Starting my calisthenics/exercise program today by hiking the 6 miles to the "Tri-Cities which encompasses Dumont, Downieville and Lawson. Combined these 3 towns don't amount to 57 people! And, yet Dumont has a Starbucks!
This hike is a round trip of 12 miles. The grade going west is upwards and walking back east to Idaho Springs is downwards.
Ended up at the Starbucks and occupied one of their big fluffy leather chairs. Starbucks was busier than a 3 legged ballerina. The holidays are over and it's a Monday; but, then again, the kids aren't back to school yet I guess. Most of these people are skiers going to Loveland, Aspen, Breckenridge or Vail.
Starbucks over roast their beans giving the coffee a burnt taste to it. Some people prefer this taste. I do not. I'm too used to the superior coffee at the Frothy Cup.
My new exercise program will start out at 3 days per week with hiking carrying my new backpack stuffed to where it weighs approximately 35-40 pounds. Then pushups, stretching and pull ups will round out the program.
I've got 4 months to get prepared for my journey northwest in May. My tentative route is approximately 1600 miles which should get me to Seattle in 5 months.
Lord willing, I would then book passage on the Empire Builder train and travel 2257 miles to Chicago's Union Station then transfer to a southbound train to Galesburg where Ma could pick me up at the depot for the 50 mile car ride to Morton.
I trained for 3 months during the winter of 2013-14 to prepare for the first leg of my trip from Morton, IL to Denver. And, let me tell you I still had lots of difficulty especially during the first 2 weeks. What suffered most were my back muscles. I was at one point carrying 75 pounds in the "Beast" that fearsome creature that ended up bringing me to tears and fusillades of cursing and cussing especially along old Rt 24 between Bartonville and Quincy.
So, I'm going to pack my new camouflage back pack given to me as a gift by Christopher Watson with upwards of 50 pounds and hike a minimum of 10 miles 3 days per week. I plan on increasing my daily hikes to 5 times per week the closer I get to May.
I need to really nail down my tentative route too. I say tentative because routes can change due to construction, traffic, weather, etc. This time I plan on sending letters to the churches along the route introducing myself and asking for accommodations.
I've got about an hour at the most left here at Starbucks because it gets dark here in the canyon earlier than elsewhere. Don't want to get caught hiking in the dark on Stanley Rd no sireeee!
Was going to have Joe look at the furnace at the Lucas House as its not putting out as it should. Temps inside don't exceed 50 degrees. But, he has to be at work by 2:30pm and I'm in Dumont 6 miles away. He can take a gander at it tomorrow before he heads to work.
Not relishing the idea of hiking back to Idaho Springs. My legs are tired and my back is aching...as expected.
But, it is needful for me to get my exercise program started sooner rather than later.
Supper at Blackwells is scheduled as usual for Wednesday night along with Church at First Baptist. Thursday is either contemplative service at St Luke's in Highlands Ranch or evening service at Clear Creek Neighborhood Church.
Also, I will be donning my chauffeur's hat on Wednesday driving my client to Golden, CO.
On friday I will be meeting once again with Bobby and Pete at the Frothy Cup to explore collaborating regarding our separate ministries.
Looking forward to the rest of the week and the new year.
Pics show Stanley Rd which I hiked to get to Dumont, CO. Last pic is of Starbucks.
Peace to y'all and thank you for reading.
BR Schoenbein
January 4, 2016- Monday
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