THE WORLD SERIES - AGAIN!!!!!

What our San Francisco Giants have accomplished so far this year is almost beyond comprehension. They were down 0-2 in a 5 game series to Cincinnati but came back to win all 3 games in Cincinnati! They were down 1-3 to St. Louis but fought back again & again to win that 7 game series earning themselves a second trip to the World Series in three years! Sorry but no other word describes it accurately except.....un-fricking-believable!!!

Buster Posey & Sergio Romo celebrating the final out in the pouring rain as their teammates join in!

My whole family can't wait to enjoy this Series. We all made quick phone calls to whoop & holler last night. Darrin told me that even our littlest member was clapping & dancing when the Giants won. Maybe she just saw Mom & Dad celebrating & joined in or maybe she already knows how special this all is. :-)

GO GIANTS!!!!!

The Littlest Gamer Babe & a much older one are ready to cheer on the Giants in the World Series!

MOUNTAIN HIKING

For years I’ve had issues with my feet which have caused me to limit my walking & hiking. Recently I’ve decided to take charge & figure out a way to get back into regular activity. I’m seeing a chiropractor who seems to be helping. I’ve started walking (on flat level ground) a few mornings a week & felt great on our short Monterey hikes last month.

With all the (for lack of a better word) bullshit with my dad & his caregiver which I won’t go into here, I was in dire need of a "Calgon, take me away" moment. But rather than a hot bath I wanted a hike in the Sierra Nevada. My research found the Lower Lola Montez Lake Trail near Soda Springs that Lou & I embarked on yesterday morning. It was described as an “easy three mile loop”. Perfect!  Well, to paraphrase Robert Burns & John Steinbeck, “The best laid plans of mice & women often go awry.”

Let me say that not too much went as planned & it was far from the calm, relaxing day in the mountains that I envisioned. I don’t want to say that any of this was a “mistake” because there was gorgeous scenery & I was really glad that we went – and even more glad that I survived! So, let’s just say that there were a few “miscalculations”.

 

Miscalculation #1

Further research indicated that it was actually three miles each way not total. My first error was believing that if I could do an easy three mile hike that I could do an easy six mile hike.

As the afternoon went on, I berated myself more & more for attempting such an ambitious hike. To top if off we never did find the lake. Initially their signs were great but near the end they were nonexistent. I found myself wondering who the hell Lola Montez was & why she had a lake named after her????

The locals in this part don’t seem to like the hikers too much. You are told to stay on the trail at all times. “No Trespassing”, “Keep Out” & “Private Property” signs are plentiful, but this one certainly made us take notice!

No problem - enjoy your privacy!

Miscalculation #2

Whoever it is that rates these hikes needs to go back to Webster’s Dictionary to understand the concept of “easy”.  If this was an “easy” hike, Lord help us all on a “strenuous” one.

Some on the beautiful mountain scenery that made it all worthwhile.

Somewhere beyond this meadow was Lola Montez Lake but it eluded us.

I suggested we eat lunch early because I really needed to let my body recuperate & unwrapped our Subway sandwiches. About this time Lou pulls out the camera. I was hot, tired, gasping for air & not feeling very photogenic. The exchange went something like this:

Me: “Oh, my god, are you going to take a picture?”

Lou: “You don’t have to look like Miss America on a hike.

Me: “Well, that’s good because I sure as hell don’t!”

"Miss America" enjoying her lunch.

Miscalculation #3

In hindsight it was a bit of a blunder to decide in my infinite wisdom that since I used to be able to hike at 7000 feet of altitude, I could do it now. There were times when I was pretty sure my lungs were about to burst. You would think that at my age with all my experience I would have learned more – but apparently that’s not the case.

Lou seemed to survive much better than I did - but then, he is five years younger than me.

Miscalculation #4

I underestimated the difficulty of the rough terrain. This trail had a lot of steep ups & downs over gravel, loose dirt & rocks.

While going downhill at one point, my feet slipped right out from under me landing me flat on my butt. Fortunately, the dirt was so soft & fine, I was completely unhurt – amazing at 62 years of age. As I sat on the ground enveloped in dirt, I couldn’t help but feel that I must look like Pigpen surrounded by a cloud of dust in the old Peanuts comic strip.

All in all, I survived quite well although I had my doubts at times.  I’d like to think that I learned my lesson about taking things slowly – but only time will tell if I make similar “miscalculations” next time. I’m not betting on it one way or the other.