Journeys

 The week started off a bit tough.  I awoke Monday morning to some knee pain. I put on my knee-brace then headed off to work. I wore it again on Tuesday and it was really feeling better by the end of the day. I wasn't able to go to the gym though as I had a appointment for a haircut that evening. I was planning on going to the gym on Wednesday, but as I stepped out of the car when I got home I felt a sharp pain in my left knee so I knew I would have to skip the workout. I put on the knee brace once again and rested my leg for the evening. I wore the brace again all day Thursday and felt well enough to go workout that evening. I hopped on the Stair-master thinking I would do maybe 1500 steps then get on the treadmill. It was a tough workout, but my knee held up. By the time I hit 1500 steps the treadmills were all busy so I stayed on the stair-master until I hit 2000 steps. I was done then and headed home. It was probably the most difficult stair workout I had ever done. I'm not sure why, but I was glad to walk out of the gym. This morning (Friday) my knee was a little sore so I put the knee-brace back on. I think tomorrow's workout will focus on the treadmill, I might do 1000 steps on the stair-master first, but I'll see how it goes tomorrow. 

Campsite reservations opened for the dates I was planning to go to Big Bend National Park next winter. I reserved five nights for myself plus one. I'm thinking my daughter will probably join me. But if not her maybe my grandson will come. The two big hikes I have planned for there are located near the campground. A third one will be a drive to the river canyons. I also hope to do a tour across the river into Mexico while we are there. I may finish up the week with a night at the Indian Lodge at Davis Mountain State Park if I can get a reservation. They have been closed for renovations since February of 2023. They hope to re-open this Autumn. My daughter and I stayed there five years ago and just loved it. We will also hopefully go to the McDonald Observatory while there... another favorite of ours. 

So another trip to look forward to. I know we haven't even been to Colorado yet, but Campgrounds fill up fast during the winter at Big Bend. Too hot to go there in the Summer! I am really excited to hike there. We didn't get the opportunity to do so when we were there five years ago as it was too hot (early May) and we didn't have a lot of time to spend there. I'm just hoping we don't freeze while we are there this time. 

The trip to Big Bend  and success hiking there will be one of my final tests before I decide to book the trip to Peru and the Inca trail. I will need to decide after it as I will need to contact the agency that will organize the volunteer work that I want to do before I start the trek. I will also need to look into agencies that do the 5 day trek instead of the traditional 4 day one to see what dates they will have available. The Inca Trail and Machu Pichu tours can sell out up to six months in advance. I will also start looking into getting a volunteer job in Nepal fairly soon as I want to get a placement near Salieri in the Himalayan area. I am hoping to get placed at a Monastery teaching English, but also so I can get more in depth learning about Buddhism myself.  So much to look forward to. Now just to stay healthy and injury free.        

        Big Bend National Park