Jim's Trek V, my exercise journey now on my Schwinn 170 from Tampa to parts unknown...

Friday, July 29, 2016

Day 13+9 – (AD 1,175) – 20.5 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Increased Resistance On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I decided to increase the resistance on my Schwinn 170 to 18/25. For the past while I have been cycling as 15/25 and 12/25. For some reason the increase in resistance caused me, in the same amount of time, 60 minutes, to pedal an additional mile. I completed 20.5 miles.

My totals are now: Part V – 254.8 miles; Grand – 25,156.4 miles; 40,485.4 kilometers.



Today I have pedaled, virtually, about 85% of the way to my first goal on Mars, the Charleston Crater. I should reach the Crater in about 2 more pedaling days. I think that may be Wednesday next week.

According to WolframAlpha Pro the distance between Chryse Planitia, where I started, to the Charleston Crater, the location of my 1st goal point, is about 300 miles.

Meanwhile back on earth, the wet part…



An amazing statement to make with regards to this planet, ““We don’t know how many there are, where they’re typically found, anything,” Phillip Morin, a molecular geneticist at NOAA, told National Geographic. “But we’re going to start looking.”” From Akshat Rathi’s July 27th Quartz article “Scientists say they’ve just discovered a new species of whale”.

And at an estimated, adult size, 25 feet one would think that something this big can still hide away and confound the experts.

I just knew that growing my own peppers would make me rich. (Ya think?) This morning's harvest…



My variety - Self-branded Hot Habaneros...

This is my 1,278th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 98,841 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Day 12+8 – (AD 1,174) – 19.5 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I pedaled 19.5 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 25,135.9 miles; 40,452.4 kilometers.



My Mars adventure continues. On Day 12+8 I have completed 234.3 miles or 1.76%. I still have 13,065.7 more miles to go.

Reading –


From Space.com “Mars Colonists Must ‘Live Off the Land’: NASA Report”, Leonard David, July 27, 2016


Question – Are not weather people supposed to forecast? I hope the new information helps with their prognosticating skills? Does it make a difference that “10 New Tropical Storms Discovered in NOAA Reanalysis of 1956-1960", The Weather Channel, July 21, 2016.


Soapbox –

Well, it happened, finally the political glass ceiling has just about been broken. It is cracking Here’s a thought, if the US elect a woman as President in 2016 it makes one think how many others currently are leaders of their countries. As of January 2015 there were 22.

Could a President Clinton create a ‘critical mass’ of female world leaders?”, PRI.org, July 26, 2016.


And then the Republican candidate calls upon support from the Russians. Say what? “It’s Hillary Clinton’s show, but Trump does his best to steal the spotlight” Chicago Tribune, July 27, 2016.

This is my 1,277th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 98,676 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Day 11+8 – (AD 1,173) – 19.8 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Yesterday On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Yesterday morning I pedaled another 19.8 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 25,116.4 miles; 40,421.0 kilometers. Completed 1.62% of Jim’s Trek Part V. And my Two Hundred Sit-ups regime continues; today is Day 1 of Week 3. This is Day +8. This morning was 120 sit-ups, à la Smith; sum to date 713.

Maybe you are wondering why I didn’t write-up my Jim Trek’s blog these past couple of days… (and then maybe you couldn’t care less). But the fact is that our Bright House cable box and router were zapped out of existence by an almost direct lightning hit.

Yup, while I was sitting in the living room; flash, boom. And this is the 7th time that lightning has hit this house in some devious and electrifying way. (Sorry for the play on adjectives.) One would think I should now, after 35 ½ years of living in Florida, be use to the summer thunderstorms. Nope, I’m not…but I am certainly glad that it was only the Bright House items that were destroyed.



My Mars adventure continues. On Day 11+8 I have completed 214.8 miles or 1.62%. I still have 13,085.2 more miles to go.

Soapbox –

Lightning hasn't stopped me from tweaking a reminder.


Register to Vote.

Just got notice from USPS that our Wings has crossed the US, Tampa, FL to Mission Viejo, CA.

WINGS - JS AB - March 2016
Wings has been chosen as a finalist in the 2016 Hoffman Challenge.

It will be on the road until September 2017.

https://quiltsb.blogspot.com/2016/07/my-quip-our-new-triptych-wings-finalist.html

Our URL address for Quilts SB has become a more secure. All visitors are now able to view our blog over an encrypted connection by visiting - https://quiltsb.blogspot.com/ Just a reminder to change your bookmarked link address.

This is my 1,276th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 98,602 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Friday, July 22, 2016

Day 10+6 – (AD 1,172) – 19.9 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Rejoicing On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled another 19.9 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 25,096.6 miles; 40,389.1 kilometers.

I definitely prefer the pedal 1 day, rest/sit-ups the next, and rest on Sunday schedule. My 64 ½ year-old body seems to be adapting well to this format.

And now I have to rethink my diet. My early morning blood sugar count has been slowly, ever so slowly creeping upward. I’m still in the normal range and I am still not taking any medications for my Type II diabetes…but I do not want to get back to the chemical dependency to normalize my blood sugar.



My Mars adventure continues. I have completed 195.0 miles or 1.14%. I still have 13,105.0 more miles to go.

I am rejoicing. Good-bye Cleveland, the RNC is over and done for another 4 years.



Soapbox –

In keeping with the tenets of the principal speech of the now-nominated candidate of the Republican Party, (hell, I feel some shades of Harry Potter and of the unnamed-you-know-who), it looks like the cyber warfare has been increased. So far, since 6 am today, my Norton defense team has captured, locked up and blocked 95 viruses and unauthorized attempts to enter my PC. I need to panic. I need to check out the conspiracy theories that this dubious real estate magnate and nominee did forthtell.

Thank you Norton Internet Security and Malwarebyte Anti-Malware. Period.

As I have stated previously if anyone posts to my Facebook or Google+ pages any dissertation, response or thought expressing his/her views without using a coherent form of grammar or spell check regardless of which side of the aisle s/he is most comfortable I will immediately delete and/or block said post and/or connection. Period.

This morning the baker’s oven was in full-form while I cycled quietly on my Schwinn 170. Today’s fare – Flax Seed Sourdough.

Sourdough Flax Seed - Before

Sourdough Flax Seed - After

And this one was delivered.

This is my 1,275th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,957 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Day 9+5 – (AD 1,171) – 19.8 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – New Schedule On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning, and yes it is Wednesday because I thought it was Thursday; I pedaled 19.8 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals: 25,076.7 miles; 40,357.1 kilometers. I have completed 1.32% of my Trek Part V.



I seem to have progress beyond the halfway point on my way to the Charleston Crater. Total Mars miles – 175.1.

And today is the 47th anniversary of Neil Armstrong stepping on the Moon.




Soapbox –

Plagiarisms, pointing-finger-politics, and turn-back-the-dial platforms. It’s a wonder that I am beginning to see where my leanings are angling from the center of the road.



Yesterday evening I made myself busy baking: Mini-Banana and Raisin Muffins; White Chocolate Chip Coconut and Peanut Blondies; and Loaf #142 No-Knead White Bread.




House smelled like a bakery. Pleasant fragrance to fall asleep to.

This is my 1,274th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,775 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Monday, July 18, 2016

Day 8+4 – (AD 1,170) – 19.5 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Changing Schedule On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I pedaled 19.5 miles on my Schwinn 170. Overall total – 25,056.9 miles; 40,325.2 kilometers.

And I decided that I need to change my exercise schedule. I am now moving to a 1 day pedaling for 60 minutes and next day sit-ups. I think I will do this for 6 of the 7 days each week.



On Day 8+4 it doesn’t seem that I am moving too far along on my Trek. But from the high up vantage point, what do you expect? I have now pedaled on the surface of Mars’ a total of 155.3 miles; 249.9 kilometers. And I am still headed to the Charleston Crater.

Soapbox –


If what we are hearing and listening to from the media and from the mouths of the would-be and current politicians it would appear that there better be some way to pull ourselves out of this downward spiral that this country is headed. Intelligent thought and action seems to be gone…gone by the side of the road.

It is a wonder that the intelligent world is not doubled over and blue with laughter.


And I am just getting more and more frustrated when I listen to the inane platitudes and realize the amounts of monies that are being wasted for advertisements, camera-time, stickers, and… and… branding irons.


Andy and I received notice yesterday evening that our Wings triptych has been juried as a finalist to the Hoffman Challenge 2016. We’re excited. All-things-being-equal our Wings will be on the road from this August until September 2017.

Wings - JS AB - 2016
Check our Quilts SB for progress and updates.

This is my 1,273rd post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,632 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Saturday, July 16, 2016

Day 7+4 – (AD 1,169) – 19.5 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – 1.02% Completed On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I cycled 19.5 miles on my Schwinn 170. Overall total – 25,037.4 miles; 40,293.9 kilometers.



I’ve now completed 1.02% of my pedaling journey on the Mars surface. Yes I still have one hell of a lot more distance to cover. Mars’ total to date – 135.8 miles; 218.5 kilometers.

Soapbox –


Is there any way that I could get a free ticket on any vehicle traveling to Mars, simply to avoid this election season?


Here’s something to ponder.

If a certain candidate, here in the United States, is elected President and Commander-in-Chief this coming November, and if the top-guns of all the branches of the military, our military, do not support their new CiC, is it possible that we could realize an attempted coup as the one that was just sort of squelched in Turkey by President Tayyip Erodgan.

Turkey’s President Regains Control After Attempted Coup” (WSJ, July 16, 2016; 11:02 am ET)

I came across a great looking cake, via a link; a Mille-Crepe Tiramisu Cake. It looks phenomenal and I will follow anyone to the ends of the earth if they would be so kind to make me this cake.



And I thought I would give a chance and make this cake.

I just priced at Publix the possibility of a few of the ingredients to make this cake –

Crepes (store bought) 20 = $10.00; 4 cups/32 oz. of Marscapone Cheese = $28.00; Have to buy - Bag Powdered sugar = $2.10; Bottle Marsala Wine = $11.95; Cocoa Powder (Hershey's) = $3.34. This is not a cheap cake, all things being equal I would still have a glorious (I presume cake) and powdered sugar, Marsala Wine; and cocoa powder left over...

First hand cost not including refrigerator time = $55.39

This is my 1,272nd post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,553 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Day 6 + 3 – (AD 1,168) – Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – 25,000 Miles On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

What can I say?

Short post, and to the point.



And of course I am going to say it.

This morning I pedaled on my Schwinn Fitness cycle; I crossed the 25,000-mile mark. Today I pedaled 18.5 miles. My totals: 25,017.9 miles; 40,262.5 kilometers in 1,168 days.

To date I have now pedaled 116.3 miles on the surface of Mars. I am moving, I think, in a north-easterly direction from the Viking Lander site, the Chryse Planitia to the Charleston Crater. This is the first part of my journey.



As I have now completed the equivalent of the circumference of the earth as well as crossing over the 25,000-mile mark I am trying to go for a pedaling trek around the circumference of Mars. I think that distance is about 13,300 miles.

This is my 1,271st post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,407 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Day 5 + 3 – (AD 1,167) – 19.7 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – 24,999.4 Miles On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Today I cycled another 19.7 miles on my Schwinn 170. My totals: 24,999.4 miles; 40,232.7 kilometers. And do you think I could have gone the extra 0.6 miles? Hell, I did my 60 minutes.



I have now completed 97.8 miles on my Schwinn Fitness cycle on the surface of Mars. My early morning blood sugar registered at 101 mg/dL and I am now heading into my 3rd year without taking any medications for my diabetes.

I want to say only in Florida…



Wonder if she mowed down any of the flamingos in the yard?

I’m not against prayer. I’m not against meditation. Where anyone decides to pray and/or meditate should be his/her own private space and place. But it does become somewhat of a tenuous distraction when one is trying to commune with some supreme being, with eyes shut tight, while driving a moving vehicle. And of course only in Florida, way up yonder in the Panhandle area in Okaloosa County a “Woman who was driving while praying with her eyes closed hits house” NWFDailyNews.com, July 11, 2016.



T’weren’t any back seat driver… Wonder if she mowed down any of the flamingos in the yard?

Soapbox –

I know that this is the tawdry season that we wish would have happened and get over and done by yesterday – our sub-glorious election campaign season. We still have a number of weeks to go. Too, too many nights and days of inane campaign ads and mantras...

I truly do not care for whom you are supporting. I do not care for whom you are voting for, as long as you vote. Put your check mark, your filled in circle, your x-mark is your business.

I will respect whoever gets democratically elected to the positions that the majority will elect to office. Get this. I will respect the office. I will respect the individual who moves in for the scheduled time allotted.

But I will not respect any individual on any form of social media who deems it necessary to belittle and berate the current and (possibly) out-going incumbents. I will not stoop to the ignorant rants and unintelligent posts by anyone that I have chosen to friend on any form of social media. Whether I like or dislike the politician I will not disrespect the office. I will block anyone from posting his or her vile thoughts. Period. I will not have any time for you. Period.

This is my 1,270th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,351 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Day 4 + 2 – (AD 1,166) – 19.0 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – Just About ½-Way to Charleston On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 19.0 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals: 24,979.7 miles; 40,201.0 kilometers.

Check out the number of total miles. And yes I started on December 2, 2012.

I am now located about ½-way between the possible landing site of the Viking 1 Lander, (the little Green Men), and the Charleston Crater.



Today I began, that is the “+2” in the title above, Two Hundred Sit-ups challenge. I completed 67 sit-ups for Day 1, which really is my Day 2 because I count the Initial Test as Day 1.



Question - If one, as a human, is okay with substituting meds with generics, and the chemical make-up is identical between the prescribed/suggested brand name drug and/versus the generic drug, is it fine to substitute with the generic, which also has a substantial realized savings, for a pet?



Oh yeah, by buying the generic drugs, annually, I am saving about $300+. Guess what Pack? Guess who’s getting generics.

This is my 1,269th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,237 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Friday, July 8, 2016

Day 3 + 1 – (AD 1,165) – 19.7 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 19.7 miles on my Schwinn 170. Grand totals – 24,960.7 miles; 40,170.4 kilometers.

This is my 3rd day cycling on Mars. I am headed in the direction of Charleston and the Charleston Crater. I am about one-third of the distance there.



I also completed 34 sit-ups in the test phase to begin my sit-up challenge; the Two Hundred Situps. If you check the above title is states “Day 3 + 1”; Day 3 of cycling and Day 1 of sit-ups. I’m still trying to figure out where I fit in for the scheduling.

Soapbox -


Something to think about today. Reality, the world, our country, technology, the media.

Can we handle the speed of knowledge?



And the Ark Encounter opens in Kentucky – “Crowd gathers as Noah’s Ark Park opens in Northern Kentucky.” (Lexington Herald Leader, July 7, 2016)



And you know something I recount when I am pedaling in a virtual, imaginary world.

This is my 1,268th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,172 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

Day 2 – (AD 1,164) – 19.9 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – I Think I’ve Got It.

Good Day,

This morning I pedaled 19.9 miles on my Schwinn 170. Totals – 24,941.0 miles; 40,138.7 kilometers.

And on Day 2 my virtual journey continues. According to WolframAlpha the distance, on Mars, between Chryse Planitia, the approximate location where Viking 1 Lander put down, to the Charleston crater is about 300 miles.



Using that information I have figured out the vicinity where I am now located. I am headed, I think, in a northeast direction.



Also I am now 59 miles shy of my 25,000 mile mark.

Tomorrow is a new addition to my exercise/cardio routine. I am adding a day just for sit-ups. I definitely want to tighten up the "dreaded old-man's paunch".



This is my 1,267th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 97,041 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim

Monday, July 4, 2016

Day 1 – (AD 1,163) – 19.5 Miles – Jim’s Trek Part V – The Schwinn Has Landed

Good Day,

And a Happy 4th of July.


Today I began Jim’s Trek Part V. This morning I pedaled 19.5 miles on my Schwinn 170. This is the real part. I have now pedaled a total of 24,921.1 miles in 1,163 days…and I am still continuing.

My intent for Part V is to pedal 2 days in a row, each time for a period of 60 minutes, do 1 day of sit-ups, then rest for 1 day.

This morning I burned 615 calories. I weighed in at 164.9 lbs at registered 19.2% fat and a BMI of 23.0. My early morning blood sugar count was at 98 mg/dL.


And my Schwinn Fitness Cycle has landed. Jim’s Trek Part V is now a virtual trek on the planet Mars. (Hey this man’s got to have something to do to keep his grey matter, even though it may be the virtual part, going.)


Yes Google Maps has a Google Mars part and so I am going to be learning as I continue the physical part of my trek.

All-things-being equal I have touched down at Chryse Planitia (22.48° N, 49.97° W planetographic, 1.5 km below the datum (6.1 mbar) elevation). Those little green men, the Google ones, are supposedly where I have landed and started my new Trek. It is the possible site where the Viking Lander 1 put down. I just know that I have one hell of a lot to learn.

And I am trying to convert distance of the mileages I pedaled on my Schwinn 170. I’ve posed the following sample question to WolframAlpha “What is the distance between 22.46°N, 47.95°W and 22.46°N 47.625°W in miles?” The response was about 20 miles. I think I am on the right track.  Once I figure this out I'll be creating an on-Mars-diagram of my Trek.

Here are my recorded stats as of my 1,163rd day of pedaling on my Schwinn Fitness cycles.

Location – Home, Tampa, Florida
Start Date – 2 December 2012
End Date – ?
No. of Days Pedaling – 1,163
No. of Days Not Pedaling – 147
Trek Distance Part I – 4,257.1 miles
Trek Distance Part II – 4,360.0 miles
Trek Distance Part III – 10,362.4 miles
Trek Distance Part IV – 5,912.1 miles
Trek Distance Part V – 19.5 miles
Grand Total Miles – 24,921.1

This morning that new goal just came to me. My new goal is 13,300 miles. Of course I do have to reach the 25,000-mark.

Assuming that I do not want to go back on any diabetic medication, (I’ll never say die), and I need to keep my heart and cholesterol levels at reasonable numbers, (for someone of my young age), and I need a good sleep at nights, and I do not want to become weight bound, and as I am a wee bit beyond the age requirements to make a long, long, long, long journey, I think I have settled on the target number of miles I need to complete.

I’ve got it.

I have just recovered from a sinus infection and a sort-of bad case of bronchitis.  My Doctor gave me the go-ahead to start my pedaling on the 4th of July.

I will be managing my diet, sort of, and you can see the recipes and the carb tracking at Jim’s Gotta Eat. Tonight’s 4th of July supper is an attempt at Kakavia.


This is my 1,266th post. According to Blogger Jim’s Trek has recorded, as of this writing, 96,987 Pageviews.

I welcome comments or thoughts or ideas. Please feel free to contact, email me at Jim’s Trek. (This link is my email address - jsmith58@gmail.com.)

Have a healthy day and smile,

Jim