Day 46 - (AD 476) – Jim's Trek Part III – 21.3 Miles – South Australia, Australia On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning, another 21.3 miles on my Schwinn 170. And I now can chalk up 9,596.9 miles, 15,444.7 kilometers in 476 days.

My Fat percentage is at 19.9%. Again that is okay for me, but I think I have to now set sights on my eating habits to try and get to my desired goal of 17.0%.

Today on my virtual Trek I have crossed the States’ line from Victoria to South Australia. I am still on the National Highway, which now has a new name in South Australia, Dukes Highway. (I am beginning to understand that there may not be as many rural roads in Australia as there are in the United States. Of course, I can be wrong.) Bordertown is the next town on my route. Population is about 2,600. It is known for its white kangaroos. (Image from an artist known as Hotburrito2.) I now have about 180 miles to go to get to my next destination and goal point.

I’m writing my update considerably late this afternoon, even though I finished my cycling this morning. I decided to go the Dali Museum in St. Petersburg. My first visit and I just wanted to see the Warhol exhibition before it ended. The museum was crowded…and I mean crowded.

Two things really took me for a loop. On display, and currently on loan was Dali’s Santiago el Grande. Talk about déjà vue. I did not have any previous clue that this masterpiece would be at the Dali Museum here in St. Petersburg. I was immediately transported back to my life in Fredericton in the 1970s and to the number of times I had been in awe in its presence while I gazed at it at the Beaverbrook Art Gallery. It is currently on loan from the Beaverbrook until September.

The other "piece of art" that I was taken aback was what appeared to be a hat on the pinnacle of a docent’s head. And sure enough when I Googled for an image of a “Shoe hat” up popped up the same shoe hat, one and the same, and the docent is Janice. (I was sort of expecting to see Lady Gaga around each corner.)

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 45 - (AD 475) – Jim's Trek Part III – 20.9 Miles – Kaniva, Victoria, Australia On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I cycled another 20.9 miles on my Schwinn 170. Only 424.4 more to go. I am still on track, so-to-speak, to hit my all-time goal on about Saturday, May 3, 2014.

Today, on my virtual Trek I am just at the small Town of Kaniva, population of about 1,070. Kaniva is about halfway between Melbourne and Adelaide. I am located on the National/Western Highway and just at the western edge of the town. Accordingly, this is the area of the range of the rare Red-tailed Black Cockatoo.

This image, which was originally posted to Flickr.com, was uploaded to Commons using Flickr upload bot on 13:31, 13 March 2009 (UTC) by Snowmanradio (talk). This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license.

Last night, sometime early this morning when I was walking The Pack at about 1:00 am there seemed to be some bird that was just about intent of having a conversation with me. For quite a number of years I have always had the not-too-skilled ability at echoing a bird’s whistle, tweet, or call. This is definitely not a skill that I would brag or boast about. I just like trying to repeat and copy the trill, the cadence, and the sound that a bird may make when I am about and walking.

Well last night I walked The Pack past the clump of yellow bamboo growing at the edge of my property. Some bird was definitely whistling, chirping, squawking, and “hollering” to beat the band. And I echoed. For a good bit of time I just carried on a resounding echo-conversation with said bird. I then walked away.

I continued the walk with The Pack and when I came back, ready to call it for a night, the bird, it/she/he decided that it wanted to carry on our crazy bird-talk conversation. I couldn’t see the bird, and praise be that no-one was awake on the street in the neighborhood at that hour of the morning. Each of The Pack kept looking up into the bamboo in anticipation.

We never saw the bird. And hell if I knew what I was echoing. Maybe tonight?

Very good article - Creativity and the Brain: What We Can Learn From Jazz Musicians.  Katrina Schwartz | April 11, 2014 |

"Creating is core to the human experience throughout time, Limb says. “The brain has been hard wired to seek creative or artistic endeavors forever,” he said. “We don’t need it to survive, you wouldn’t think, and yet the brain wants it and seeks it.”"

And all three - Emotional, Physical, and Intellectual, of my primary biorhythms are at the bottom of charts.  A Day to take it easy.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 44 - (AD 474) – Jim's Trek Part III – 21.3 Miles – Almost South Australia On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Errands run first and then I cycled 21.3 miles on my Schwinn 170. This morning I have now cycled a total of 9,554.7 miles, 15,376.8.

I am still on the National/western Highway and today I am now located southwest of the Town of Nhill. And I am still in Victoria. I believe that within two days I will be crossing the State line into South Australia, and I’m pretty sure that the scenery will not change much.

Exercise done.  Fat percentage at 19.7%.  Now time to get on with everything else.

Fringe, my video companion necessitates my total attention while I am cycling. This of course is good as I do not get into the mode of “Damn, when am I going to finish my time on my Schwinn 170?” I pedal and I watch. The current Fringe episode is somewhat confusing; two dimensions meaning each actor is cast as two identical but different characters in two versions of the world. At the same time in one of the dimensions the story I watched this morning had a set of identical twin actors playing twin brothers acting as a pair of twins who switched roles in the alternate universe.. Yes, bloody confusing, and can you imagine the script writing.

The work on our new H-3 is amazing. Andy is doing a fantastic job translating my design to a fabric reality. Just wait. I think I have a break through on the titles for our three: H-1, H-2, and H-3.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 43 - (AD 473) – Jim's Trek Part III – 20.7 Miles – Still in Australia On My Schwinn 150 and 170

Good Day,

This morning I felt great getting on my Schwinn 170. And yes this sounds like a "down pat commerical" for a stationary bike, but I now know that this exercise is a part of my daily routine. Hell I've got to kept doing it if I want to reach my goal of 10,000 pedalled miles. And today I pedalled another 20.7 miles. My total now stands at 9,533.4 miles, 15,342.5 kilometers.

Today I am located on the Western/National Highway. I am located somewhere between the towns of Dimboola, population about 1,670, and Nhill, population about 2,280. Not a lot of people around this area of the country.

Reading today from Julia Cameron’s 2006 Finding Water, I am immediately stunned at the synchronicity with her and with her beginning words. Ms. Cameron writes where I am today.

 "I was fifty-four years old when I finally began taking piano lessons. All through my forties I had bought the excuse that I was too old to start something new. Then one day it occurred to me that I would age whether I knew piano or not and that I might respect myself more as the world's oldest novice than as someone who stayed blocked and yearning."

Thank you Pat Girabaldi.

Today I celebrate the safety pin. Yes, today is International Safety Pin Day. And just think what would we do without these not so insignificant gadgets.

Just wondering about the phenomenon of "selfies".  I stumbled upon the story of a young man who was so obsessed with trying to get a "perfect selfie" that he was recorded as taking about 200 shots of himself daily that he attempted suicide because he may have believed that he had failed.  And both parents are mental health professionals.  The article "Are you a Sick Selfie Addict..."

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 42 - (AD 472) – Jim's Trek Part III – 21.4 Miles – 9,512.7 Miles in Victoria, Australia On My Schwinn 150 and 170

Good Day,

Well this morning I cycled 21.4 miles on my Schwinn 170. I have clocked the 9,512.7 miles of almost consecutive days of exercise. I am now fanatical of getting my cycling done.

Today on Jim’s Trek I am at the intersection of National/Western Highway and Reinheimers and Jenkinsons Roads. I have about 260 more miles to go to get to my next destination goal.

And on my 42nd day in Australia, here’s the route I have traveled so far; 1,441.3 kilometers or 895.6 miles.  I am currently at the "A" marker. (It was easier to reconstruct the route backwards.)

And to my friends and readers who believe that my age of 62 is not as old as they believe that I am writing each time. I can only say thank you. I would like to clarify something. According to my birth certificate I was born in 1951. That would make me six decades older than my grandson. And I believe that I am five plus decades younger than the oldest Supercentenarian living today. Just think of what and how much more of life, Misao Okawa of Japan has experienced and has accomplished than me. The only body I can write and talk about is mine. My contention is that I am living, thanks to some higher power than myself, and experiencing what I should be and trying to experience today at this moment.

The draft design of our H-3 quilt and wall hanging has been completed.  Sorry but my image came out a wee bit fuzzy...and we don't want to give too much away just yet.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 41 - (AD 471) – Jim's Trek Part III – 21.5 Miles – Victoria, Australia On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

I cycled an additional 21.5 miles this morning on my Schwinn 170. I am now just shy of about 8.7 miles before I cross the 9,500 mark. And only 508.7 miles to go. Not bad for this elder fella. Anticipation. I have been cycling now for 471 days since 2 December 2012.

On this 41st day of my virtual Trek in Australia I am still in the State of Victoria. I am located, once again, on the Western/National Highway and I am approaching Horsham Wal Wal Road.

My Fat Percentage hit 19.3% today. According to the American Council on Exercise I fall within the average range for men - 18 to 24%. Based on the World Health Organization and National Institutes of Health I fall within the Healthy Range for men 61 to 79 years - 13% to 25%. My goal to to get to 17%.

Well I always knew that I was a klutz, and yesterday was a good example. Walking The Pack for their afternoon p-break we were moving at a fair pace forward on the sidewalk. All four leashes were twisted on my right wrist when all of a sudden I lurched forward and began what may have appeared to have been a spastic belly flop. And Tinker, the smallest of The Pack attempted to break my fall. Tinker weighs in at 11 pounds. As I tumbled two thoughts went racing through my head; don’t land on Tinker, and don’t let go of the leashes.

Sprawled and face down on the cement, hard, solid, fixed sidewalk I slowly clambered to my knees, and then to my feet. I had scraped my left hand, my left elbow, a toe on my left foot, and my left knee. My right side was saved by Tinker, but the poor thing was shaking in fear. I resolutely steadied myself and got up and checked the blood flowing from my scrapes and cuts. I had not let go of the leashes and The Pack decided that my bruised self-esteem and standing body was their likely Maypole. Untangling myself and the dogs I saw that I had tripped at a point of the sidewalk where two blocks of the cement were unevenly set together. Damn. And yes I am a klutz.

I can pedal, but can I walk?

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 40 - (AD 470) – Jim's Trek Part III – 21.2 Miles – Still in Victoria, Australia On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Well I got back on my Schwinn 170 this morning and I cycled 21.2 miles. I have now cycled a total of 169.6 miles on my new Schwinn 170. On the combination of the 150 and 170 I have pedaled a total of 9,469.8 miles, 15,240.2 kilometers.

This morning I am still located on the Western/National Highway in Victoria, Australia. I am approximately pinpointed by the Deep Lead North West Bushland Reserve and I just passed the Canadian Gully Bushland Reserve.

Finally found a local Chinese restaurant close to my home that will deliver. For a small delivery charge, of course. I really haven’t found one that is actually great, cuisine-wise. Just fair to middling. And I could electronically order online. The online part is great, especially in light of the fact that sometimes a two-way phone conversation involves either party continually having to say “could you repeat that?” The order arrived and as I was checking I pulled out the attached receipt. What a shock?

I speak three languages and I can work my way through Latin text… I have lived in Québec, and in other parts of Canada. I lived in Puerto Rico, and in La Republica Dominicana. I never thought that I would ever see in central Florida a bilingual cash receipt. Well and honestly, I did expect to see an inclusive one of English and Spanish at some time in the future. But I never expected a receipt in my mother tongue and traditional Chinese.

Question – If Florida’s aged population is increasing, of which I am quickly becoming a member, is it of good judgment that the Florida Legislature is considering a companion piece to the contentious “stand your ground” law? Yup, the Yahoos are considering enacting a law that will allow one to fire a warning shot if you figure your life is being threatened. First of all, I am not as steady in the hand. Second my tri-focals have to keep changing every year. And sometimes I just can’t remember where I’ve put my keys. So I can picture myself firing a warning shot…and, oh well I thought it was a warning shot. I warned, I closed my eyes, and I shot, in that direction. Damn, I missed. Sorry…and I don’t own a gun.

And we are revealing our first of our H series quilts and wall hangings, H-1. The top to H-2 has been completed. The design for H-3 is on the board.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 39 - (AD 469) – Jim's Trek Part III – 20.6 Miles – Back On The Road Again On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This early morning I was completely congested but I thought that I would get on my Schwinn 170 and continue my Trek anyway. I had aspirations of sweating this thing out of me, whatever it is. I did and I cycled 20.6 miles on my Schwinn 170.   And it worked.

I have now clocked a total of 9,448.6 miles, 15,206.1 kilometers since 2 December 2012. All-things-being-equal I will continue on my Schwinn Fitness cycle.  How many miles will I complete?  Your guess.

This morning I am located on the National Highway, also the Western Highway. It appears that I have reached what is called a road, the intersection of Main Divide Road which appears, also to called The Majors Road. I have now completed 831.5 miles or 1,338.2 kilometers on the Australian leg of my Trek.

Yes the cycling is for real, the mapping is virtual. I wonder if there is a virtual reality crossover gismo that has been electronically created. Just think what it would be like to actually experience the physical displacement and the mental reality of what one might be accomplishing. Oh yeah, Total Recall.

And I have completed the second of Julia Cameron’s books, Walking in This World. The third book in The Artist’s Way series is now Finding Water, The Art of Perseverance.  My next challenge.

If beauty is truth and truth beauty – and I believe that this is so – then our acknowledgment of our place in a larger scheme of things strikes a first true note from which more beauty follows. Julia Cameron, Walking in This World.

Our Warhol’s Itch has been completed. Check out the details at Quilts SB.  The background design for our H-2 quilt and wall hanging is finished. Now comes the next phase of our design. And I do believe that I have to remake our Quilts SB site. Stay tuned.


If one’s marriage begins with the venue burning down after the Officiant  pronounces the couple legally married is this a sign? I wonder which politician will spin this.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 38 ½ - (AD 468 ½) – Jim's Trek Part III – No Miles – Taking The Cycling Day Off

Good Day,

Today I had to take the day off from cycling on my Schwinn 170. My body has a flat tire. Something to do with ENT again and possible flu-like symptons. Cancelled appointments. And this throws my routine completely out of whack.

Must be something going around the house. One of The Pack is sick and another one is somewhat in the dumps. Chicken broth for all.

Blogger Stats reports that Jim’s Trek has now reached 35,025 Pageviews from the date I began writing and started my Trek on 2 December 2012.

I like Richard Griffin’s Growing Older column in The Cambridge Chronicle: Search engines kill conversation.

And then there are the persons-in-waiting-rooms with the Star Trek thing growing out of their ear. I wonder if, in days gone by, when we ran over to the other side of the street to avoid the “weirdo” who was known for talking to themselves, did they only have one of those electronic cell phone gadgets stuck in their ear?

The second half of the background of our new H-2 quilt and wall hanging has been completed.  Damn pretty slick.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 38 - (AD 468) – Jim's Trek Part III – 21.0 Miles – Western Highway in Victoria On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This late morning I cycled 21.0 miles on my Schwinn 170. Beginning my routine was a struggle and I certainly wasn’t in to it. I find that if I get beyond the halfway point of my intended exercise sequence I just keep saying to myself that I have to finish… I have to finish. My Trek III totals now 810.9 miles; my grand total 9,428.0.

I must be getting old. Software changes are becoming too, too much to comprehend. Just when I think that I have got the workings of an application and/or software fixed within my grey matter a new and “better” updated version comes along. And then this throws my mind into a whirl. Is this what it means to be getting old?

I love innovation and progress and exponential development of things but please give me some time to learn and adapt my ways of thinking. Change, speed, change… I wonder if I was like this in my teens and 20s and 30s…and 40s? I’m just trying to keep up without sinking below the aged surface. Google Canary has escaped.

I have changed back(wards) to the not so new Google Maps, the one included in Chrome not the one included in Google Canary. Today I am on Western Highway between Beaufort and Ararat in Victoria, Australia. I am about 350 miles from my next destination point.

Well I checked my biorhythm cycles for today: Physical – on its way up to the top of the curve; Emotional and Intellectual – both have started their cycle movement downward. This sort of explains my reticence at wanting to start my cycling this morning. But I did complete 21.0 miles…anyway.


Today is a date to celebrate and break a diet program; today is Deep Dish Pizza Day. But on the other hand it is Walk to Work Day and Vitamin C Day. But if you did enjoy Ben’s company today is World Rat Day.


First half of the background of our new H-2 quilt and wall hanging has been completed.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 37 - (AD 467) – Jim's Trek Part III – 20.1 Miles – 9,407.0 Miles On My Schwinn 150 & 170

Good Day,

This morning I cycled 20.1 miles on my Schwinn 170 and I was able to burn 632 calories. I tried the time set program and set it for 60 minutes. When I reached the allocated time I noted that I had gone 18.1 miles and burned 581 calories. Not bad to be able to keep up that pace in 1 hour but I continued cycling and extra three minutes to make the two additional miles and 31 extra calories. I now have to figure out if I can program both Time and Distance together.

Today I hit a 9,407.0 miles.

Today I am located on the new Google Map on Western Highway just past Modesty Lane. I do believe that the Burrumbeet Park and Windermere Racing Club site will soon be coming up on my left-hand side.

Here are my recorded stats –

• Location – Home, Tampa, Florida
• Start Date – 2 December 2012
• Today's Date – 3 April 2014
• Trek Distance – Today 20.1 miles
• Trek Distance Part I – 4,257.1 miles
• Trek Distance Part II – 4,360.0 miles
• Trek Distance Part III – 789.9 miles
• Grand Total Miles – 9,407.0
• Miles to Go – Many more
• Avg. Miles per Day – 20.1
• Calories Burned Today - 632
• Number of Sit-ups - 100
• Weight – 165.5 lbs; Total Loss – 4.7 lbs
• BMI – 23.5
• Fat – 20.3%
• Belly Measurement – 32”; Total Loss – 12”
• Blood Sugar - 101 mg/dL
• A1c - 5.11%
• eAG – 97 mg/dL
• Blood Pressure – 113/80
• Age – 62 yrs, 3 mths

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 36 - (AD 466) – Jim's Trek Part III – Miles – Eureka, Victoria On My Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Well I got waylaid this morning for a couple of hours attempting to understand and fix a money transfer issue. I won’t bore you with the details but read my synopsis of what I think I understand below.

This morning I decided that I would try to use one of the preset programs on my new Schwinn 170. I entered in the mileage that I wanted to complete, 22 miles. I picked the Pike’s Peak program. The data entry, after I discovered the User’s Manual online, was relatively easy. And I completed 22.0 miles and burned 558 calories. As I did not enter any time limit the exercise journey on the Pike’s Peak program, (sorry about the alliteration), took me 1 hour and 17 minutes. But I completed 22.0 miles. My grand total miles now stand at 9,386.9; in kilometers 15,106.8. And that’s the real part of the Trek.

And for my virtual Trek, today I am on Fussell Street on the eastern border of Eureka, a suburb of Ballarat in Victoria, Australia, population of about 86,000. I will be heading in a northwesterly direction for about the next 20 days. And to BB, thanks for asking but I do spend my nights in my own bed here in Tampa. Jim’s Trek, the virtual voyage just came about as an idea to alleviate the possible boredom and tedious drone of exercising. And my days of sleeping out in the open, on the ground, and in a tent have long gone. The Australian part of my Trek now totals 769.8 miles or about 1,238.9 kilometers.


Et j'aurai 99 ans en 2050. (For the Anglophones – And I will be 99 years old in 2050. A very interesting and curious article from Forbes, 21 March 2014 – Want to Know The Language of the Future? The Data Suggests It Could Be…French.

And so I had to, still have to, prove why a regular monthly payment that I receive is short because the company wants to know why I am not getting what they think I should be getting. Huh? Am I missing something? Read what I am writing. I am, accordingly, not getting enough. I am being shorted. I did NOT make the calculation. I did NOT initiate the movement of funds. I am not in control of either the calculation or the movement. I would have gone along my merry way and not known anything about the shortage until THEY brought to my attention…and NOW I have to prove and gather the information as to why I did NOT get what I was supposed to get. Huh? Can someone please book me on the first plane out to Pluto?

The paper is out. We’re working on the draft of the design of our new H-2 quilt and wall hanging. And once I figure it out I will begin to let you in on Andy’s and my quilting strategy and goals. Stay tuned to Quilts SB.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 35 - (AD 465) – Jim's Trek Part III – 21.4 Miles – Headed Northwest in Australia On My New Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This late afternoon I cycled an additional 21.4 miles on my new Schwinn 170. This morning I was asked to volunteer at the FHC. I did and I postponed my cycling exercise until the afternoon.

The above inserted Google Map shows my first three destination points in my Jim’s Trek III in Australia. A – Sydney, B- Canberra, and C- Melbourne. I’m now cycling to my 4th destination and goal point. 

And as of today, April 1st, it appears that Google has issued a new version of Google Maps.  (Just wondering if this is not an April Fool's joke.)  There are so many versions of Google things out there in Internetland that at times I get pretty well confused…pretty fast.  Something slick about the new Google Maps is that it does not just move on the screen in a horizontal, vertical, and diagonal directions, it now moves in a sort-of spherical format movement.

Here is the new format.

Today I have reached the 747.8 miles in Australia as a part of my Jim’s Trek III-170, overall 9,364.9.  I am located and headed in a northerly direction on Ballan-Geelong Road in Victoria. I am just about to get to the intersection of Gearys Lane. Based on the new Google Maps calculation I have 411 miles, 662 kilometers until my next destination and goal point.

Supper last night, completely experimental – Rooz Ma Lahem and a Cucumber and Kumato Onion Salad with Orange Almond Butter Dressing. Blood sugar this morning was 94.  Supper was good...

Check out the amaryllises. Our weeks of spring in Tampa are now over. Summer begins.

Andy and I just received notice that our Blumish Two quilt has been accepted for display at the Vermont Quilt Festival.  The dates of the show are from June 22nd through June 29th.  Check this link at Quilts SB to view our details of our Blumish Two.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 34 - (AD 464) – Jim's Trek Part III – 21.1 Miles – On The Road Again in Victoria On My New Schwinn 170

Good Day,

This morning I adjusted the seat on my new Schwinn 170. Much better. A few more adjustments as the time progresses, I believe, will eventually make it much better butt-wise. I also cycled 21.1 miles and burned up 620 calories. Total Jim’s Trek miles to date equal 9,343.5, 15,036.9 kilometers.

Today I am located on Nerowie Road just east of Geelong-Bacchus March Road. I am still in Victoria, Australia. I am headed in a northwesterly direction.

My fat percentage, since March 13, was up this morning to 20.4%, an addition of 0.7%. Must have been JK’s birthday cake coupled with the late night Spinach and Cheese Calzone I had yesterday. On a reverse note my blood sugar was down by 8 to 93. And that could be that I didn’t gorge myself all day yesterday.

I got started late on my cycling this morning. I had to deal with a minor bank crisis. It appears that in some way on my electronic banking system, the method of transferring funds was changed without my acknowledgment and after I have been doing it the same way for at least 15 plus years. The bank representative tried to explain to me that the change was “due to something that I had done…” Guess what? I think I understand ACH and electronic movement of money.  A financial and banking career took care of that.  Now I can agree that electronic methodologies are changing exponentially BUT don’t try and tell me that I was the one at fault when something changed that I would and should not have had any control in manipulating. I got the issue resolved…after using two online chats and one telephone lines all happening simultaneously while I attempted to keep my blood pressure at a norm for a period of one hour.

A series of earthquakes on Fringe elicits the possibility of the intersection of two universes. Now if the occupants of any building in Los Angeles have most recently come out somewhat strange after the recent tremors, you may have to wonder. But then again it is L.A.

This morning I had a virus attack, stopped by my Norton Internet Security and Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. I’ve never seen this type of attack before. It seemed to come in through the Google Cloud and it was vicious. Six high security risk items: Suspicious.Cloud.7s.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia or anywhere else please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 33 - (AD 463) – Jim's Trek Part III – 22.2 Miles – Goal #3 Melbourne, On My New Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Well this is the day that I begin and continue my Trek on my new Schwinn 170. Here goes.

Today I reached the third of my 16 goals of destination points in Australia. Destination #3 means that all totalled I have now cycled 9,310.2 miles, 14,983.3 kilometers, including my North American Trek. Jim's Trek III started in Sydney, targeted Canberra, and now I reached Melbourne. On to number four.

But I couldn’t just stop there. This morning I cycled a total of 22.2 miles taking my grand total miles now 9,322.4 or 15,003.0 kilometers. I burned 600 calories on my new Schwinn 170.

After completing my cycling and an additional 100 sit-ups my weight is at 166.7 pounds and my fat registered at 19.7%. My goal is to somehow, without a scalpel or hooking up to a vacuum cleaner; get to 17.0% or less. I would like to get to somewhere in that vicinity.

I am currently on Dohertys Road and I am west of Melbourne.  I am coming up on the intersection at Palmers Road.

Report on my new Schwinn 170 after my first 22.2 miles.

• Extremely easy to assemble. It took about 3 hours with four hands.
• There are a number more buttons and push-thing-a-migs that I need to learn and find out what they do. I have to figure out it whether the degree of resistance can be increased or decreased simply by one degree.
• I had to adjust the handlebars. Not a problem while I was cycling. I will try to figure out my comfort level and degree of angle.
• The Schwinn 170 seat is definitely much more comfortable than the one on the Schwinn 150. I will have to adjust the seat for my next ride.
• The Schwinn 170's built-in fan is definitely much better than the one on the Schwinn 150.
• While pedaling I hit my left ankle on the mechanism only once. I believe I was positioned way too close. Otherwise not an issue.

My viewing companion this morning was Fringe. The last two episodes introduce some extraordinary issues and the two can stand alone. I am trying to figure out whether there were any clues to the overall multi-dimensional theme of the series. Who knows?

Our H-1 quilt and wall hanging has been bound and the final production is a wonder to see. Andy has done a great job of quilting and binding. The slip on Warhol’s Itch is being added. It should provide a subtle dimension to the completion of the quilt and wall hanging. The last quilting is been completed on our extra large Tampa Kaleidoscope quilt. The drafting of the perspective lines of are new H-2 quilt and wall hanging is certainly a new challenge.

Check out the video: Lauren Austin – art quilter in Shanghai. I really like her approach and her work. The YouTube link is http://youtu.be/vn6D-UDOqJ8.

Thank you to all friends and family who have written me words of encouragement.  If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim

Day 32 ½ - (AD 462 ½) – Jim's Trek Part III – 0.0 Miles – My New Schwinn 170

Good Day,

Whew. Finished. Today I decided not to cycle on my Schwinn 150. I decided that I would put together my brand new Schwinn 170. Thank you Nautilus.

Due to Jim’s Trek and my cycling exercise of 9,300.2 miles on my Schwinn 150 I am a proud owner of a new Schwinn 170. Once again thank you Nautilus, Inc. This 62 year old man thanks you.

The box is now empty and I, with an extra set of hands, have reconstructed all parts and positioned my new Schwinn 170. It took me somewhere about 3 hours to put it together. I definitely needed some assistance. Thank you, AB. I still have some minor adjustments to make.

Tomorrow I will begin the next part of my Trek, Jim’s Trek III-170 on my Schwinn 170.

If you are reading this blog and just so happen to be somewhere along my route in Australia please feel free to drop me a line at jsmith58@gmail.com. Certainly would welcome it.

Trying to be healthy,

And enjoy,

Jim