Jan 14, 2010

Night walks are not my favorites, but I'm pretty happy because tonight is walk 14, and that means I made it to two weeks. Pretty happy about that. Why don't I like to take night walks? Well...

This is the halfway point of my walk. For some people, it's their final destination. I guess rather than feeling a bit trepidacious about passing by here, I should look at it with the attitude of "hey... I'm still alive and out here". That's a good thing!

Jan 13, 2010

I headed out tonight and decided to up my walk to a mile and a half. Up until now I had been putting in a mile every night, or damn near close to it. So on the way home from work, I measured out what was to be my walking route, and it hit at exactly a mile and a half. Surprisingly, it wasn't that bad at all. Walking in the twilight is far better than walking at night. Makes the journey seem manageable, and the sights far more interesting.

I walked down the street a bit, and passed this house. From all appearances, it should have been haunted. Broken fences, smashed windows, junk piled high outside everywhere. I wonder why I never noticed this house before? I pass it every day. Creepy. Even the squirrels tried to avoid this disaster area.

Speaking of "haunted things" I went by one of MY old haunts tonight. It didn't even bother me to pass this by without stopping in for a "snack". There are no snacks in here for you... keep walking... and I did. Felt good tonight. I'm glad I upped my game.

Jan 12, 2010

Tonight I had a great walk with my sister Lindee. I don't think we ever jut hung out and took a walk. Tonight, she asked if I wanted her to come along, and I said "SURE" thinking she'd bail out on me. Well, she didn't bail out, so I was gonna put her through the paces.

Had some fun throwing up leaves in the air tonight. I had the luxury of having a photographer along with me that could snap the shot (Lindee).

We ran into this guy named Oscar, and he was walking his puppy "Bentley". Bentley is an 80-pound puppy, and although he doesn't look that big...

...but when he jumped up on Lindee, he looked pretty darn big! This is why I take these walks. I have to keep remembering that I started this little experiment for moments like this. The last couple of days, I'd been anguishing over making the walk more about the walk... power walking, more distance... but tonight made me remember the reason I started to do this. Moments like these.

Jan 11, 2010

This is my serious walking face! Ha! Well, it's day 11 now and still walking. I took a new route in the neighborhood tonight just to shake things up a bit. It's still really cold outside, this winter stretch is lasting quite a while, but you won't hear me complain.

Don't even THINK about slowing down! WALK as the sign says, this is the halfway point and the sign says "WALK" so on I go.. but first I take a look over to one of the places that got me in trouble...

This is a Taco Bell. One of my OLD haunts. One of the places that helped me get myself into shape. (Yes, ROUND is a shape). On this corner alone, there is a Taco Bell, Burger King, Five Guys, A&W, Starbucks, and a Kentucky Fried Chicken. Yep, I pass them every day. But now, I PASS them... every day!

Jan 10, 2010

Well it was SUPPOSED to be the coldest morning of the year so far, but take a look at how the sun finally came out! I really was looking forward to getting out there today. I'm at Millenium Park in Seminole, FL and this is the viewing tower. I'll show you the view from the top. Oh, by the way... it IS cold, Kodak just hasn't found a way to capture wind on camera yet.

Here's the view at the top. You're looking across Boca Ciega Bay, and those tall buildings are actually on Gulf Blvd. On the other side of those buildings is the Gulf of Mexico. I realize how lucky I am now, to be living here. It's beautiful up here. God must have a HELL of a view from where HE sits! LOL (Sorry God)

These are the boardwalk walking trails in the park. From above, they look like the Great Wall of China. They're pretty amazing when you get down to walking on them though. It's like you're on a hiking trail in the sky. Still in nature, but above the creepy crawlies on the ground.

The road ahead. There's always more of the road ahead... and the journey continues.

Jan 9, 2010

THE COLDEST DAY OF THE YEAR (so far) so I had to do something dramatic! Drove down to Belleair to take a walk over the causeway! Windy.. wintery mix of slushy rain, but I can't wait to get to the top. I looked forward to this one all week.

This is the view from the top. SO impressive... go ahead, click on the picture and see it a little bigger. You look out over the water and see a site like that and suddenly it's not about the cold, or the walk... it's just about the view. That spectacular view.

That is some PRIME real estate down there. Wow!

It's exactly a half-mile to the top and the reward is the view, and getting to finish the walk going all downhill. About 38 degrees today! Brisk!

Jan 8, 2010

Well, it's supposed to be one of the coldest nights of the year. I keep hearing about this "Wintery Mix" which is supposed to be rain and sleet I guess. So as I step out into the cold dark night, I'm prepared with my trusty sports cap and hoodie. Yes, I love my shorts. I wait all year for this weather, what good would it do to bundle completely up?

Well, they were right. It was a bit chilly at the beginning of the walk. Started out into a headwind. Tonight, it's gonna just be about getting it in (the walk).

It's night time and I'm in mid-journey. Here's my proof of walking folks! No mental therapy tonight. Git 'er done is the word of the evening! Can I make it home for Dr. Phil? Yeah, if you stop taking pictures!