“Warm, mellow summer. The glowing sunbeams make every nerve tingle. The
new needles of the pines and fir are nearly full grown and shine
gloriously.” - John Muir
Running: I had a couple of pretty substantial weeks of running, bringing the total in July to 238 miles and about 40,800 feet of climbing. In addition, I am finally getting back on the bike, and logged about 65 miles this month. Last month, I also did about 20 miles. My goal was to ride to work once a week, which is about 5 miles. However, for the first half of the year, I basically did not ride at all. So now I have to maintain an average of about 10 miles per week or 40 miles a month, which I am on track to do if I keep it up!
I have also been doing yoga 1 - 2 times per week (this one). The yoga and the biking are definitely making my legs more heavy when I run, but I think that's mostly because this is the first month of doing all of it together. Hopefully my body will get accustomed to all the different activities and it will be stronger rather than more tired!
Reading: In July, I did a lot of driving and quite a few solo runs and bike rides. What this ended up translating to was more "reading" in the form of audiobooks! I read a total of 11 books, 5 of which were audiobooks (in italics). There were some pretty good ones. I have listed them below in order of preference (with books from my own shelf in bold). I have noticed one thing: my liking an audiobook can depend a lot on whether or not I like the narrator, which isn't really fair to the author. Also, I tend to not pay as much attention when I am listening to a book versus reading it myself, especially since usually I am driving or doing something else at the same time rather than focusing only on the book. However, it is a great way to get two times as many books read!
My First Summer in the Sierra***** (see review here)
These is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881 - 1901****
Everything You Want Me To Be****
Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town****
The Mothers***
Silver Bay***
Everything, Everything***
By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept***
The Reason For God**
Fortune's Rocks**
My Brilliant Friend**
Travel: What a great month! I actually had a couple of weekends at home, which is very odd for a July, but I am not complaining! I got to finally do some things around the house, as well as prepping for my next trip, which is in August. However, I did spend some time in Oregon, as I always do in July, and I also went on a camping trip to Mammoth, which was a little different than expected due to the heavy amount of snow in the Sierras this year. Let's just say that running was superseded by slip-sliding, hiking and route finding and the camp site that we wanted was still located on a closed road. It was still a lot of fun and the high Sierras were beautiful covered in snow and ice.
Etc.: So far in the garden there are some ripe tomatoes and a few cucumbers, but I think that a rat is eating my zucchini as I keep finding chewed nubs. Darn it, varmit. So I am just starting to be able to have tomato salads and to have a once in a while cucumber snack. I also had some potatoes that were sprouting eyes, so I planted them last week for a "fall planting." We shall see if they take! And the corn is growing! No ears yet, but it's getting taller!
Where did you go in July? What is your favorite summer read so far? Do you have anything fun planned for the rest of the summer?
Running: I had a couple of pretty substantial weeks of running, bringing the total in July to 238 miles and about 40,800 feet of climbing. In addition, I am finally getting back on the bike, and logged about 65 miles this month. Last month, I also did about 20 miles. My goal was to ride to work once a week, which is about 5 miles. However, for the first half of the year, I basically did not ride at all. So now I have to maintain an average of about 10 miles per week or 40 miles a month, which I am on track to do if I keep it up!
I have also been doing yoga 1 - 2 times per week (this one). The yoga and the biking are definitely making my legs more heavy when I run, but I think that's mostly because this is the first month of doing all of it together. Hopefully my body will get accustomed to all the different activities and it will be stronger rather than more tired!
Reading: In July, I did a lot of driving and quite a few solo runs and bike rides. What this ended up translating to was more "reading" in the form of audiobooks! I read a total of 11 books, 5 of which were audiobooks (in italics). There were some pretty good ones. I have listed them below in order of preference (with books from my own shelf in bold). I have noticed one thing: my liking an audiobook can depend a lot on whether or not I like the narrator, which isn't really fair to the author. Also, I tend to not pay as much attention when I am listening to a book versus reading it myself, especially since usually I am driving or doing something else at the same time rather than focusing only on the book. However, it is a great way to get two times as many books read!
My First Summer in the Sierra***** (see review here)
These is My Words: The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881 - 1901****
Everything You Want Me To Be****
Missoula: Rape and the Justice System in a College Town****
The Mothers***
Silver Bay***
Everything, Everything***
By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept***
The Reason For God**
Fortune's Rocks**
My Brilliant Friend**
Travel: What a great month! I actually had a couple of weekends at home, which is very odd for a July, but I am not complaining! I got to finally do some things around the house, as well as prepping for my next trip, which is in August. However, I did spend some time in Oregon, as I always do in July, and I also went on a camping trip to Mammoth, which was a little different than expected due to the heavy amount of snow in the Sierras this year. Let's just say that running was superseded by slip-sliding, hiking and route finding and the camp site that we wanted was still located on a closed road. It was still a lot of fun and the high Sierras were beautiful covered in snow and ice.
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| Thousand Island Lake, CA |
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| Emerald Lake, CA |
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| Garnet Lake, CA |
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| Garnet Lake, CA |
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| Shadow Lake, CA |
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| Devils Postpile, CA |
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| Smith Rock State Park, OR |
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| Mt. Washington, OR |
Etc.: So far in the garden there are some ripe tomatoes and a few cucumbers, but I think that a rat is eating my zucchini as I keep finding chewed nubs. Darn it, varmit. So I am just starting to be able to have tomato salads and to have a once in a while cucumber snack. I also had some potatoes that were sprouting eyes, so I planted them last week for a "fall planting." We shall see if they take! And the corn is growing! No ears yet, but it's getting taller!
 |
| Corn (on the left), end of July. Tomatoes in the background on the right. |
Where did you go in July? What is your favorite summer read so far? Do you have anything fun planned for the rest of the summer?
What a motivational post it is, glad to read it. You have done very mind-blowing work in past month and this will gonna help you in future life. For now i cant be able to visit this place but in last month i went to Overnight Agra Tour and that tour gives me plethora of enjoyment. Thanks for sharing this post.
ReplyDeleteYou saw some beautiful sites in July! We loved hiking at Smith Rock State Park! We hiked there on our way to Bend and did the same trail as you guys did!
ReplyDeleteMy garden is really starting to produce, too. We've had green beans several time, my zucchini is growing like crazy (wish I could give some to you!), and my cucumbers and cherry tomatoes are ready to be eaten, too. I can't wait for my big tomatoes to start to ripen. I don't think my tomato plants are going to produce as much as they did last year but hopefully they produce enough so I can can some marinara and salsa.
July was kind of a blur for me. I was up at the lake 3 weekends which is a lot for me! It was nice getting up there so much, especially since I don't think we'll be up there again this summer.
My favorite summer read so far was Eligible. It's a perfect summer read as it's a really light book but well-written.
Wow that's some solid work! Lots of miles and beautiful mountain travel. That sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI love the Sierras! Beautiful pictures... esp. Devil's Postpile! Love that place.
ReplyDeleteAs always, I am amazed about everything you fit into your 24 hours! All the running, reading, gardening and house stuff truly is impressive - not to mention the traveling!! July was a fairly laidback month for me and ended with a week off at my mom's lake house which was very needed and lovely.
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