Miles 681.0 to 689.75 (Walking Theory - Rabbits)

 Miles Today: 8.75
 Map Way Points: K to L
 Google Map

Georgia is starting to call to me. Except for a step in Florida, I've spent a lot of miles in Alabama. I entered Alabama at 485.5 miles or about 200 miles ago. I'll enter Georgia at about 812 miles or 125 miles from now. That should be about 2 1/2 weeks from now.

Walking Theory

Today, I started looking at walking theory to see if there was a more efficient way to walk. The article in the link above gave some information, but none I can really do. I tried changing things a little, but none of it helped.

It did occur to me to mark any sore spots on a Muscle Diagram to see if there are any areas that need attention. But it seems like too much effort now.

Today, rabbits didn't seem to be afraid of me. I got quite close to two of them before noticing them. They both ran off right after I took a picture. They seemed to be posing. It blends in pretty well with the dirt background.

Virtual Hike End of Day Picture

TransAmerica Virtual Hike


Tomorrow, I'll be halfway through Kentucky. I'm already more than 20% done with the route. It seems to be going quickly.

Name	Distance
BernieS	885.5 mi
LarryB	882.2 mi
Carol H.W	877.9 mi
JohnZ	847.8 mi
GaryT	842.6 mi
JohnA	828.2 mi
AshleyA	826.2 mi
RebeccaJ	825.7 mi
AnnF	821.7 mi
PatM	805.8 mi
johnd	804.6 mi
DanaA	803.5 mi
sarah w	785.5 mi
LT	783.2 mi
LamontA	779.7 mi
RamonaH	775.6 mi
MarilynrH	774.8 mi
SHIRLEYE	760.9 mi
StaciR	757.4 mi
SusanP	755.8 mi

Miles 673.4 to 681.0 First Swallows

Miles Today: 7.66
Map Way Points: J to K
Google Map

I saw the first swallows today behind Loaf and Jug.

The other day, I mentioned getting used to walking in the hot weather. Yesterday, on the way to Vitamin Cottage, I really started enjoying it. I can't really explain why except the warm sensations were comfortable.

Just past Target, I saw a lot of Killdeer's. They were doing the classic leading me away from their nests. The thing they did not do is feign a broken wing. I decided to take a short video because their calls were very loud. The traffic noises are somewhat loud, but they seem to disappear when I walk and I selectively choose what I want to hear.

On my short walk after dark, I remembered how nice the cool evenings are after walking in the hot afternoon. It's fun experiencing all the different times of day and different weather.

I did a lot of thinking today about my saying "90% of fatigue happens after 80% effort." It seems to be a good theory. One problem with backpacking is overdoing it. For one or two days, it doesn't much matter. But for a longer trip, fatigue is cumulative and can lead to injury. I personally like to avoid most of it and leave it fun.

Virtual Hike End of the Day Picture


I like staying at the old motels on back roads. Many of the old roads are what Route 66 is trying to be.

TransAmerica Virtual Hike


I've moved to 4th place. If I just keep doing my 7 miles a day, I'll either catch those ahead or I won't. We are spread out across half of Kentucky. I really wish this site had a forum for the partners. It would be interesting to read their blogs if they have one.

Name	Distance
BernieS	885.5 mi
LarryB	882.2 mi
Carol H.W	877.9 mi
GaryT	833.8 mi
AshleyA	826.2 mi
JohnZ	825.8 mi
RebeccaJ	825.7 mi
AnnF	821.7 mi
JohnA	821.2 mi
PatM	805.8 mi
johnd	804.6 mi
DanaA	797.0 mi
LamontA	779.7 mi
LT	776.7 mi
sarah w	775.8 mi
RamonaH	775.6 mi
MarilynrH	765.6 mi
SHIRLEYE	760.9 mi
StaciR	757.4 mi
SusanP	755.8 mi

Miles 666.4 to 673.4

Miles Today: 7.00
Map Way Points: I to J
Google Map

It's sunny and mid 60's although it feels warmer. It's a little different walking in the warmer weather. I prefer the cold weather. I'll have to work on getting most of the miles done in the morning before it gets hot.

It's Earth Day today, so the stores were giving away free reusable bags. I wish they would do away with those plastic bags I see blowing all over the place. The reusable ones don't rip and they hold more. They are a lot more convenient.

I saw this bicycle outside of Target. The old metal baskets are a lot more convenient than fabric panniers. Cheaper, too.

In the evening, the clouds were pretty threatening by the Spanish Peaks. We never got any rain.

Virtual Hike End of Day Picture

TransAmerica Virtual Hike


Four of us are with 1/2 mile of each other.

Name	Distance
Carol H.W	877.9 mi
BernieS	877.4 mi
LarryB	866.9 mi
AshleyA	826.2 mi
GaryT	826.1 mi
JohnZ	825.8 mi
RebeccaJ	825.7 mi
JohnA	813.0 mi
PatM	805.8 mi
johnd	804.6 mi
AnnF	801.1 mi
DanaA	790.5 mi
LamontA	779.7 mi
sarah w	775.8 mi
RamonaH	775.6 mi
LT	772.4 mi
MarilynrH	763.8 mi
StaciR	757.4 mi
SusanP	753.8 mi
SHIRLEYE	752.4 mi

Miles 657.7 to 666.4

 Miles Today: 8.72
 Map Way Points: H to I
 Google Map

Today was more of a thinking day while walking. What I started to think about was quick sayings for the trail. Mostly to keep from overdoing it. I came up with four:

1. 90% of fatigue happens after 80% effort.
2. If it hurts you are doing it wrong.
3. Hiking fast won't last.
4. Rest before you are tired.

I've read a lot of journals and books on long trails. A lot of people seem to get overuse injuries. A lot of these could be prevented by not pushing so hard. It's not worth getting an injury that forces a day off just to get a few extra miles.

There was a small concert outdoors at the University. It was really loud music of some sort I don't recognize. I would have gone closer, but it was really too loud and it looked like you had to pay. I enjoyed seeing people do it though.

The bicycle trail along the Fountain Creek was really nice today. Everything is getting greener.

Virtual Hike End of Day Picture

TransAmerica Trail Virtual Hike

Name	Distance
LarryB	855.1 mi
BernieS	846.7 mi
Carol H.W	845.5 mi
AshleyA	826.2 mi
RebeccaJ	825.7 mi
GaryT	819.1 mi
JohnZ	817.7 mi
PatM	805.8 mi
JohnA	803.4 mi
AnnF	784.8 mi
DanaA	784.0 mi
LamontA	779.7 mi
johnd	778.8 mi
RamonaH	775.6 mi
sarah w	762.8 mi
LT	757.7 mi
StaciR	757.4 mi
SHIRLEYE	752.4 mi
MarilynrH	751.5 mi
SusanP	749.8 mi

You can't beat the trail

The other day on a forum, I made a post for a new hiker planning a difficult trip with a couple people. Buried in the advice, I said "Don't try to beat the trail." Another person on the board thought it was very good advice.

On another forum, a librarian was looking for a book that was requested about things to ponder on the trail.

Putting the two together, I came up with the saying "You can't beat the trail." Depending on how it's taken it can have two meanings.
1. You can't conquer the trail.
2. There is nothing better than the trail.

As I was walking today, I was expanding on these  ideas and came back with a whole lot of things to write. As I started writing, I realized that would take away the fun for me when I came back to it. So, I'm just leaving it as a pondering for the trail.

Miles 655.0 to 657.7

Miles Today: 2.66
Map waypoints: G to H
Google Map

This morning, the Red Wing boots felt especially comfortable, more like the combat boots. The other night, I treated them 2 or 3 times with Lexol. After 65 miles, the places where the leather flexes is beginning to look more like grandma's smile wrinkles.

Today ended up being short.

Virtual Hike End of Day Picture

TransAmerica Virtual Hike

Name	Distance
LarryB	855.1 mi
BernieS	846.7 mi
Carol H.W	845.5 mi
AshleyA	826.2 mi
RebeccaJ	825.7 mi
GaryT	810.4 mi
JohnZ	808.2 mi
PatM	805.8 mi
JohnA	795.2 mi
AnnF	784.8 mi
LamontA	779.7 mi
johnd	778.8 mi
DanaA	777.5 mi
RamonaH	775.6 mi
LT	757.7 mi
MarilynrH	750.9 mi
sarah w	745.5 mi
SusanP	743.8 mi
SHIRLEYE	741.4 mi
JoyJ	735.0 mi

Miles 646.6 to 655

Miles Today: 8.44
Map Way Points: F to G 
Google Map 

There are a couple of theories I've had that I'm starting to confirm. Everyone is different, so others might confirm a different theory for them.

There is some daily mileage where the body does not dip into reserves and it will recover completely before the next day. For me, this mileage seems to be a little bit more than 7 road miles, this number will increase. As long as I don't go too much more than this base mileage, I don't need to take any days off. It may not be a perfect way to train, but I prefer to walk everyday.

I've also decided combat boots are the best all around footwear for hiking. The little bit of extra weight  is made up by a lot of extra comfort. The least expensive Danner boot in this style is not much more than the normal price for a good quality hiking shoe.

I saw that goose over by The Green Store again. I'm wondering if there is a problem with its wing. It now craps all over the sidewalk which is fine with me. It seems to enjoy posing for pictures, too.

Tom and I spent 3 hours at the Mandarin which is all you can eat Chinese food. I ate constantly the whole time and I could have eaten more. I guess the food mood has started.

In the evening I walked to the east side of the University. It started raining so I got the opportunity to walk 1.5 miles back a steady rain. My rain gear worked fine.

That desert horizon keeps drawing me. One day, I'll walk to it before it gets too warm. It's probably about 3 miles or so.

Virtual Hike End of Day Picture

TransAmerica Virtual Hike

Name	Distance
BernieS	846.7 mi
Carol H.W	845.5 mi
LarryB	838.8 mi
AshleyA	826.2 mi
RebeccaJ	825.7 mi
GaryT	807.7 mi
PatM	805.8 mi
JohnA	786.7 mi
LamontA	779.7 mi
johnd	778.8 mi
AnnF	777.9 mi
RamonaH	775.6 mi
DanaA	771.0 mi
JohnZ	764.8 mi
LT	751.8 mi
sarah w	745.5 mi
MarilynrH	742.5 mi
SHIRLEYE	741.4 mi
SusanP	737.8 mi
JoyJ	728.2 mi