Life is hard and this I know. Run Run Run. Climb up. Hide.
Why do we fall? So we can learn to pick ourselves up.
Laugh, cry, eat, sleep. But there is more to existence?
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Sunday, January 17, 2010
The Milford Track
Here is an update to my initial post on New Zealand.
The highlight of the trip is our first adventure, the Milford Track. This 4 day hike is the most popular in NZ and is restricted to 90 people starting per day. You have to stay in huts along the track in your reserved day, and there is no camping allowed. Average overnight temperatures will be around 35F while we are there.
Here's a quote from the track brochure:
Day 1 - 3 miles, ascend ~150 feet, 1 to 1.5 hour.
Day 2 - 10.3 miles, ascend ~1150 feet, 5 to 6 hours.
Day 3 - 8.7 miles, ascend 1600 feet, descend 3180 feet, 6 to 7 hours; plus 3 (?) mile side trip to Sutherland Falls (1.5 hours) for total ~11.5 or 12 miles, 7.5 to 8.5 hours.
Day 4 - 11.2 miles, descend ~650 feet, 5.5 to 6 hours, catch 2 pm Ferry
Here in our tame Shenandoah mountains, our typical one-day hikes are:
10 miles, ascend 2000', descend 2000', 5 hours
Our typical two-day backpacking trips are:
Day 1: 8 miles, ascend 2000', 5 hours
Day 2: 10 miles, descend 2000', 5 hours
All of my backpacking trips have been two days. I have no idea how my body will deal with 3 and 1/2 days of difficult hiking. Luckily we won't be carrying tents or sleeping bags, so our packs will be lighter than usual. I am really worried about Day 3, a steep decline I have never seen the likes of before. And the last day has a deadline! I just hope that pain and exhaustion will not make me miss the scenery.
Our last major hike was 2 and 1/2 months ago and I am feeling out of shape. Sure, I have been going to the gym but nothing beats the real thing. We have had an unusually cold winter and the trails are treacherous because the snow has not melted yet. If the weather cooperates, we will be out there!
The highlight of the trip is our first adventure, the Milford Track. This 4 day hike is the most popular in NZ and is restricted to 90 people starting per day. You have to stay in huts along the track in your reserved day, and there is no camping allowed. Average overnight temperatures will be around 35F while we are there.
Here's a quote from the track brochure:
Centred at latitude 45o south, Fiordland National Park lies in an area of predominately westerly airstreams, known as the Roaring 40s, delivering high rainfall and changeable weather patterns to the area. Cold temperatures, snow, strong winds and heavy rain can occur at any time of the year.
Day 1 - 3 miles, ascend ~150 feet, 1 to 1.5 hour.
Day 2 - 10.3 miles, ascend ~1150 feet, 5 to 6 hours.
Day 3 - 8.7 miles, ascend 1600 feet, descend 3180 feet, 6 to 7 hours; plus 3 (?) mile side trip to Sutherland Falls (1.5 hours) for total ~11.5 or 12 miles, 7.5 to 8.5 hours.
Day 4 - 11.2 miles, descend ~650 feet, 5.5 to 6 hours, catch 2 pm Ferry
Here in our tame Shenandoah mountains, our typical one-day hikes are:
10 miles, ascend 2000', descend 2000', 5 hours
Our typical two-day backpacking trips are:
Day 1: 8 miles, ascend 2000', 5 hours
Day 2: 10 miles, descend 2000', 5 hours
All of my backpacking trips have been two days. I have no idea how my body will deal with 3 and 1/2 days of difficult hiking. Luckily we won't be carrying tents or sleeping bags, so our packs will be lighter than usual. I am really worried about Day 3, a steep decline I have never seen the likes of before. And the last day has a deadline! I just hope that pain and exhaustion will not make me miss the scenery.
Our last major hike was 2 and 1/2 months ago and I am feeling out of shape. Sure, I have been going to the gym but nothing beats the real thing. We have had an unusually cold winter and the trails are treacherous because the snow has not melted yet. If the weather cooperates, we will be out there!
Friday, January 15, 2010
Bathroom Remodel
Remodeling a bathroom may not sound very interesting, but it is through the eyes of a kitten!
We just finished a medium-difficulty upgrade to our guest bathroom. It took 5 days straight out of out Christmas-New Years vacation and a week of evenings. Here's a quick list of the things we did:
Doesn't sound like much, but it was a lot of work!
At times I questioned myself (not out loud, it was my idea) for doing this. Renters, like blonds, have more fun? Tom was wonderful to work with even though the confined space was trying. I can be difficult because I am a perfectionist, but he gave me my space when I got impatient and came back when I asked for help.
While scraping wallpaper (which took almost 2 days), we enjoyed reminiscing over 90s songs on the Generations station (remember "Life is a Highway" - summer camp!). The kittens enjoyed all the activity and posed for pictures. I came up with the idea of narrating the album from the cats' perspective after they insisted in being in the shots.
I am very happy with the results. And I think I emerged a better person and wife.
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| From Bathroom Remodel Project |
- removed wall paper and painted
- replaced vinyl floor (removed toilet!)
- refinished wooden vanity cabinet
- replaced towel bars, light fixture, mirror, faucet, shower head
- installed new wall cabinet over toilet
Doesn't sound like much, but it was a lot of work!
At times I questioned myself (not out loud, it was my idea) for doing this. Renters, like blonds, have more fun? Tom was wonderful to work with even though the confined space was trying. I can be difficult because I am a perfectionist, but he gave me my space when I got impatient and came back when I asked for help.
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| From Bathroom Remodel Project |
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| From Bathroom Remodel Project |
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| From Bathroom Remodel Project |
I am very happy with the results. And I think I emerged a better person and wife.
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