Exercise 2024 - Week 2

We were out for a casual drive today when we saw a man who had gotten stuck in the loose gravel of a wash. A couple from Ontario had also stopped and they were pulling his camper van out. While they were doing that, we aired down our tires for better flotation through the loose gravel. Having a lower hitch point, we hooked up to his cargo trailer and pulled it safely to the road for him. He greatly appreciated the help, and offered to buy lunch, but Tom said it would be better if he would just pay it forward, by helping someone else in need.

Since we already had the pressure lowered in the tires, we continued down the wash, following some off-road trails up and over the hills. We stopped at the remains of the Old Chocolate Mountain Mines southwest of town. As early as the 1860’s, men were finding gold here. Although it looks like it has been years since they operated the small ore chute or the stamp mill, the desert environment has kept the wooden beams and the metal wheels and pulleys in surprisingly good shape. After the mines, we met another couple riding around in their side by side. We talked with them for quite awhile, and they followed us through the desert to the Cone Cabin.

The next stop was the cabin of Joseph Cone, who was a nature lover and artist, who made Quartzsite his home. To the best of my knowledge these cabins were built in the late 1800’s, and the smaller building was his home. The stones of this building were multi-colored and looked as if they were specially chosen and placed. White quartz, the town’s namesake, were saved and used to outline the doors and windows. The larger building in back was his workshop.

A few days earlier, we took some of the trails southeast of Quartzsite, where we found the Scadden House ruins nestled in a valley below Scadden Mountain. I have not found much information on the building, but there are active mining claims all around it, so maybe it was owned by someone prospecting nearby. It amazes me how they withstood this harsh environment miles from town.

This leads me to the observation that I was not huffing and puffing as much as I was a month ago. Maybe this exercising is making a difference. After a couple weeks of exercising and stretching, I feel better, my knees are not as achy, and I am more flexible. I can’t say my body looks any different, but that might be from indulging in dairy and desserts. I think life is too short to give those up! There may still be a long way to go, but I am getting there, one step at a time. I am a little proud that I exercised everyday this week, so no new exercises need to be added.

These are my measurements as of January 12, 2024. Did they change?

Neck: 16.125

Chest: 43.5

Left bicep: 13.75

Right Bicep:13.75

Belly: 40.25

Waist: 38.25

Hips: 42.0

Left Thigh: 22.5

Right Thigh: 22.5

Left Calf: 16.25

Right Calf: 16.25

Now, it’s time to start doing more of each exercise and increase the distance walked. You can still join me on this journey to better fitness, it’s not so bad with pie!

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