Finding My New Routine

I’ve been having a hard time getting into a routine since I went to midnights.  My life and schedule is so hectic with regular hours, overtime hours, trying to sleep, the kids, Kate, and everything & everyone else it’s hard to get into a daily consistent pattern. 

I need to get back to gym and start eating better. When the weather is nice it’s so much easier to go for strolls on the rail trail or hike other places with and without the kids.  There is no reason why, on the days I go in at 11pm, that I can’t go in earlier and work out in the gym at work then take a shower and start my shift.   Kate starts her Zumba class on Monday so I start back at the gym Monday myself. I work 3pm – 11pm that day so after I get out of work I’m going to hit the gym for at least 30 minutes of treadmill and elliptical.  I have a weight loss goal in mind and I’m excited to hit it!

I’m very much looking forward to being able to go on hikes again.  I decided that we need to get good waterproof hiking shoes/boots.  Last one time in particular our feet got soaked terribly and there were several times when we encountered some muddy terrain. 

We’ve decided to get a State Park Pass this year.  It’s good for your vehicle with up to 17 people inside.  It will be nice to have it on my days off with the kids where we can go to the beach, forts, and other State Parks for fun and inexpensive day trips.  Damariscotta Lake State Park is only 18 miles away and just a few trips to any of them the pass will pay for itself.  We also are going to go camping a few times this year when the weather is better.

One place I am determined to finally go to the Sandy River & Rangeley Lakes Railroad in Phillips.  I have been on the other three narrow gauge tracks and have tried the last few years to go here, but they are open with such infrequency that it was hard to make it there.  Not this year though! 

Read about a  trio in Entertainment Weekly called The Lone Bellow.  I think they are pretty darn good!

Later Readers!!

A goose kissing a moose?

It's a new day so how about another spontaneous adventure with Kate!  Today's adventure took us back to the mid-coast region for a hike in Fernald's Neck Preserve.

Fernald's Neck is a 328 acre parcel of land that is virtually surrounded by Lake Megunticook.  Trails totaling 3.25 miles, but hiking them all there is a lot of back tracking so your hike could be much longer.  In total we hiked over 3 miles skipping the red trail and the white trail.  The red is a short cut that bisects the blue trail and the white trail had warnings of a heavy deer tick population along it.

Where the Blue and Yellow Trail Meet

Along the Orange Trail

Mossy Rocks on the Blue Trail

 The trails travel along the shore of the lake and deep through the wooded area of the Preserve.  There are several a few points of interest on the trail.  Two marked are the Balance Rock and the Mountain View.  Two others not marked that I liked is a look out on the blue trail and a unique tree growth also on the blue trail.

View from the balance boulder

  
We couldn't find the Mountain View area but did I did snag a cool picture of the lake along the way to the orange trail.

The orange trail is the ruggedest trail where the path isn't very clear and it has a travels up and down hill and can be quite tricky at times.  The blue trail present a unique tree that was growing in the shape of a U, but is clearly dead and it's just a matter of time before it succumbs to nature.

Hiking the blue trail we came across an overlook that provided us a much need break from hiking and infestation of mosquito's.  We had sprayed down with bug spray but I believe the sweat was starting to wash it away.

We left the preserve and headed to Lincolnville Beach because Kate had never been.  She was surprised that the Beach was so close to Route 1.  I can't say I blame her, most public beaches you have to park and hike a good ways to get to it.  Here you literally park and walk onto the sand.

We waded into the water, which was chilly at first but we quickly acclimated to the temperature.  I skipped a few rocks as there was an overabundance of smooth flat rocks on the shoreline and what else do you do with them?

I had never heard this song before and learned it today!

Later Readers

Mike


UPDATE:  At the suggestion of Kate I have changed to music video to her favorite performer.

It's a Bass-less Falls-less web slinging 4th of July!

Let's start by saying Happy Birthday America "Hacksaw" Jim Duggan style!  U-S-A, U-S-A, U-S-A, TOUGH GUY!  HOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

It was a dreary morning, overcast, wet, 40 - 60% chance of rain, but that didn't stop Kate & I from venturing out for a hike in Alan today at the Bass Falls Preserve.

From the trail map it looked like a nice place to go for a hike.  However, it was very wet and it was extremely buggy!!!  I mean for over 3 miles were were in a constant state of arm swinging that would resembled the Phoebe's running style from Friends.  What's that, you're not familiar ok..

In the end it was a great hike that was also a great work out and we agree that has the weather been nicer and we had been dipped in bug spray, or had it been Autumn it would have been more enjoyable.  But I still had a great time!!

The Fishing Cabin

The Sheepscot River

The Sheepscot River

One of the biggest problems that I had with this hike is how inappropriately named the place is!  Bass Falls Preserve..I saw no bass and there is no falls!!  Unless you count the numerous times I almost slipped and fell there was no falls to be seen anywhere!!

After hanging out at Johns for a bit watching some Firefly Marathon, talk about a fantastic show!  John, Ju and I headed out for a spectacular evening!

First stop was meeting Jere & Nancy at Texas Roadhouse for some Wild West Wednesday action!  A big disappointing that Texas Roadhouse is inconsistent with there deals based on chain.  In Augusta the deal is and 11oz Sirloin with 2 sides for $10.49, in Scarborough its and 8oz with 2 sides for $8.99.  At the end of the day though, my steak was amazing!

Next we hit the Saco Cinemagic IMAX for The Amazing Spiderman!!  It was, in a word, Amazing!!
I found my self watching the flick and thinking just how much better this was then Sam Raimi's Spiderman flicks, for many reasons.  It pains me to say it because I am a lifelong Raimi fan!  Everyone should definitely check it out.  Great action, great effects, great story!!  I can't say enough good about it!

It was a great way to spend the 4th of July!

Later Readers

Mike

Pisgah

It was a hot weekend that's for sure!  So what better to spend a 90 degree day doing but for a hike up a mountain!!

Mt. Pisgah in Winthrop to be precise!

 

We found the parking area easy enough, after driving by it turning around and doubling back.  There are two trails you can take.  Either the trail through the woods or take the access road that is closed to vehicles.

We decided the access road up and the trail down.  The access road starts off well enough and then just angles up to an extreme degree!  I mean seriously I have never seen a grade like this.  Kate and I, mostly me, were completely blown up and had to stop a few times.  But we made it and it was extremely gratifying!!  The Fire Watch Tower is 60 feet tall and the views were spectacular!

For the walk down we took the trail in the woods and it was sooooo much better then the access road.  The incline/decline of the trail was gradual and not as extreme making it a more pleasurable hike.  It was still hot and we had to contended with some thick mosquito's at times.

We then came across this wicked cool tree!  The way it grew is so unique! I can't recall seeing anything like it before anyplace else.

Kate couldn't resist the urge to climb on the tree!

The total loop is 2 miles and we sweated off a few pounds at the very least!  I couldn't get this song out of my head the entire time walking up and down.  It's a solid track that I just learned about myself!

I spent the evening hanging out with my buddy John.  We watched 21 Jump Street and a bunch of episodes of Master Chef.  It was nice relaxing evening after a tiring morning.

I'm gonna say that's all for now!

Later readers


Mike

If it was only that easy Manfred Mann!

Today I wasn't going to leave the house at all.  But then I had to scan an application to e-mail so I had to go to Johns for that, then Kate texted and asked if I wanted to go for a hike.  I'm glad things worked out the way it did!!

Got my application, resume, & cover letter e-mail off the Delta Ambulance who is looking for a part time EMD, that would be perfect as I need to do something until I get full time, hopefully at DPS.

Thanks to Capital Walks we hit three trails today in the Gardiner Area totaling about 5 miles of hiking.  Even though I took quite the slow motion fall onto a giant rock (the ground just gave out underneath my right foot) and finding a tick on me, it was a great day.

First up was the Cobbessee Stream Conservation area running along side Cobbessee Stream near the two dams.  Nice little walk with tremendous views.

Then we hit the Gardiner Waterfront Trail that runs from the front street parking lot into the woods along the Kennebec River.  There are few benches on the way and the trail is maintained very well.

 Lastly we it the Old Narrow Gauge Railroad Trail in Randolph that starts by IGA travels into the woods crossing route 226 and continuing into the woods.  Great trail, well maintained and a very peaceful walk.

It was on this trail that for the second time in three day we busted out into random song, I guess random on Sunday not so random today.

Here is that great Manfred Mann tune Do Wah Diddy!

Canaan had Karate tonight, he now had all 6 black stripes on his belt so next week he can test for his next level belt! I'm positive he will get it.

Finished the evening watching the original Alien flick with John.  Sad as this is to admit, neither one of us had ever seen it before.  We both have seen parts 2, 3, & 4 numerous times but never this first.  Gotta say, we picked on the cheesy technology, the the flick over all stands up 33 year later.  It's pretty awesome!  Glad we finally saw it.

Streaming Bones on netflix while typing this.   Have a feeling that, that is all I'll be streaming over the next few weeks as it's an awesome show and I have over 100 episodes to go!

Later readers!

Mike