Since my heart attack I pay much closer attention to how much I walk and try and move as much as I can. I have a daily goal of 10 thousand steps. Some rides where I stop a lot and wander around I can collect a lot of foot time.

In terms of staying in touch — I really appreciate the comments and inquiries I receive here. It was unlooked for when I started blogging but became an unexpected gift in terms of information and support. I feel honored that you take the time to share your experience and observations here. I will admit though that lately with work becoming more demanding I’m not responding as quickly as I would like.

That distance sounds a lot better Steve. I guess your excursions on the Wasp add some foot miles as well when straying off the beaten path.
Thanks for keeping in touch with me and others, it adds something very personal to your blogs.

My math might be fuzzy. I checked this morning the walk distance before sitting down in the garden to eat breakfast and respond to comments. Walked one half mile in the garden. And will walk another half before chores, work or ride. And then more in the evening. Not sure how I calculated that 625 number. Math was never my strong point. A quick review and the number is much higher — over 14K miles pacing just under an acre of woodland/naturalized garden. No wonder my feet hurt.

I do look at your flickr photos from time to time. The recent cyclone pictures were pretty intense.

No problem. I’ll email you the photo.

I miss Jerry. Those were fine times and had donuts and Red Zingers. We need to take a ride to Bilgers Rocks again. And Moose Meadow and Wycoff Run. If only for the memories…

I used to read a lot more of those adventure rider stories myself. I stopped because I was never interested in the travelogue of “went here, then here, then here, then here…”. I wanted to know how the rider felt, thought, struggled in their head. They generally don’t write about that.

Ambling around, even on short rides, is where I exist right now. Those 30 – 60 mile rides are common for me and satisfying to boot. Like you, maybe someday I’ll take some long rides…

Same thing here. Lots of people come here to vacation for a variety of reasons. I get to be here all the time!

There isn’t much mixing of scooters and motorcycles here either. It’s rare to see it. Paul is an eclectic rider who at the moment has a Ducati, Piaggio Fly, ’64 Vespa and a Cushman traffic unit vehicle. He’s not wedded to any particular machine. He just likes to ride.

The world is everywhere you look — indoors and out. My brain will filter it all out if I allow it. It’s the great fight I wage.

Sounds like your personal and social engagements will keep you busy. Finding time to do all the things we must and/or want to do is a challenge.

Good luck getting your Vespa fixed up and finding time for a ride.

Just a sudden opening in my calendar that I’ve become smart enough to take advantage of. Experience more than seniority.

Rhododendrons thrive here in the shady forests and along streams and creeks. In our shady woodland garden we have a couple lovely ones growing. So far winter hasn’t harmed them. Even our bamboo grove of Phyllostachys aureosulcata thrives and provides a wonderfully thick and tall area of the garden. The dogs love the jungle…

I think my breakfast is a bit less austere. I sweeten my shredded wheat with raisin bran and add a handful of frozen blueberries. And always skim milk. I could eat that everyday. Hope I don’t find out down the road it’s bad for me…

It’s the rare breakfast choice in my post-heart attack low fat diet.

Black and white pudding — sounds more like something I feed to birds than I would eat myself!

“Mini vacations for the mind.” I like that. Exactly how many rides function for me. The noise in my head just dissipates… There is a lot of beautiful places here. They’re not grand or majestic but consistently beautiful. Makes the rides always much better.