Going the distance

 A week ago I received this Garmin Vivosmart 5, fitness tracker. Unlike FitBit, you don't have to pay them a fee to keep track of things. This was on sale and I thought I'd give it a try to see just how active I really might be in my everyday life.

The nice thing about it is that I don't have to always remember to start and stop the walking or stepping part every time I am going to go do something. Before, I was using a MapMyWalk app on the phone. I had to start and stop it to track my hikes or walks that I planned out.

According to my MapMyWalk results, I've walked 143 miles through the 16th of June for this year. These were planned walks when I remembered to put my smart phone in my pocket and turn the app on when I was doing a 'walk' or 'hike'. 

This did not add in my daily routines of fence checking, chores, and other things I did. Just planned 'events'.

My son had given me his old Garmin watch in April to try out and I didn't get along with it and perhaps my non tech savvy was part of the issue.

I was curious, but not obsessed by how or what I do. 

I was pretty surprised by the distance I walked since the 19th. This includes my daily routines. 55 miles. Funny, I never thought that all of my movement around the farm and then doing simple things like changing gates or catching the gals for grooming would amount up like that.

I enjoy walking. I'd say most of my walking is meandering. But with the steep hills on our farm a walk is a bit more than just a meander...below is a screen grab of yesterday afternoon's walk. I was checking to see if any more trees fell down along the creek.

The blue color indicates 'low' land and the orange shows it getting to be an incline and the red is even steeper. 

Now I can tell why my 'walks' just to check fencing could be a workout in itself. I've done it for so many years it is just a routine now. 

I sometimes can just tromp up the hill and other times, I stop to catch my breath.

What does this all mean?

Oh not that much. I do a LOT of walking and I can do a lot of that while the other half is napping and not go that far away. 

There are some interesting things to observe in 'read' out. Since I've only had the watch for 9 days, I can't say much about it. The sleep part gets me laughing. 

I'm using the watch to actually tell time and to also provide entertainment. 

The shocker of it all?

The miles that were logged included two whole days of doing nothing but chores, reading, and taking naps. Those days, the smarty pants watch buzzed me a few times to 'get moving'. I laughed and ignored it.

I too need to recharge and I take advantage of rainy days and easy meals to do that.

I'm flabbergasted. I had no idea I moved and walked so much. 

It reminds me of that joke saying....

Here I am after a cardio workout at our gym. The choices for cardio were: running - rowing - stationary bike - x country ski. Everyone got to choose their 'poison'.

Alyssa and I went for the 200m sprint x 7 with a minute rest in between each 200 meters. She is pregnant and not quite 30. I am ... ahem 38 years her senior. And we both love to run and run together.

[She is the cute one!]

We did it! Next time, I am wearing the very cool sunglasses so I can look awesome.

As long as I am able?

I'll keep going the distance. 

Giving Directions in the car: Married Life

I'd convinced my husband to take a short side trip out to a State Natural Area the other day when he had to go to the VA Clinic in Baraboo.
He was reluctant and almost petulant. I offered to drive and got a curt "NO!"

So he asked me how to get to Baxter's Hollow.
I directed him rather easily for a 10 mile detour on back roads.
However.
When we left Baxter's Hollow, he insisted on not backtracking but that I guide him through the backroads to home.
There is no straight good route from Baxter's Hollow towards home. It does not exist.

I like paper maps, but didn't have one in the car. However I did have the Garmin so I turned it on and examined the roads shown. My last trip home from Baxter's Hollow was by Miss Garmin, and I didn't like 'her' directions one bit.

Me: Turn right off from this road onto County C.
Him: County C? We came in on County C. 
Me: Yes. We can go west on C. Or if you'd like, backtrack.
Him: NO! I thought you knew how to get out of here!
Me: Yes. Drive!

County C is a twisty up and down around type of road. It is rural and surrounded by woods and cropland. It sometimes twists back on itself.

Him: We keep turning around and making loops.
Me: County C is twisted, yes, I agree.
Him: Got a shorter route?
Me: Nope.

I grip the door handle as he bullets through a long curve. 
Me: Want me to drive?

Him: NO, you drive too slow.
Me [thinking...I drive so we can survive the trip]: Okay, we watch for County PF.
Him: P S?
Me: No, P as in Pony and F as in... [the only word I can think of that starts with F is a cuss word so I pause.]

Him: Well what is it P what?
Me: P as in Pony, F as in Fred, Frank, Fruitless, Fudge...
Him: Oh, PF.
Me: Yes.
Him: Where does that go?
A cornfield whizzes by. I look out the window and at the Garmin. I move my fingers on the map and try to expand and contract the map. It is frustrating.

Me: It goes to County Road D, which goes to County Road W, which takes us to Highway 23 south of Loganville.
Him: [big sigh and grunt, he is not a happy camper]

I look up and we are barreling towards an intersection.
Me: Stop sign.
Him: Oh [applies brakes] Yeah, I see it.

I press my foot through the floor on my side and sigh. Note to self, don't take side trips with husband unless he is more willing next time. And get a paper map for the car.

Him: Now where is this PF road, how far is it?
Me: Um, up ahead, just keep going.
Him: How far?
Me: I don't know.

Him: Why not you have that Garmin thing, doesn't it tell you?
Me: No, I'm not routing through the Garmin, just using the map. Miss Garmin took me on the craziest roads last time through here.

I sigh and hang on for another sweeping curve. The scenery is beautiful and very scenic. The sky is amazing.
We come up on PF.

Him: Which way? 
Me: North
Him: You sure? [he must doubt my navigation skills]
Me: Yes.
Him: North Freedom should be north of here.
Me: It is, north and east of here.
Him: North?
Me [big internal sigh]: Yes.

Him: How far is North Freedom?
Me: Far enough to be out of our way.

He takes off like we are trying to get the pole position at the Indy 500.
Me: What is the big yank?

Him: I want to get home before dark.
Me: It won't get dark for hours.
Him: Grunt.
Me: Enjoy the drive, the scenery is beautiful.
Him: Grunt, sigh.

Me: Here is D, follow D, it takes us to W then it is only 1.5 miles to Highway 23.
Him [Points to a sign]: Why not that road, it says 6 miles to Loganville.
Me: Because I think the better route is this way and it is still 6 miles to Loganville.
Him: Huge Sigh.

Mario Andretti takes off again. I look around looking for some formula cars. I check our hood to see if we have a sponsor. Nope.
We pass an Amish buggy. They don't have a sponsor or a formula buggy. Just one horse power.

We get onto W and as we ride the roller coaster road, I can see the end in sight. I won't have to navigate for him anymore.

Me: See! [I say proudly], there is Highway 23!
Him: Took long enough.
He signals to go north to Loganville. He knows all the backroads from there.

I am exhausted, but keep one foot on my pretend brake and one hand on the door handle.
Maybe our sidetrip wasn't worth it.

Me: Next time I want to go to Baxter Hollow or Pine Hollow, I'm going alone.
Him: Fine. Get a paper map.

I am convinced. Lesson learned. Husband doesn't like getting directions nor does he like last minute changes to anything he has going on.