Carl's Cave

I went on a 3.3 mile walk/jog last night in the gorgeous autumn sunset. I’ve been doing a decent amount of walking lately, to clear my head as much as for the exercise. Doing some pullups and a little bit of jump rope too. Lots of practical exercise with yardwork. Not enough heavy exercise but it’s better than nothing.

After being sick for over a week I’m trying to get back in to some measure of exercise. I went for a light 1.5 mile jog last night, broken up in to two parts, and about halfway through each one I stopped to do some pullups (just 3 or 4 each time). It kicked my butt. Sheesh.

Did a couple more pullups at the park this morning.

It’s getting darker earlier now. I’ll have to keep motivated and try to remember that that doesn’t mean I need to slow down or stop doing things earlier.

I went for a quick, light just under 1-mile jog (round trip) up and back to the elementary school playground tonight. It was already dark and I felt like I still needed to be active, so I went out. I went out barefoot, too, as much for the experience as for being too lazy to put on shoes.

It’s nice to jog and then play on swings and monkey bars at the end before coming back.

I kayaked about two miles around the Hundred Acre Pond and Deep Pond in the Mendon Ponds park yesterday. It was pretty but the water level was quite low, so it impeded a bit of progress. I watched three deer having breakfast. A nice little trip but perhaps not worth the drive unless the water level was higher. Maybe next spring I’ll give it another go.

I also chainsawed up a significant portion of wood, and was pleased at the productivity, but I think I torqued something in my back, and I’m a little concerned about my wrist.

I visited the next town over’s rec center immediately after work for a swim only to find out the pool would be closing in 3 minutes, so I came home and chopped wood until dark, then jogged out to the playground at the elementary school and played on the swings and hung upside down on the monkey bars (sort of), whereon I lost my keys (and did not discover this until returning home, so I grabbed a flashlight and biked backto find them). Fun night…mostly? Kinda? Sorta? Sure, why not.

I did a solid 5 miles Sunday night, starting on the west side of Irondequoit Bay, going across and up the east side, back across at the bridge, and back down the west side. I went out in the evening to see the sunset – and as soon as I did, it was dark, and I was still up at the bay.

Paddling back in the failing light was definitely dramatic.

I enjoyed another early morning kayak trip (4.25 miles) this morning in Irondequoit bay. Nice, but chilly. It’s getting downright autumnal out there. Lots of cormorants around.

We’ll be doing a peaceful canal-side bike trip this afternoon. It’s only a mile and a half from our starting point to our destination (a bead store and Aladdin’s cafe), so a 3 mile round trip. Hopefully we’ll get adventurous and go a bit further.

I walked home 3 miles from Firestone last night. Dropped off the Saturn for a recurring problem. The walk was nice – just dodging the soccer mom on her cell phone and the student driver; both over the while line on the shoulder.

Today with the car in the shop, Aubrey brought me in to work with my bicycle in the back (it was raining). So, I get to bike the 10 miles home tonight. I’m looking forward to it.

This past weekend was a good one. I went for a dawn kayak ride in Irondequoit Bay. A leisurely 4.75 mile paddle at 5 in the morning. When I put in, the water was like black glass scattered with cotton-balls of fog. The stars were out. It was beautiful, visiting with Creation like that.

I scared the crap out of a surprised cormorant, and he likewise to me.

By the time I got out the sun had lifted the veil of darkness.

I had a quick 7.75 mile bike trip that night – tough guessing when the sun’s going to go down as the seasons change; I ended up pedaling back on darker-than-preferred roads.

Then Sunday I got out again in Irondequoit Bay, kayaking up the east side, about 6 miles round trip. It started to rain on my way back, which was lovely. Serene. It’s nice to be alone and to be okay with it. I felt bad for chasing a poor heron around the shoreline.

This is just kind of a placeholder until I figure out if I have anything worth saying. After a few false starts it just seems easier to clear everything out.

I’d love to hear from you.