Holiday wish
list
Veteran walkers from our club share a few of their favorite
things --
Jean Woltjer:
- The
Aqua Cool scarf is a high tech cotton
headband or scarf that contains non-toxic polymer crystals which after
soaking in cold water will keep you cool for hours. I checked the web and
found a couple of sources. One is www.shop.store.yahoo.com/arkatents
where it costs $5.99 and another is www.wingsandwheels.com for
$9.50. They may also be available at stores such as Natural Wonders.
- One
other item that I really like is Smart Wool socks. They are cool in
summer and warm in winter and are really soft and comfortable and made
from Merino wool. They come in several types such as walking, light
hiker (which I like), hiker and some heavier ones. I bought my first pair
in Traverse City at a shoe store but now buy them online too. Just
do a search on Smart Wool socks and you will find several sources.
Pat Korloch:
- My favorite thing after a walk is
a massage, with lots of attention paid to the feet and calves. Thorlo
walking socks (with extra padding on the balls and heel and extra support
on the arch) are my favorite. They are a little pricey ($15), but I invest
in a pair every year and wear them only for volksmarching. You can buy
them at most athletic shoe stores.
- Also, a Volksmarching Back Pack
would make a great present. I keep
my Volksmarching Back Pack in the trunk of my car and I have everything
I've ever needed on a walk. If I go on a walk and need something I don't
have, I add it. Contents: several pairs of walking socks, sweatshirt,
lightweight jacket, towel, gloves, hat, ear warmer, chemical handwarmers,
Volksmarching books, address labels, hard candy, rain poncho, Band-Aids,
sunscreen, bandana, Kleenex, reflective lights and vest, insect repellent,
moist towelettes
Linda
Theil:
- For walking gear, a
good place to shop is Swann's
at 122 West Grand River Avenue in downtown Howell (exit 137 off I-96).
They carry Carhardtt gear at 30% off year round! Call at 517-546-0800 for
information.
- For the Mason Walk in October I
tried to copy that great trail mix that Pat Korloch always brings from
Sam's Club. Here's what I came up with: equal amounts of M&M candies,
salted peanuts, dark raisins, whole almonds (and my friend Janet suggests
the addition of Wheat Chex). Small
cans of this mix make tasty stocking stuffers.
- Or try my favorite energy snack,
Luna bars, available at grocery stores or get a box of 15 from http://www.drugstore.com
. They contain 10 grams of
soy protein, 180 calories, 35% RDI calcium, 100% RDI Folic Acid, 23
vitamins and minerals and they're wheat and dairy free. Flavors include
S'Mores, Cherry Covered Chocolate, Key Lime Pie, Orange Bliss, Peanut
Butter 'N Jelly, Tropical Crisp, Nutz Over Chocoate, Chocolate Peppermint
Stick, Tea and more.
- If you like listening to music
while you walk, try Australian tenor David Hobson's "In This
Room" CD available from http://www.cdcollector.com.au.
- This is a perfect stocking stuffer for a walker -- a Jogalite six mode multi-function cross training safety light. It's battery powered. Super bright LEDs give 2500-foot nighttime visibility yet it weighs less than 1.5 oz. with 2 AAA batteries. The light flashes in six different patterns that you can pick and an adjustable elastic armband is included. I got mine at Footlocker shoe store, or you can order it for $8.96 from http://www.runnersgear.com
Diane Rudnik:
·
I'd love to go on a walk
in either New Zealand or Australia. My next trip will hopefully be by 2006 and
if I'm lucky, I'll get to walk in both countries.
·
I'd love a full body deep
tissue massage. I haven't had one in ages and I wouldn't need to wait 'til
Christmas.
·
How about getting together with a few good friends (walking
friends) for dinner and a chat? That's always fun!
Wayne Fieldhouse:
·
A great book -- a favorite one of mine -- is Real Age: Are
you as young as you can be? by Michael Roizen, HarperResource, 2001. It's a
great guide to ways to stay healthy as you grow older.
Don Alsbro
- In the past couple of years,
10,000 steps has become the mantra for those desiring the health benefits
of fitness. It has been determined
by the Centers for Disease Control and the Presidents Council on Fitness
that 10,000 steps (approximately 5 miles) per day should be the desired
goal for everyone. Measuring these steps has become very easy with
pedometers that measure steps, calculate distance and function as a
stopwatch. Ten thousand steps is not as easy as it may seem. On days that
I have not done an exercise session and have worked at the computer around
the house I am lucky to get 4,000 steps. I would suggest wearing a
pedometer for a few days and you too might be surprised. All of the
discount stores have pedometers and they range in price from $10-25. I
like Rob Sweetgall's kit of an Accusplit Eagle Digi-Walker because it is
reliable and it comes with his book, Pedometer Walking. Information is
available at Sweetgall's website http://www.creativewalking.com
or by calling 800-762-9255.
New
Ohio Club -- Trail Trolls
Historic
Pathwalker members Randy and Becky Adams of Bryan, Ohio have organized a new
club, the Trail Trolls. The Adams are dedicated volksmarchers who belong to
several AVA clubs in Indiana, Ohio and Michigan. The Trail Trolls first
sanctioned event will be held on May 8 in Paulding, Ohio in conjunction with
the Blanchard Valley Volkssporters who will hold a walk on the same day in
VanWert, Ohio, 18 miles away. Then the two clubs will team up the next day, May
9, for a Mother's Day walk in Celina, Ohio, 20 miles south of VanWert. The Ohio
Volksmarch Association will hold its election meeting after the walk.
Volunteers are needed to work at these events. Please contact Becky Adams
at 419-636-4082 or 3dognight@cityofbryan.net
to volunteer.
In addition to the May 8 and 9 events the Trail Trolls will offer six Year 'Round Event walks on new and improved trails next year in Archbold (Fulton County); Bryan (Williams County); Defiance (Defiance County); New Bremen (Auglaize County); St. Marys (Auglaize County); and Wapakoneta (Auglaize County).
The Trail Trolls and the Auburn Duesey Walkers will host the bi-annual OhMichIana three-state, eight event walk, bike, and swim weekend headquartered at the Ramada Inn in Montpelier, Ohio on September 3, 4 and 5, 2004.
For more information, see the Trail Trolls web site at www.geocities.com/shiningstarofmydistrict/TrailTrolls.html
Senior Olympics 2004Don Alsbro dealsbro@sbcglobal.net
Several years ago I learned about the Senior Olympics that
are held every year in Michigan. They will be held in Lansing on August 6-11 in
2004. There are over 30 events
including tennis, badminton, basketball, bowling, swimming, walking, track and
field, ballroom dancing, horseshoes and
many more. The Olympics is a great way to meet like-minded seniors who
interested in moving their bodies.
Eligibility begins at age 50.
I've competed in four Senior Olympics so I'm quite familiar
with them. The level of competition ranges from beginner to quite
advanced. As usual, you will find the super athletes, whether its
basketball, track or tennis, but the majority of the people are out there to
have a good time and their
time is secondary. What I love about Senior Olympics is to see 1500
seniors performing and having a good time.
The 2004 contest will be a qualification for the National
Senior Olympics to be held in Pittsburgh on June 3-18, 2005. For more information about Senior Olympics
contact: Michigan Senior Olympics at 800-400-8161 or www.michiganseniorolympics.org.
Don Alsbro is a Historic Pathwalker member who lives in Benton Harbor with his wife Sharon. Don taught health and physical education at Lake Michigan College for 22 years, served in the infantry/adjutant general and medical service branches of the Army for 31 years, and has a lifelong commitment to healthy living.
Walk Ireland
The University of Wisconsin-LaCross Continuing
Education & Extension office will sponsor two guided walking tours of
Ireland in 2004. Tour Director Jim
Gallagher is an archaeologist and Professor Emeritus at the University of
Wisconsin-La Crosse where he taught courses in Irish Archaeology. Gallagher
travels to Ireland often and has been
leading tours to Ireland for ten years. The cost of each tour is $2389 per
person double; add $265 for a single.
June 10-19 -- Seacoast and Islands of County Donegal
This tour will include Glenveagh National Park, Tory Island,
Horn Head, Portnoo and Inishkeel Island, Glencolumkille and Glen Head, Slieve
League, and Dublin.
July 9-18 -- Peninsulas of Southwest Ireland
This tour will include Cape Clear Island, Mizen Head and
Three Castle Head, Sheep’s Head, the Beara Peninsula, Dursey Island, Killarney
National Park, and Killarney.
According to Marketing Director
Steve Stach both tours
feature: breathtaking landscapes: towering sea cliffs, isolated islands,
beautiful glens and lakes, vistas of ocean and mountains, incredibly beautiful
places accessible only on foot, well away from the tourist crowd; small group
size: each hour limited to a maximum of 14 participants; knowledgeable local
guides and experts such as ornithologists, historians, and archaeologists;
abundant wildlife: coastal sea cliffs and islands teeming with sea and shore
birds, wild flowers, and opportunities to see marine mammals; fascinating
history, archaeological sites and historic places from the Bronze Age, the
ancient Celts, and early medieval periods; carefree travel -- tour guide
transports us each day to our walking destination and back to our lodgings, no
heavy packs, carry only what you’ll need for that day’s hike; comfortable
accommodations in bed & breakfasts and small lodges to experience true Irish
hospitality; unique culture and heritage -- scheduled destinations include
areas where Irish language flourishes, traditional Irish crafts are still
practiced and traditional music abound; wonderful fresh air and exercise: 4-8
miles per day of walking with fresh air breezes and spectacular scenery.
For more information, call 608-785-6506 or check the web at http://www.uwlax.edu/ContEd/ireland/index.htm
Welcome members
Alma Lucas, Membership
We
welcome new member Joan Ritter, 990
Davis Avenue,
Birmingham, MI
48809, 248-433-1175, JoanNewberry@Yahoo.com.
Alma Lucas will be handling
club membership and requests for information about our club. Please contact
Alma if you'd like to join.
The Historic Pathwalkers is a
member club of the American Volksport Association.
Share your news
Linda Theil, Editor
If you have any walking
information or adventures you'd like to share with the club, please send them
to me at my address above. Also if neighboring clubs would like us to promo
your walks here, please send me the information. Please share our newsletter
with anyone you know who is interested in walking. Our page is online at http://www.ava.org/clubs/pathwalkers/.
Happy walkers below: Louise Blystra, Alma Lucas , Turk Gobbler, Pat Korloch and Ron Mercer on our November 15 trek of the club's Year 'Round Event in Coldwater, MI. It was indeed cold water that day; we walked in the rain for the last two miles (well, it SEEMED that long!).
