Tag: fit family

Day with Kiddo…..1st ride of the Spring

This has felt like the winter that wouldn’t end. Combine that with some unusually busy weekends, and a focus on training for a half marathon, and I just haven’t been out riding. Kiddo and I were home alone this weekend, while Hubby was down at the Masters. As we planned our weekend, Kiddo suggested we go mountain biking. When I explained the trails were closed because they were too wet, we discussed riding Milwaukee’s lakefront trail. We’d done this last year, this same weekend, and I’d written it up here. I knew the South Shore Half Marathon was Sunday, and was worried the lakefront trail would be too crowded due to the race. I’ve been wanting to try the Lake Country Recreational trail, so this is where we decided to ride.
The 13 mile Lake Country trail runs along the southern end of Pewaukee Lake and Lake Nagawicka from just west of Hwy T in Pewaukee (the trailhead is close to Country Springs Hotel on Golf Road) through Delafield and on to Oconomowoc. This is a good map of the trail.
After airing up the tires, and giving both our bikes the once over, my first challenge was loading the bikes. I’ve never put the hitch rack on my car, and didn’t feel comfortable attempting without a demo – the vision of rack and 2 bikes falling off on the highway was a bit too scary. Throwing my road bike in the back of the car is easy. But my hybrid is bigger, heavier, more unwieldy, and a second bike adds to the difficulty. I can never remember front wheel first or back wheel, but somehow I got them both in, using an old yoga mat to protect the paint and drivetrain of my bike.

The trail runs along a right of way under Wisconsin Electric lines. The first 3 or so miles are paved, a bit further down the trail changed to crushed gravel.

Views ranged from golf courses to marsh to lake views. Though suspect once the trees leaf out, lake views will be limited.

 Kiddo and I enjoyed our time out on the trail. Being the 1st ride of the season we realized we could use a bit of work on our endurance. Nonetheless this ride whetted our appetite for more. We’re both excited to hit other trails, make a family ride a weekly event. 

Meeting Objectives

When I first joined Twitter, my profile said “Making lifestyle & fitness changes for my health, to scuba with the fishies and keep up w/ my 9yo son”. Lots of changes have occurred since that post, not the least of which is the 9yo is now a 10 1/2 year old. This last week along with the future week have caused me to re-visit that statement.

For so long, I have let my weight influence or limit what could I do. Look closely at the picture of the skiing tickets. One from this past Sunday, and on the same coat is one from 14 years ago, the last time I’d skied. So not only could no longer fit this coat; which I am happy to say is now too big for me, I hadn’t skied for 14 years.

Last Sunday I took my son on his first ski/snowboard trip. For a brief second I considered also trying snowboarding, but realized that sport requires far too many attempts to get up from the ground, and maybe I should stick to what I know, skiing. I mean really, what is it about snowboarders and sitting on their asses at the top of the slopes? I’m hoping this is a beginner trait, but c’mon.

We headed to Sunburst, a local MKE ski “resort” for their family fun day. Fun, we had!!!!! Each of us took lessons. Son to learn for his first time, and Mom to get her legs under her.


Best part was the ski instructor commenting about my great balance. For those of you who know me or follow my daily mile training, I struggle, really struggle with balance. While my twitter profile didn’t call out balance, what a great feeling for someone to comment on my nemesis. How far I have come!

Family fun day was a huge success – both for the resort which drew a HUGE crowd, and for my son, who loved snowboarding. Being able to experience this with my son, awhile re-connecting with an old passion of mine was PRICELESS!

Day was a huge success…and for those of you with kids, you know this is one of the best signs of a successful outing with your child.

I’ve made huge progress on those other two objectives also. The health one almost goes without saying but if you haven’t already read – I’ve gone from borderline high blood pressure to 120/76 without med, no longer take drugs for GERD (and have NO symptoms), and my cholesterol has dropped from 243 to 168 without meds. All accomplished through diet and exercise. Not to mention as I sit 12 days from a milestone birthday, I feel the best I have of my adult life.

Lastly, that scuba thing. Finally got up the nerve to take the class. Sailed through the pool/classroom portion. In the morning we leave for Mexico. Next time you hear from me, I will be a certified diver. Something I’ve wanted to do as long as I can remember. In my 20’s I couldn’t afford it, in my 30’s I was too out of shape. And now as I close my 40’s, I will accomplish that objective. Sweet!

“Fall”-ing for new things….


Wow, has it really been two months since I posted? Continue to struggle with getting my garden mojo back, that passion just isn’t hitting me. Dunno why. Think I remain overwhelmed, unable to find a path, a place to start, a vision for this space. I keep reminding myself, “You’ve created three great gardens”, but then the demon voices say, “Yeah, but those were blank slates, easy beginnings, this, this, this is, well, uh, a mess”. And that is as far as it gets.”Which makes posting in a blog under a name of “GardenKim” difficult.

Then it hit me…..I say in my profile, “striving to maintain balance through lifestyle changes, fitness, gardening, and travel.”. Well, heck, that gives me options, other things to write about. And suddenly I have so many posts in my head. I realized I’ve never done anything with those pictures from my trip to San Antonio and those lovely walks along the river, or the pictures from Grand Cayman and those beautiful gardens under the sea on my first scuba adventures, or the updated pictures of the beds in Chicago from this post, or my new found love of cycling that fits into that whole fitness and lifestyle changes heading.

Through the cycling, I’ve discovered a couple of county parks I’d never really visited. Fox Brook and Mitchell in Brookfield, WI. Both along the Fox River, both with good bike paths. Both with sights that cause me to pause, to smile, to slow down, even if only for a moment. First it was the surprise of a beach. The bumpity bump of riding the boardwalk paths through the marsh. The crunch of leaves under the wheels.

This cluster of purple asters, milkweed, golden rod caught my eye as I curved around the lake, slowing just enough to also catch the surprising sight of a sign for scuba diving. Really, here, in a county park? Will have to check that out next summer.

The brilliant red of the Virgina creeper slowed me down enough to catch another interesting sign, “Dog Swimming Area”, where on a ride with my son tonight we paused to watch a chocolate lab retrieving balls before heading back down the boardwalk path, across the Fox River to our car.

Of course, in all of those potential topics that love of plants, of gardens still is there. Perhaps by not worrying about writing about gardens and instead letting this blog lead me down any path, I can find the way back to the garden.