Hello, Friends!

Yes, we’re back to the real world, and It. Was. Wonderful!!  I had the absolute best time with the teens, and Big Bend is so beautiful. The most amazing thing of all?  I climbed a mountain and made it back down the other side.  This trip was a milestone for me – I was so nervous that I would be the “old fat lady” chaperone, lagging behind and being pitiful – and it didn’t happen.  I hiked every trail, laughed, joked, climbed over boulders, skipped down sand dunes, waded in the River, and acted silly when necessary to keep going.

The highlight of the trip was the hike to the South Rim.  It’s a 2,000 foot climb, about fifteen miles round trip, and I made it!  I was hiking with my friend Elizabeth, who was also chaperoning.  We kept each other climbing when we just wanted to sit down and cry.

It was really chilly at the top, and the wind was gusting about 40 mph. It took us seven hours and forty minutes to make the journey.  Five hours up and almost three hours down.  Down was a whole lot easier, for sure, especially on those turns in the path when the wind was at our backs.

I was amazed at how absolutely gorgeous the desert was, even in it’s present condition.  Last winter there was a hard freeze that damaged most of the plant life, and then the past summer’s drought finished a lot of them off.  Yes, there is such a thing as drought in the desert.  They didn’t get their annual quarter inch of rain, and that made all the difference in survival.  It’s such a stark beauty.

 The Chisos Mountains are like an oasis in the middle of the desert.

Boquillas Canyon is at the eastern side of the park, where the Rio Grande twists through the rocks.

There’s a sand dune in the curve of Boquillas Canyon that leads up to a cave.  Yes, I followed those teens up the dune, right after I snapped this picture. The teens were impressed that I made it up.  I was impressed that I made it up.

Celebrate.  Keep the Faith.

P.S.  Want to see all the pictures?  Check the slideshow below.

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Greetings from the edge of Texas!

I’m hiking HERE!!  It’s gorgeous, wonderful and HOT!  Wish you were all here!

My prescribed update.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. No photo, but I swear, I do have a dress.  I’ll be back in town next week and will post ASAP.  I

2. Weight This Week: 160, before the hiking trip.  I expect it to drop a few pounds.  Living outdoors for a few days will drop a few pounds fast.

3. Goal Recap:  Pounds, Pullups and Arm Toning.  Pounds still making me nuts.  Pullups are coming along, as are the arms.  LOTS of hiking (I’ll have exact mileage when I return) this week, two bike rides, pushups and two kettle bell classes.

4. Books

End of Overeating. 

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy. Oh Lordy.  I skipped town before actually saying anything to Jo.

7. Visit Other Challengers:   Or anyone else.

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Keep the Faith.

Color me Slacker this week.

But only because I didn’t post an update in a timely manner.  And because I didn’t track my food intake this week on paper/screen.  Oh, and I didn’t weigh myself.  I DID get plenty of exercise, however, and my clothes still fit the same and I’m still frustrated with the sameness of my attempts to shed a few more pounds. 🙂

My prescribed update.

1. Item of clothing and a picture of me. As I hinted in the comments over at E2E, I do have a dress.  Sort of fun, funky, FITTED sheath dress, with a BELT even.  Yes I have a picture.  It’s on the card in my camera which happens to be with my youngest daughter at the moment.  I’ll post when I can get my camera back.

2. Weight This Week: No idea, but probably up just to be annoying.  Waist 29-1/2″.  I know this because I measured it to make sure the belt on said dress would fit.  How about that!!  Now can I just say that I’m at my goal size?  And just ignore the weight number?  Please?

3. Goal Recap

Pounds, Pullups and Arm Toning.  Pounds still not so much, but pullups and arm toning?  That’s going great, thank you.  I even managed a good fifteen mile bike ride a few times last week.  My total mileage for the year is 205.  My goal is to ride 1,000 miles before December 31.

4. Books

The End of Overeating by David Kessler.  Not a single page read during basketball tournament.

5. Catch up with the Challenge Buddy. Yes!  Believe it or not, this actually happened.

7. Visit Other Challengers:   I actually read everyone’s blogs this week, I just didn’t make time to leave words of encouragement.   Oh, for you Northerners, check out my Sweet Shot for the week.  That’s the mesquite tree in my back yard, all fluffed out and green.  In this part of the country, green mesquites mean that winter is officially OVER.

8. I do hereby solemnly swear to NOT QUIT.  Amen.

Keep the Faith.