Virtual Brush Box

Fit To Ride

 
Awareness of the outside world. NPS: Route 66 Corridor Preservation Program, National Trust for Historic Preservation: Route 66, Route 66 The Road Ahead Partnership.
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Another member of Team Peachtree weighs in. Welcome Amy, Quiver, XO, and Atticus, [archives]. [Virtual Kicks On Route 66]
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I was doing some walking anyway. I have in the past, in spurts, when my body cooperates and when my mind pushes me to do it for health reasons. I started doing it for physical health but I have found particularly lately that the mental health benefits are at least equal. During the pandemic for the very short time I was working from home, I started trying to get out multiple times per week to get the dogs and me out of the house and moving. After I was back in the workplace, I still tried to get out for all of our sakes.

Then the blog post asking if anyone wants to join the challenge for community. I like to support my friend, the motivation, and the feeling of community, so I joined. Since then my walks have morphed into being with one of two friends and their dog(s) so I get even more community and mental health boosts too. This has also helped me get out to different places to walk and their appreciation of the outdoors and our walks has also boosted mine. On those walks I usually just take one of my dogs who is more social with other dogs. [Ride Away With Me, Virtually]

I don’t document like the blogger but have take an occasional picture on a walk. I also borrowed some from one of my friends who loves to take pictures and post on social media. My other walking friend is completely the opposite. People are interesting.

Fit To Ride

 
Awareness of the outside world. “World Toilet Day is a United Nations Observance that celebrates toilets and raises awareness of the 4.2 billion people living without access to safely managed sanitation.” UN Water: World Toilet Day.
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Team Peachtree has finished virtually walking and biking Route 66, all 2280 miles. Of those, I did 1064 miles. It’s not as impressive as it sounds. I was biking while everyone else was walking. I did 122 rides, for an average of 8.7 miles per ride. The team started April 11. I joined on May 5. We finished November 2. I rode daily in the summer, then dropped of to biking on weekends. What can I say, we were younger then and we had light. 50% of the team lives in Georgia, hence the peach mascot.

Route 66 is excellent for automotive history, early 19thC American history, and/or automotive kitsch. Turns out I have zero interest in any of that. I’ve seen as much of Route 66 as I care to see. I hope it continues. I hope it gets the Historic Trail designation. Long may it roll. Without me. Not a bad thing to learn for the price of a medal.

In addition to shiny, hefty medal, The Conqueror Virtual Challenges did an excellent job of keeping track of the team mileage. One could probably do a virtual walk/ride on one’s own. I am trying this as a long-term project along the Mississippi River [Great River Road]. Coordinating a virtual team is more cat herding than I care to do.

Is it necessary? No. It is fun? Yes. Some things makes sense emotionally rather than rationally.

Virtual Route 66 ride journal, IRL & virtual, [Biking Virtually, Route 66]

Virtual Route 66 visuals, [Biking Virtually, Route 66, Streetview Slideshow]

Team Peachtree current virtual walking, [Land’s End to John O’Groats]

My current virtual biking, [Great Ocean Road]

Previous virtual adventure links, [Will Walk and Bike for Bling]

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Riding Journal

 
Awareness of the outside world. How do I feel about a woman as VP? Well, I’m old enough to remember the symbolism of the Billie Jean King/Bobbie Riggs tennis match. So, I’d say, ‘Holy Shit!’ just about covers it. Billie Jean King: Battle of the Sexes.
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On sunny days, I am content.

On cloudy days, contentment feels like giving up.

A while back, I talked about serenity versus frustration. On one hand, it was lovely to be sitting at the barn in the sunshine. On the other hand, my riding career lay in tatters around me. [Split Personality]

That’s that’s where I am with riding at the moment.

Rodney & I have continued the short, daily walks we started during our last few Virtual Tevis miles. We wander along. We see the sights. We smell the smells. It would be a great retirement for the old man, if we had anything to retire FROM. [The Beginning]

When I think of what I wanted for this horse, I sag. Not just the ribbons, although I certainly had my eye on those. I thought we would become a team. We’d have our ups and downs. We’d have lessons and trail rides and shows. Lots and lots of shows. He’d charge into the ring with enthusiasm. He’d get mad if I messed up. He’d enjoy leading victory gallops as much as I did. We were going to achieve so much. Together.

Should I have tried harder, better, different? Is it too late for a great horse and an amazing riding resume? Should I keep plugging away while hope tears me apart? Should I graciously accept that I’ve had my chance? It that wisdom or defeatism? I’ve had magical rides. Just not with my own horses very often. I appeared destined to give my heart to horses who don’t return the favor. These are the cloudy days.

Alternatively, as I’ve said elsewhere, quiet and peaceful rides are looking pretty good right now.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Riding Journal

 
Awareness of the outside world. Calling all bloggers. Gift exchange registration ends this Friday, November 20. Alberta Equest: Blogger Secret Santa 2020.
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Overall

This looks familiar.

[An Alternate Explanation]

Back in March, Milton came up lame after a rainstorm. He presented as lame. We treated him as such. He got sound. Eventually, the remnants of an abscess blew out. [Behind Bars, Foot Diagnosis]

Guess what?

After a rainstorm, Milton came up lame. Again. He presented as lame. Again. We treated him as such. Again. [The Temporary Pull]

The symptoms got better and got worse. He went on stall rest to avoid further injury to tender tendons. He got sound. Again. Again. Again. [Milton’s Fugue Moments]

Eventually, to our complete surprise, the remnants of an abscess blew out.

You’d think we’d learn.

Milestones

Lower Quarry, Mile 94. Image source & additional photos, The Tevis Cup: Lower Quarry.

Daily Log
We are doing our rides in 1/3 or 1/2-mile laps around our pasture. Link to standings, Doctor Whooves, Major Milton, All. Daily screenshots from VTevis results page.

Saturday, November 14, 2020. Milton. Today 1.03 miles. Total 93.73 miles. Test of concept. Short ride to see how his foot reacts.

Sunday, November 15, 2020. Milton. Today 2.08 miles. Total 95.81 miles. Attack of the zoomies in the morning. Alrighty then, we ride.

Recent Posts
Mine
[Rodney, Miles 95-100]

Others
County Island finish, complete with faux Haggin Cup.
County Island: The Tevis Trail: Virtually Done
County Island: The Tevis Trail: Grateful, and Full

[Tevis post archives]

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Thoughts

 
I have not gotten phobic about public restrooms, but I find myself using them less.

I’ll continue toward home when I might have stopped at a convenience store before.

If we take the truck somewhere for a bike ride, I don’t rehydrate until we are headed home.

The biggest change is that I no longer grab a soda on my way out the door. I arrange my caffeineation so that the cycle is complete before I leave.

I see no reason to end these habits if and when we reach the after times. I wonder what other new habits I & the rest of the world will retain.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Images

 

It is too easy to dwell in the past.

It is too easy to dread the future.

It is too easy to pine for places I can’t go.

It is too easy to forget the good.

~~~
Process Notes. Another exercise in drawing to a grid. Was supposed to be diamondy and gemlike. Came out spiky and harsh. And isn’t that an apt metaphor for 2020. So, I rolled with it and used “ugly” colors. Question of the day, what makes a color ugly? Is there a social consensus or is it personal preference? Is it more about the color value than the particular hue?

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott

Words

 

 
Bertha Hidalgo, Ph.D., associate professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. UAB: Research Goes Red grant allows for new research in women’s cardiovascular health promotion

In the before times, Dr. Hidalgo wrote a fashion blog, Chic in Academia, making the case that women can be both career-oriented and fashion-oriented. [Birmingham Style]

Since the pandemic began, she has been posting weekly Covid education under the heading Science Says Sunday. Given the attitudes in our area, this has to feel like shouting into the wind.

She now has a grant to use her social media messaging,

I’ve partnered with the @american_heart Association and @weareverily to bring you information, activities, and opportunities to help you learn how to prevent cardiovascular disease in stroke, but also, how you can become more engaged in research studies all across the US!

Together with @oliviaadventures and @alex_krallman, and others, we will work to create content that takes you on a heart healthy journey the upcoming months. I can’t wait!!

… We have cooking demos, exercise challenges, info shares…so much!!

… so I’m able to combine the two passions I have: Science and my social media friends!!

Instagram: chic_in_academia

Cool.

Note. Not a personal reference. We have not met, other than possibly attending the same local blogger events, back when I was doing those. Nor do we have contact online. This is strictly me being impressed with the effort that shows up in what she posts publicly.

One of the main goals of public health, I assume, is getting the word out. Dr. Hidalgo is exploring ways to take the message to where the people are. Be interesting to see if this is the beginning of social media as a more serious part of public discourse.

Stay safe. Stay sane.
Katherine Walcott