saplings, had it pretty well figured out all the way, though. Really thick saplings leaving 2, and then got stuck climbing down some nasty cliffs and rocks. Across to the right cliff at 3, but didn't see the flag tucked around the corner, so up a line or two to the top, stop to read the clue, and back down and got it. Probably 2 minutes loss.
Long slog over to 4, pretty darned straight, I think. Picked up a bit of trail crossing the reentrant, then under the steep stuff, skirted to the left to keep out of barberry, saw the upper stonewall and the hemlocks, let them lead me in. It was a bit further than I thought. I had a fastest split on this leg. Doesn't happen often. Then a clunker. Attempted to go S to the road, thinking I would take it to the bend and attack from there, looking for the fenced in area on the way. Instead I apparently headed more SW, picked up the road past the sharp bend, and started running downhill with it. Not sure how far I got, so headed back up a bit, then up looking for the rocks, trying to look around a lot. Found some other likely looking ones, and wasn't too far off. Lucky. Probably another 2 minutes of error.
6 seemed like a really good leg, felt confident, but saw a flag way too quickly and somehow appear not to have checked the code. QR reveals where the flag was and how far off I was. Bummer.
Headed generally W/SW, picked up the trail, thinking I would then find the marsh N of the control, but there were a lot of trails there, and I got on an unmapped one that took me W of the cliffs W of the control, and I really wasn't at all sure where I was. So I backtracked, got back to were the trail was near the hill 6 was on, and was a little more careful. Got it fine that time. Probably 5 or 6 minutes, not unrelated to my error at 6.
Going ok to 8, thought I had gone far enough and stopped to look around, saw another flag, went to look at it, etc. Lost about 2 minutes.
Back around under the cliffs, but lost track of how far I had gone and climbed too soon. A lot of pretty scary sidehill through the rocks, then almost stepped on the control, thinking it ought to be right here, and there it was. 10 - Down part of the way, then up the slot after the big cliffs stopped and over, pretty easy.
Went to the road for 11, not sure if that was best, since I couldn't really run the road, and had to climb at the end. Back and across above the big rocky knoll L of the line, picked up the trail for a while, then could see the flag at 12 from a distance. Down the hill, not finding the trail along the lake in the laurel, but pushing on through whatever places seemed the most open to the bridge and in.
Map and route (click map for DOMA view):
.1 PM
Hike (control site checking) 1:08:22 [1] 1.58 mi (43:10 / mi) +100m 36:05 / mi
shoes: 2014 icebugs
With Rhonda in Kent, checking the rest of the control locations, moving a few flags a bit. Nice to be done with this.
Saturday May 2, 2015 #
Event: West Point A-Meet
10 AM
Orienteering race 1:43:56 [3] *** 7.38 km (14:05 / km) +299m 11:42 / km
spiked:10/13c slept:5.0 weight:166.6lbs shoes: 2014 icebugs
Brown X at West Point. Physically very difficult. Also emotionally, off and on. A prompt 180 out of the start for about 30 seconds, until I saw Bog Meadow Pond in front of me and unfolded the map enough to see what was going on. Then fine to the control from there, despite dropping 1:15 going right back through the the start. 2 was ok, a bit careful to be in the correct reentrant. Flag was on the ground. Couldn't punch it into the ground, so I propped it up in the branches of a fallen tree.
Then up and over, checking off some theoretically useful features on top, but wandering in the wrong direction and checking a lot of rocks and doing a lot of wandering, 10 minutes worth, before going back up to the top and walking to it on compass. 4 was uneventful, around the marsh to the left, angling up the hill, a little low, but saw the big cliffs.
5 was reasonably well negotiated, out to the trail going by the yellow control, right of the big cliffs across the road, then counting to the third spur and climbing over the eastern part of the knoll for the SE foot - no flag. I was stunned. If not there, where. But I set off for a tour of other, smaller knolls in the area, before ending up at the same knoll. Darn. So I did a tour out to the N, knowing I was too far, but looking for something reliable. Found the trail and the bend, and then the boulder 100 m N of my control, walked in on compass and came to the same damned place! By now I am about ready to declare it missing and move on, but I see someone bending over on the ore side, so I go over to look. There it is on the W side of the knoll. Huh? I am just too literal-minded for success in this sport. Others seem to have found it just fine without being too dismayed by the difference from the control description. QR reveals 8 minutes lost.
Around to the right, below the big cliffs, and up the reentrant, through the small marsh and right into 6. Long leg to 7, half along or in the marshes, then picked up a trail. My back seized a bit when I got to the trail and difficult to jog from there. PG came by, a nice chat. Didn't have to worry about distracting him. He has plenty of bandwidth. Bob Lux near the control.
Fighting through a lot of laurel before picking up the trail, taking it the rest of the way to 8. Walking. Very nice cadet.
9 and 10 pretty easy, along the top, going left to 9, a bit R to 10.
PG and I both thought that #11 might have been in the wrong place, but QR makes it look ok. Difficult downhill through the rocks to 12, but no problem finding it, then trail the rest of the way, but just barely shuffling.
Back at the finish, I was spent.
Map and route (Click map for DOMA view):
..
Then up and over, checking off some theoretically useful features on top, but wandering in the wrong direction and checking a lot of rocks and doing a lot of wandering, 10 minutes worth, before going back up to the top and walking to it on compass. 4 was uneventful, around the marsh to the left, angling up the hill, a little low, but saw the big cliffs.
5 was reasonably well negotiated, out to the trail going by the yellow control, right of the big cliffs across the road, then counting to the third spur and climbing over the eastern part of the knoll for the SE foot - no flag. I was stunned. If not there, where. But I set off for a tour of other, smaller knolls in the area, before ending up at the same knoll. Darn. So I did a tour out to the N, knowing I was too far, but looking for something reliable. Found the trail and the bend, and then the boulder 100 m N of my control, walked in on compass and came to the same damned place! By now I am about ready to declare it missing and move on, but I see someone bending over on the ore side, so I go over to look. There it is on the W side of the knoll. Huh? I am just too literal-minded for success in this sport. Others seem to have found it just fine without being too dismayed by the difference from the control description. QR reveals 8 minutes lost.
Around to the right, below the big cliffs, and up the reentrant, through the small marsh and right into 6. Long leg to 7, half along or in the marshes, then picked up a trail. My back seized a bit when I got to the trail and difficult to jog from there. PG came by, a nice chat. Didn't have to worry about distracting him. He has plenty of bandwidth. Bob Lux near the control.
Fighting through a lot of laurel before picking up the trail, taking it the rest of the way to 8. Walking. Very nice cadet.
9 and 10 pretty easy, along the top, going left to 9, a bit R to 10.
PG and I both thought that #11 might have been in the wrong place, but QR makes it look ok. Difficult downhill through the rocks to 12, but no problem finding it, then trail the rest of the way, but just barely shuffling.
Back at the finish, I was spent.
Map and route (Click map for DOMA view):
..
Friday May 1, 2015 #
5 AM
Gym 1:00:00 [1]
slept:7.25 weight:166.6lbs
Rhonda's morning class, Jackie and Marj