Training Log Archive: bl

At Beaver Brook, UNO meet & meeting. Cold, calm day, and quite pleasant in the woods, assuming wearing the right amount of cover. Did the tan course with Beth. No hurry, smell the roses for the most part, don't get lost though #2 and 3 were in the "famous" BB complex terrain masked by fairly dense softwood cover. We had to cross a fairly wide marsh on a maybe 125' long, 20" wide bridge, c. 3' high, about 75% ice/snow covered with water as deep as 2' in the center. Go slow, go accurate, build confidence and the flag should appear where/when predicted. Hit the wrong button on the watch so no route. Saw Ernst on red, heading up to 6 in a hi-visibiity part of the map.

Meeting after, covered a lot of topics. I'll be one of the vetters for the fall BD at Burnt Mt, a fine place to spend time. Jim A had a map showing the extent of Broken Ground in Concord - an impressive expanse of forest and worth getting to know. A reflection on UNO - a small group of dedicated & accomplished O-contributors -- in particular, reflecting on BDs, Camping Weekends and general map inventory.

After we went to Newburyport for a combined birthday (for a 6 y/o) and adult party
for parents and non-parents - close to 50 people (maybe 20 kids) in half an old, rental Federal-type house, the front door pinched to Merrimack St., at the top of a pyramid staircase. Kids galore inside and most of the adults were in the late30s to late 40s. The host and hostess were Paul and Sima. Paul, early 50s, is one of 9 sibs, raised in Lynn, MA. 4-5 of his bros & sisters were there as well as his 88 y/o mother and 91 y/o father. Paul attended Princeton & BU law school. He married Sima, born in Istanbul, attended Harvard. Somewhere Paul got a sailing bug and he and Sima learned to sail. They spent nearly 9 yrs sailing around the world, finishing last June near Lynn. Their two children were born in Istanbul at different times while on their trip. Paul's oldest brother, there last night, had never seen Paul's boat. I don't think he had ever been on a sailboat. We spent some time talking with an asst. deputy AG of NH whose current job is representing the public view for the Northern Pass project. A diverse and interesting gathering of people with kids, mostly 6-7 hanging from the rafters or running between legs. Not our usual party! It took some adjusting to feel in place - a beer or two helped. We don't know Paul and Sima all that well, but shared the bond of the sailing and helped them with some ideas & possible routes. We visited them when they were winter renting in Marblehead c. 3 yrs ago - another house where one could open one particular door and literally step onto the sidewalk. Off our usual beaten paths, which generally feature rocks and roots.

After work - ran into Eugene S, talked about nordic at Waterville. He went twice last week finding reasonable skiing.

Y early afternoon so quite quiet.

At BHS - tried poleless skate ski on grass on maybe 3" snow but not quite enough for dependable glide. And not over the dirt surface in parking. Better than not trying though. Right thigh burned.

Later on Memorial Field - walked by the track and around the field, on the phone part of the time with an MGH Registry lady who gave me a MR# and the best place to record it temporarily was in the snow.

C • Seeking Snow 10

Y after work. Snowed 2-3" last night & today. Could go thru skate motions on grass, maybe even better tomorrow morning.

Evening walk with Beth & M by the Arena. The moon was hazy, the ground white, the forest dark and there was enough natural light to see - all adding to an ethereal moment.



How it looked this morning

Two walks: AM with Mocha in Nottingcook just "wandering" in dense forest, marveling how few landmarks where we were, how much veg change and how the mind plays tricks re location and perhaps direction too, more so with age. But we came out in the back sand pit area, avoiding the wind.

PM - parked at Turee and walked around BHS campus. Used Strava for the first time. So maybe the cell phone replaces the gps watch a lot of the time, don't know.

Spent a bunch of time refreshing ourselves with Medicare supplement and
Advantage plans and what can and can't be done. Beth has the former, I the latter.

C • Strava & Medicare 3