845.7 miles

(9.1 biking)

The sadness that lies over us is too deep to express. Gandalf has fallen and it feels as if the hope has left us. Continuing will be hard to do.

Okay, I screwed up a little bit. I was pedaling along and got to the battle of the Balrog & Gandalf and forgot to take a picture. I know the meter said 9.something, and since I'm not sure what it was, I'm only adding .1 for now. I will admit that I was in tears when listening to this part of the book. It was hard not to.

Here is a picture of the knitting, though.

Other movements

Today was a day filled with strength training (chains), belly dancing, and yarn lifting. What's that? you ask? Well, wet skeins are heavy especially when lifting out 4 or 5 at a time. I usually lift and dunk the skeins into the pots several times to get the dye spread more evenly. The lifting starts from slightly lower than shoulder height to well above my head. Then I do it again in  the rinsing pot to get most of the acid out, then once more in the pot with Eucalan in it. Yep, lots of lifting. I think my shoulders will rebel forcefully if I try to lift anything else above my head.

I also included a different form of squats and kept going until I started to shake a little.

I'm happy with how well I've been doing and I feel pretty good with the way my muscles feel beneath the layer of fat.

836.6 Miles

(8.8 biking)

We left the guardroom early and have been traveling along huge curving pathways.

The weather feels colder lately and I'm thinking it's simply because there were several warm days. I only spent 30 minutes on the bike today. Since I didn't go walking I did more hooping. The chains are getting easier and my time of recovery is lower and lower. I know that I will need to alter the routine a little to keep my body strengthening and I'll add a different set of squats tomorrow.

I started the potholder over again since I didn't like the way the stripes were going. Not that I need them to be even, I just like the look of stockinette better.

827.8 Miles

(9.3 biking)

The going seem very long. We traveled many hours and were ready to sleep. Suddenly we entered a huge empty Hall. Gandalf says there are windows that will let the sunlight in, but since it's still night we cannot see it. We slept in that hall, cold and tired. The next morning, Gimli recited the story of Durin and it touched us all. Gandalf told us about mithril and how it was worth so very much. When he mentioned a corselet that Bilbo had, Frodo seemed more quiet than usual.

I didn't walk today. The wind feels as if it's trying to work its way into my jacket. Instead I increased the time of hooping and I completed the upper and lower chains. As for the biking, I decided to take it a little easy today, sort of. I kept it steady at around 18mph instead of doing any high intensity.

I brought up to April that my scale is still pretty steady. I lost four pounds in the last 2 weeks, but then gained two over the weekend. However, there are a couple inches fewer than there were. For example, my waist was 35" and now it sits at 32.5". I won't list all the differences, but they are there. She says that the scale doesn't matter as much while my muscles are gaining strength and I trust her.

For the knitting, I started a potholder from some old handspun I have. I don't even know where I got the original fiber, nor do I know if it will felt at all. But, it's pretty and I can turn it in for another class.

818.5 Miles

(2.5 walking)
(10.5 biking)

After taking a short break to eat and have another sip of miruvor. We began following Gandalf in the dark. True, Gandalf's staff shone brightly, but it was very small in this great, dark cavern. Frodo has been hearing steps behind us, but didn't say anything. After a bit of time we came to a junction and Gandalf was too weary to decide which way to go, so we camped in the guardroom.

It was so cold this morning! I really pushed myself to go out there and walk, but I figured it wouldn't kill me so I bundled up a bit and headed out. Before very long I was already starting to sweat. I didn't take off the outer layers simply because the breeze would have chilled me to the bone.

The biking was a little more pleasant, and I really pushed to keep a good speed and a few bursts of high intensity. Afterward I was pretty done in. Oddly enough, I felt more tired after the walking than I have lately. I think it's simply because of the cold. I didn't do the chains today, but I'm not upset about it. I know that I will make them up tomorrow by doing the whole routine.

I am pretty sure I won't get this scarf finished by the end of the month since I'm spending any extra knitting time working on the sweater. I am determined to finish this for the OWL on HPKCHC.

805.5 Miles

(10.6 biking)

So much in such a short distance! We reached the West-door of Moria. The description of the beauty of this magic is breath-taking. There are symbols of dwarves and elves wrought in the ithildin, which is visible only in starlight and moonlight. Gandalf spoke many different words and spells to no avail. Finally, in frustration, Borimir through a rock into the water, causing unease in Frodo. After another moment, Galdalf shouted, "Mellon" and the door opened. Suddeny there was a huge commotion! The Watcher in the Water had Frodo and Sam jumped to help. We all began running inside the doors and made it just before the Watcher slammed the doors and we were left in darkness.

I didn't walk today, but I did pedal faster during the biking (only 30 minutes). I also chose to do 20 minutes of hooping and the complete chains (not breaking it down to upper and lower). How do I feel? Not as sore as I thought, that's for sure. I'm not quite ready to go up to the 10lb weights yet, but I know it won't be that long.

I'm pleased with the amount of knitting I got done, even though I had to set it aside a couple times since my hands were sweaty.

794.9 Miles

(2 walking)
(7.5 biking)

We reached the Sirannon and started eastward. The going is rough and I sometimes wish we were back at Rivendell.

I walked the kids to school again today and enjoyed the weather. I know it will be cooling off a little bit next week, but still not cold, which means more time outside. The biking was only 30 minutes and I kept my pace slow. Sometimes that's harder for me to do.

I really like this pattern and how it's turning out as a scarf! The colors of the yarn paired with the design remind me of an opal dragon or something.

787.4 Miles

(2 walking)
(6.25 biking)

We've been traveling a barren country, and the Fellowship is weary of the cold. The Sirannon is dry and we push on. Gandalf gave everyone another mouthful of miruvor.

This morning I walked the daycare kids to school (about a mile round-trip since I walk a couple blocks past the school after dropping them off). When I got home I realized one of them had left their book bag, so I headed back out. It was a nice morning for walking and I enjoyed being out that early.

Afterward I decided to ride the bike anyway, then did the lower body chains. I might be sore tomorrow, but that's alright with me. I know that it's just a sign that my muscles are getting a good workout.

I'm doing my best not to feel disheartened by the lack of change on the scale. I can feel a difference in my body, and sometimes I can see it, too. But the scale remains at 175. I'm hoping that will change soon.

I worked on a scarf while pedaling. This scarf was adapted from the Dragon Scale pattern that will be in an awesome book (not yet published) and I think it's going to turn out lovely.

779.2 Miles (Walking)

(1.9)

Heading southeast to Sirannon.

This morning was walking, and I didn't go as far as I usually do. I did belly dance before my errands, though, and that was nice.  I'm doing my best to not focus on how many miles I've come so far and instead focus on the fact that my legs are not as sore as they were last week. Part of me wants to go digging in the yard, but it's still pretty wet out there, which means I'd end up with big chunks of mud instead of nicely turned soil.

We have sunshine until Friday and I am so happy for that. Dare I say that winter is over? It just might be.

777.3 Miles (Walking)

(2.9)

We stopped to eat and were able to have a small fire. There was some debate about which path to take and Aragorn said that he can hear wargs on the wind!

The journey is much slower when I walk, of course, but I can certainly feel the different muscle groups in my legs. The biking seems more to get my heart pumping, but the walking makes my legs throb. The weather is just too nice to stay inside. The hooping I still do inside, but there may be a time when that changes. Perhaps the belly dancing, too. For now (especially with a work crew in the house next door) I will keep that part of my workouts indoors.

With the walking I'm not knitting much. Partly because I really need to pay attention to the sidewalks around here. That's okay, I'm nearly done with my Magick Number sweater and a pair of socks.