Pennsylvania Grand Canyon (Friday Five Edition)

So you might see a similar post on Meranda's blog, but I wanted to talk about our fun little adventure up to the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon.  Meranda wanted to check it out as there was supposed to be a race there but there was no information about it online as they cancelled it this year (we are hoping just this year and not forever).  But I'm always up for a road trip so I told her I would check it out with her.  Here are 5 things that happened.

1. We got lost.  Well we really didn't get lost, it's just that most mapping systems didn't even know where the PA Grand Canyon is.  Google did, but apparently it considers several State Parks part of the whole same system and it sent is to the wrong one.  So we went probably 30 minutes out of our way and had to cross this scary bridge as well.  But we talked to some really nice bikers who were doing a whole weekend ride through the rail trail in that area.  I kinda wanted to join them.

2. We had a second day of cooperating weather.  While it was dreary out, it really didn't start raining till we left the park.  The temperatures were cool where we had to put on a jacket and were happy that we were wearing jeans.  Then while we were hiking we got hot and had to strip our jackets and at that point I was kinda hating my jeans.

3. It was beautiful!!  These pictures really do not do it justice.  With the overcast skies most of the pictures came out kinda dark.

4. When they say the trails were steep, they were not kidding.  We went on the shorter path first and it looped around back to the top.  It was short and kinda steep.  The second trail we went on was a bit longer and a lot steeper.  As we started the second trail, we saw kids coming up.  Everyone was huffing and puffing, but we said we were marathoners, this would be no big deal.  Well it kinda was a big deal.

The downhill to me was the hardest.  While it wasn't raining, the trail was still wet and had leaves all over it.  I was terrified that I was going to slip and fall.  Also, my knee really was hurting on the way down.  It doesn't like hills.  So we made it down to the waterfall and decided the rest wasn't worth going down as others coming up said it just leads down to the rail trail and river.  The waterfall was really pretty.  Not as large as I thought it would be, but worth the trek down.

We hung out and took pictures.

The walk up wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  While we huffed and puffed all the way up and had to stop a couple times to catch our breath, I felt safer going up.  And my knee completely stopped hurting.  Though my calfs were feeling it by the end.  Meranda's Garmin said that between the two hikes the elevation was 799 feet.

Oh I have to add that there was this guy that ran down and back up twice while we were hiking.  We thought he was insane as not only was it dangerous for him, but there were actually a good handful of people on the trail who had to make sure they moved out of the way of him on some very narrow paths.


5.  We should have asked before we started hiking where the race actually takes place.  It turns out that it takes place on the other side of the rim.  After seeing the park, I really wasn't sure how there was another side of the rim.  By the time we were done, I really was tired and ready for dinner and voted that we don't check out the other side.  I probably should have just sucked it up as now I'm very curious about it.  Might have to do another road trip just to check that out.

Have you ever been to the PA Grand Canyon?  What's your favorite part of hiking? 

Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia 

 

Do Not Disturb! (Throwback Thursday Edition)

So I know most of my posts have to do with running, but I wanted to throw in some other stuff and what is the best way to do that then telling a story from years ago.  Some might be from my childhood and others might be from a few years ago.  I hope you all enjoy a trip down my memory lane.

So this one comes from back in the day when I was 5 or 6.  I went to a Montessori School from preschool all the way through second grade.  After that I wanted to go to public school because I wanted to ride the school bus with my friends from the neighborhood.

The school that I went to was an outdoor layout where the hallways were outside.  We were at recess one day and me and a couple friends were playing around the teacher's lounge door.  On the door it says "Do Not Disturb".  So we decided to disturb.

We slightly opened up the door and saw that there was a book shelf so that you couldn't see the teachers in there directly.  We would take turns opening the door slightly and yelling "Disturb!" into the door and running away.  We did this one too many times and were finally caught.

I know that they sent a note home, but I really don't remember being punished at home.  I know it was the first time I got in trouble though.

When was the first time you got in trouble?  Have you ever seen inside a teachers lounge (when you were a student)?

Five Random Things (Friday Five Edition)

So I don't have a real good topic for Friday Five so I thought I would just spew some randomness your way.

1. I just re-watched The 4400.  I watched it when it came out the first time around and it's been long enough that most of it was like watching it new again.  For those that have not heard of the show (which I think is most everyone), it's about 4400 people who disappeared over the last 50 years and all come back together through a ball of light.  I don't want to spoil things for anyone but most of these people come back with a power of sorts.  Through the show they are able to share their powers.  So my question that I have been thinking about is would you want a power?  Some of them are cool like healing or seeing the future or reading people's mind.  But others kinda suck like giving people disease or passing on debilitating anxiety.  So would you want one knowing you couldn't choose?  On top of that, people had a 50/50 shot of dying instead of getting a power.  Would you take a gamble?  Honestly, I'd be very tempted.  I'm not much of a gambler, but when I do, I usually go all in.

2.  I'm so sick of being chafed after a long run.  Because my sports bras that I have loved are coming to their end of life and if you have been reading my blog, you know my most adored shorts are coming apart at the seams, I've been having to try new items.  I have yet to find a sports bra that will get me over 10 miles before it chafes me.  And I'm tired of spending $60+ on bras that just don't work well.  And I think I've tried them all.  I do have to say that I love Brooks policy that you can try them out and sweat in them and still return, and while I love some of their bras, most are not good for me after 10 miles.  And I lather myself in Glide before every run and still have cuts on me.  Oh and why does any manufacture have to put tags in active wear?  Even if you cut them off, there is that edge of it that digs.

3.  I'm still getting used to the latest update to the iPhone.  Normally you swipe to unlock and now that just brings you to a new screen with news and calendar stuff.  I have to remember to just push the home button.  The texting has a new option to write things with your finger.  It's weird, too.  Oh and the new icons that you can send with a text.  It's sort of like adding a GIF on Twitter.  The Apple Watch got a big update too.  I do like the new face with my activity tracker.  It makes the steps and standing seen, which makes you want to move more.  But my new favorite thing is the Breathe option.  So far it has asked me twice to breathe.  What you do is for one minute you block everything out and concentrate on the watch and your breathing.  I plan on doing it when it asks unless I'm in a meeting or driving or something.

4. I'm thinking of making a shirt to wear at MCM.  I'm still tossing ideas around on what I want it to look like and say.  I want to go for some meaning that the Marines would know or something that expresses my gratitude for their service.

5. It turns out that one of my cats is afraid of thunder.  I've never seen a cat afraid of thunder before.  When I got home last night we had one strike that was close so the thunder made me jump.  It scared Aiden half to death.  The rest of the night while the storm when on he would be laying as flat as he could next to me in the kitchen and then ended up hiding in the bathroom.  No matter what I did, I couldn't seem to calm him, so I just left him in the bathroom to sooth himself.

Oh one more thing.  I just watched the second episode of Designated Survivor and I am totally in love with this show so far.  I hope it keeps up.

Are your pets afraid of thunder?  Do you like the new upgrade to the iPhone?  Would you want a super power?

Linking up with Courtney, Mar & Cynthia 

What I'm About...

Not sure really what this will be about, but I've been wanting to do something that lets me share my random thoughts, mostly to get them out of my head.  I thought I would include topics like, the books I have been reading, activities that I have been engaged in, and cooking triumphs and catastrophes.  I hope to have fun with it.