<p>Gotta live a little on your birthday!</p>
<p>Happy birthday, NRE! My son turned 25 today. I had cake too…I figured it was a reward for surviving some pretty tumultuous years. </p>
<p>OK, I’ve got about 4 gig of video and photos to sort through from Acadia National Park, so it’s going to have to be chopped up in digestible chunks. Here’s the first video. If this isn’t the most beautiful campground ever, it’s way up there. On the shores of Somes Sound, the closest thing to a fjord on the East coast, nearly cutting Mt. Desert Island in half. It a small, private campground that relies on repeat business. One couple at a site near mine was back for their 23rd year in a row! The waterfront campsites are breathtaking.</p>
<p>[Mt</a>. Desert Campground](<a href=“Mt Desert Campground - YouTube”>Mt Desert Campground - YouTube)</p>
<p>Grilling a 16 ounce rib eye and sipping on some single malt scotch in that setting is pretty darn nice.</p>
<p>Great setting, iDad. Looks like you had room for a few more chairs … Next time a few of us are going to show up to try some of your scotch.</p>
<p>Awesome. Did you backpack in, or do you drive in? The only thing missing is a nice little kayak 
But if its only accessible by backpack that would be a no-go! </p>
<p>It does, however, look like perfect portage terrain. </p>
<p>In other news, the owner of that whisky shop emailed to let us know that he had mch’s 18 yr Glenmorangie locked away in the cabinet but a hadn’t told the staff before he left for the day, which is why they didnt have it when i showed up. So it would appear mch now gets to double-gift-dip on Father’s Day, since I already bought him the stupid raft ;)</p>
<p>Happy Birthday Notrichenough!</p>
<p>I love that campsite setting, iDad. It looks perfect. Some of my friends ran the marathon on Mt. Desert Island. They loved it.</p>
<p>I see Time has jumped onto the “fat is okay again” bandwagon. </p>
<p><a href=“VIDEO: The Truth About Fat | Time”>http://time.com/2861540/fat-and-carbs-diet-guidelines/</a></p>
<p>And, how hard are we really exercising? </p>
<p><a href=“Overestimating How Hard We Exercise - The New York Times”>The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos;
<p>Just gorgeous iDad - I’m also completely jealous of the trip to the flagship store - it’s on my bucket list to do someday! </p>
<p>Call me odd, but I think that candy bar would taste great! I’ve had a chocolate dipped potato chip before - sweet, salty and thinly crunchy all at the same time. The bacon would only enhance that salty and give a little savory with the sweet. Break me off a piece! :)</p>
<p>Last night was another beautiful night. My usual run night, but ended up enjoying some family time taking pooch for a walk in the neighboring little town along the river and then crossed a summer item off the bucket list by stopping at a local landmark ice cream pit stop - omg, WHY do portions have to be so big!? Seriously! I ordered a junior turtle sundae (their specialty) and ate less than half. Even pooch got a little of the vanilla ice cream part. That was a junior size! </p>
<p>sabaray- the second article is one of my big concerns about a lot of people who think they are really doing a lot of meaningful exercise. Anything is better than sitting on the couch, but I do think it’s important to raise your heart rate to the appropriate level. The people talking on their phones or texting while the treadmill moves at about 23 minutes per mile really aren’t getting it done! </p>
<p>I’ve decided that I need to sweat. I think that’s why hot yoga works best for me if I can’t run. I can do the swimming or some of the other “replacements” but I never feel the same as when I’ve done hot yoga. I hope I’ll be allowed to go back to that in a couple of weeks. </p>
<p>I do have that candy bar in my desk and will try it later. My eating has not been good, despite my best intentions. Maybe starting tomorrow… I had this fabulous beer that we brought back from VA called “Sweet Baby Jesus”. It’s a chocolate peanut butter Porter. I feel really out of shape except for my arms. I still fit in my clothes, but I feel like I’m growing!</p>
<p>I don’t feel like I’ve exercised unless I’m sweating, so I hear you on needing to sweat. I hope you’re able to get back to the hot yoga soon, too. I’m finding myself grumpy on the days I don’t fit exercise in so I can only imagine how you feel. Did you find God at Beer Run? </p>
<p>H and I are rejoining our local hospital based wellness center. I just downloaded the forms since H is having a physical on Monday - hopefully the doctor will clear him for exercise. I can encourage, support, you name it, but H is at the point where he really needs medical supervision. Now that I’m not a behemoth I think I would enjoy some of the classes they offer - yoga, Barre, spinning. Looks like I can also take Pilates there. Planet Fitness was a good way to get started but the bare bones environment is getting a little old. A sauna would feel good once in a while! </p>
<p>sabaray- that sounds like a good fitness center. I think I ALWAYS find God at Beer Run! :)</p>
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<p>There are campsites that you can pull a car into. Mine was one of four or five sites on a peninsula. Parking for four cars in a grassy area at the top of the hill . Walk down to the various tent sites. Share water spigot for those sites about halfway down the hill. Mine was maybe a couple yards. I made a lot of trips down the hill setting up. The veteran camper there pointed out that the campsite provides a big wheeled rough terrain garden cart for use in hauling. I made three trips dragging that up the hill loading out. When, I car camp, I take everything but the kitchen sink, and I’d take that if I could fit anything else in the car…</p>
<p>I might go back this fall. From next week through Labor day, the high season rates go into effect and waterfront sites require a one week stay (booked solid), but once school is back, I think I can pick a weather window and show up. They told me, correctly, that I didn’t need a reservation this week. Being on the water, this should stay warmer later in the fall than the White Mountains – the opposite of spring where the North Atlantic makes summer late arriving.</p>
<p>There is a kayaking/canoing dock with rentals at the campground. My “neighbors” brought their own canoes and lauched them from their tent site, which would have been easy to do from most of the waterfront campsites.</p>
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<p>Flagship LL BEAN store. Wow, what a dangerous place. You could literally shop 'til you drop in there. Multiple multi story buildings with everything in the catalogs on display and more. Tents set up on the lawn. I bought a pair a of really nice Cresta Hiker shorts). It’s a new model for Bean, stretchy soft-shell tech fabric similar to the REI shorts and Marmot Scree Pants that I love. I thought I would escape without any serious damage until I saw the sale on the Polartec NeoShell waterproof/breathable pants…</p>
<p>Wow, idad. Gooooorgeous place!!</p>
<p>That beer sounds yummy, MOfWC. Did it taste like PB and chocolate? :)</p>
<p>Well, we will be soon “camping” in Kona. When we pack for HI travel, we tend to overpack by 50% and not wear half of the clothes we bring, even though I carefully plan the packing. This time, I am getting even more serious about bringing as little stuff as possible. I do not expect to do much running while there, maybe I will get some exercising while snorkeling and walking along the beach, but when I come back, another marathon training stretch will start! </p>
<p>Acadia hiking videos: first installment</p>
<p>On the first day of hiking, I did a loop hike of 6.6 miles with about 1470 feet of cumulative elevation gain. Started at the Jordan Pond House, went up the Spring Trail (short, steep, rocky) and then the Penobscot Mountain Trail (granite ledge ridge) to the summit of Penobscot (1156 feet). From there, I descended down a bit and back up to the summit of Sarget Mountain (1379 feet). Down a steep Sargent East Cliffs Trail to Deer Brook Trail, and back along the eastern shore of Jordan Pond. This video covers the first part of the hike up to the summit of Penobscot.</p>
<p>The weather called for cloudy and a chance of showers, but there were peeks of blue sky here and there. Thinking there was good chance of going to the rain suit, I wore short sleeves and shorts, which ended up being a little cool with temps in the 60s and a mean ol’ wind blowing on the exposed ridgelines and the shore of the lake. Only got sprinkled on once. You can see the raindrop on the camera lens. </p>
<p>[Acadia:</a> Penobscot Mountain](<a href=“Penobscot Mountain - YouTube”>Penobscot Mountain - YouTube)</p>
<p>Unbelievable views of the ocean, the pond, and the surrounding mountains. Acadia National Park is stunning.</p>
<p>Bunsen- the beer had a hint of those two flavors but wasn’t overpowering. It was really good.</p>
<p>Will you be near Alii Drive in Kona where the Ironman finishes? You should take a run down it if you haven’t before. Say hi to everything for me! Our reservations are made for October. I’m really excited. I plan to study up on the pro field ahead of time this year and be more engaged in the pro race than I was last year, especially since I met a number of them last year. I was so worried about my son surviving that I didn’t really get too excited about the pros, although it was neat to see them whiz by.</p>
<p>Oh wow, great views Idad although the one about 2:15 was …stomach-dropping! </p>
<p>Yummy to the beer with those flavors, MoWC! </p>
<p>Good luck to your H on the physical, sabaray. Getting cleared by the doctor seems like a great and sensible step. Is he committed to try some classes in the center?</p>
<p>A belated Happy Birthday, NRE! And mathmom, I hope the backache is better.</p>
<p>PlantMom, there is actually a supervised weight loss program that he would like to try. H falls into the morbidly obese category. :-< </p>
<p>Loved the camp site idad! I should learn how to post pics/video from the lake. I have been walking a little over 4 miles a day and am enjoying the scenery here more than in the City!</p>