July 23, 2010

<--Double click to see pictures
Echo Lake, Beech Trail and Somesville
I headed down to the Island after the Branch Pond 4 Miler with Kathy in search of a hike on a Fire Road near Southwest Harbor. Before I got there the sign for Echo Lake with the hiking icon had me turning into the parking lot where I found the Beech Trail and made it to the overlook. I spent probably an hour on the overlook reading To Kill a Mockingbird and thinking what a great place to read (the trail was pretty quiet.)

Back to Ellsworth with a stop in Somesville at the MDI Museum, Somesville Library and the Somesville Bridge. It was another perfect 10 day!...Still to come: Zumba and the Town Band Concert!

July 22, 2010

Personal Training Stretch and Workouts
Last week when I was done my stretching (consisting of squats, pushups and jumping rope) I thought I was done before we started that workout. Ursula remedied that at 5AM this morning with a lighter stretch followed by quite a workout.

I got choose from 5 repetitions of 10 each (50 exercises) versus 21-15-9 (45 by my count) and without even thinking I chose the 21-15-9 ~ not understanding that this was 21 squats, 21 burpees and then repeat 15 and 9. I did it all in just about 20 minutes. The goal is to exercise efficiently and let me tell you I was not efficient in the last set of 9 at all. Another workout easily portable to a hotel room near me.

Branch Pond 4 Miler
After an hours rest did the hike with my cousins to "the store" and it is a glorious day here at camp. I'm entertaining tonight my friends Susan and Jeff. I met Susan in Portand almost 30 years ago and when we get together its like we talked lasts week. First lobsters of the year on the grill for me.

July 21, 2010

Acadia National Park - North Ridge Trail to Cadillac Summit
Click on the photo above to see pictures from Cadillac Mountain this morning. I started out on the 4.4 Mile roundtrip hike to the summit and back on the North Trail, and didn't make it as I lost the trail at the road. Later drove to the top and a ranger told me what I did so I have to try it again. It was a billed as moderate but I would say strenuous trip, but a wonderful hike. At the end I drove down to Sand Beach to put my toes in the ocean which was great therapy after the hike.

Ship Harbor Nature Trail

I'm trying this link out so that you can see the pictures I took yesterday while on the Ship Harbor Nature Trail with Jude, Kathy and Sara (a cousin hike). What isn't pictured but was a highlight was a trip to the Bar Harbor Brewery afterwards for a Summer Ale :) I brought home a 6pack of the Blueberry Ale that I need to put on ice!

July 15, 2010

5.75M ~ 291.5
Peg made it up to camp and Jude, Peg and I went to the "tracks" during a drizzle on Wednesday. It was pouring in the early mornnig so we took what we thought was an open window and got started..never a full downpour but prayers each time a car came down the road that it wouldn't splash us.

Zumba at 5:30 and the class was packed again, same level of energy with a couple new songs/workouts (for me). The majority of the class are regulars so they know what to do once a new song starts.

First CrossFit Workout Completed
5AM this morning at Ursula's house and by 6AM I had completed my workout which after stretching and some squats consisted of running 400 meters then pushups, starting with 21, then 15 then 9. Total distance 0.75M and time of just over 20 minutes. We'll see how that improves. Arms are a bit tired today - but I shouldn't need them for the hike planned on MDI later today.

July 13, 2010

4.0M ~ 286.0
Summer had begun and walks on Branch Pond Road with the cousins are underway. Yesterday Jude and I made it down across the tracks (5) and today Peg joined us for the trip up to the store (4). This is one of the highlights of each day up here at "Camp." I'm fortunate enough to be here for an extended stay

Zumba
OMGosh! I went to Zumba class at the Y in Ellsworth on Monday night and it was fantastic!!! I joined the Y and will make this part of my routine this week on Mon/Wed/Fri. I sure wish it wasn't at 5:30PM as it cuts right into cocktails and dinner which also is another camp highlight.

Cross Fit Training
First day today with Ursula G - my personal trainer. A drive over to Toddy Pond in Surry to meet at her house and we did some orientation and then a workout. She says we will keep track, so I'll say that today I learned technique for squats, push ups, and lunges. Then she put me on an interval of 10 squats, 5 push ups and 3 lunges to do as many as I could in 20 minutes. I made it 10 minutes with 4 intervals. We'll see how that improves. Next up is a 5AM appointment with her on Thursday! Driving home reflected on the fact that I could do that workout in my hotel room without any equipment needed which would be good.