A meandering mind...

 I've less than a day and a half until I start my extended Christmas/Birthday break. Work is so insanely quiet as we are closed for maintenance. I'm just sitting at my desk trying to stay awake. It's raining out today which adds to the doldrums and boredom. 

I am excited though as I committed and made my reservations for my birthday get-away. I'm going by myself to Enchanted Rock to do a 4 mile hike with a climb to the summit of the rock. I have two nights booked in a hotel in Kerrville along with some good ideas for dining and shopping. My final hike will be a five mile loop at Lost Maples. It also has some good inclines and a hike to the top of a ridge with views across the hills and Sabinal river.  I'll finish up my trip with a brief stop in Austin to see my daughters before I return back home. So I hope I am up for two 4+ mile hikes in two days. I know it falls well short of the 12-14 days of 8-12 miles hiked for the EBC trek. But it's a start and I've several years yet to prepare. Speaking of which I'm back into my morning yoga and stair step routine. slowly increasing the steps, up to 125/250 this week. I am aiming for 150/300 next week before I head off on my break.

Well holidays plans are nearly complete. Gifts are bought and nearly all are wrapped. Some of the food has been bought, and all the libations are waiting to be poured. Looking forward to Christmas morning Mimosas! Now I just need to get through these last days at work and calm my meandering mind.

Happy Holidays. 

Escape

 The holidays have overtaken all else for the past few weeks. I was still resting my knee a bit, but I did venture out on a few short hikes. I am back to doing my morning yoga and stairs, but at a much lesser amount of steps. Taking it slow and easy until I am back to 100%. The hikes have been good, but nothing too strenuous, 1.5 - 2.0 miles at most.  Emotionally I am good. I still have a few doubts that I will be able to get in the shape I want to be in to attempt EBC, but I am happy with my back-up plan so I don't think I will be too disappointed. My only concern lately is coming to terms with the fact that I will be 65 in just a few weeks. I received my Medicare card in the mail a few weeks ago so I am officially old. Why don't I feel it? 

So I have been looking at a few options to get away for a few days for my birthday. I originally thought about flying off somewhere, but Christmas is probably one of the worse times for air travel. So then I thought maybe a nice city break and go explore a few museums, maybe a show and shopping. But for some reason that just doesn't appeal to me at this time. I did get a bit interested in a yoga & meditation retreat and I haven't yet ruled it out. I am now seriously looking at going to a few State Natural areas to do some hikes that have been on my bucket list. I could stay in Kerrville and be centrally located to them. That would give me a nice town to explore too. I am just waiting to see what the weather will be like for those few days before I book something. Hiking might be just what I need to recharge my body and soul.

So where should I go?