Weigh In, February 5, 2014

The weigh in was on time this week. And I'm down another pound, to 312. There isn't much to say about this fact. I had trouble sticking to my calorie limits, and the weather cut down on my activities. Also I had some challenges in my life that distracted me. Those should be resolved this week and we get a break in the weather between storms. I expect continued losses next week.

My promised, and delayed, gym routine should be starting on Saturday. Patience, friends!

Walking With Josh

 Lately I've been meeting my friend Josh for a walk on weekdays.The photo to the right shows him slogging through the snow at Welkinweir last week. Josh looks like he's on a mission in the photo, and he is - its to make himself less of a man. He recently accomplished the goal of never having his weight start with a 4 again. Now to have it never start with a 3.

Due to the nature of our respective employments, we both often find mornings free, and so we can fit in a walk of a couple of miles. Welkinweir was a first for Josh, as he usually prefers paved surfaces. For example, the Interpretive Trail at Black Rock Sanctuary, which we visited earlier in the month. Josh, like me, has a sedentary job, and getting into the outdoors is a great change of pace for him. And I get to show off some of my favorite locations.

The best part of walking with Josh isn't the exercise, or the scenery, or the conversation, although there's all of that too. Its seeing the changes in him taking place, slowly, like water dripping on stone. Walking helps both of us, but it helps me by letting me participate, in a small way, in his success. It gets boring cheering yourself on; its always exciting rooting for your friends. And I'm rooting for Josh every step of the way.

We are now on Twitter

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We continue to have a Facebook group as well. https://www.facebook.com/ATasteForTheWoods

By subscribing to the Facebook group or following us on Twitter you will be alerted to new posts here, and other material related to the formerly sedentary getting active and outside.

Loch Raven, Baltimore, MD, February 2014

Saturday I was in Maryland for a lunch meeting with a social media expert about this blog. Some changes are coming, but one thing that will never change is my love of the outdoors, and exploring it with people. One such person is Pete.

My friend Pete lives north of Baltimore, and despite the two hour drive between our homes we've met only once in the past six years. Some of that is due to our schedules, but some of it is because Pete is always busy doing things I've only dreamed of. He rode his bicycle across the US with his daughter and one of her friends. That was his first of two cross country rides. Then there's backpacking in the Sierras, and other places. Mountain biking in the steep hills of Maryland. Running long distances in all weathers with his dog. Add in my odd habit of sticking in my state's borders.....

But I was in Maryland and after lunch I met Pete for a hike at Loch Raven, the reservoir north of Baltimore that supplies the city with drinking water. During my previous visit with Pete we rode around the lake and I learned that Maryland is not flat. I was reminded of that fact during the three miles of snow ice and mud covered hills Pete led me on. I loved the hike despite the conditions, as I burnt off my Chik-fil-a lunch and put my new hiking poles to their first test. The only drawback is that even with leaves gone from the trees the views of Loch Raven were obscured. My photographs don't do the scene justice. I guess you will have to hike it yourself and find out.

 My friend was full of suggestions of places to hike to on future visits, and I made note of them- ruins of buildings, an old graveyard, and the Raven Rocks outcropping in the photo to the right. Six years is definitely too long a time for friends to be away from each other, and Loch Raven is a great place to visit, a woodland experience only a few miles from downtown Baltimore. And in the meantime I'll strive to be as active and awesome as Pete.