Longer than expected.
Yesterday was a long day. Not in terms of time awake, but in terms of distance traveled.
See, I started the day with a half-hour ride on the exercise bike. I don't usually do "useless" cardio like that, preferring to get my exercise from real activities like paddling, biking to work, or hiking. But since my bike is in the shop, and my normal activities are still on hold for a few more days (due to my cycling accident), I've been making do.
After that, at around 11:30, I decided to go for a little walk. You, know take a stroll around Stanley Park or something. But by the time I reached English Bay, I decided that, you know what? I always do the Stanley Park sea wall. I wanna do something different. I thought about it for a second and then decided to walk across the Burrard bridge and head over to Kits. So I did that. But then I got there and decided to keep going. See, when I was a little kid, I lived in Vancouver near Jericho Beach. I didn't know if I'd make it that far before getting worn out, but I decided it would be cool to head out in that direction. So I continued. I reached Jericho Beach. And then I hit the Spanish Banks. And then I continued all the way to Acadia Beach which is way out in the UBC's Endowment Lands.
It was now 3:30. I'd been walking for 4 hours and, based on a loosey-goosey estimate done through thumb measurements on park maps, I think I'd walked about 30 kilometers so far. It was time to go home. So I turned back, but this time decided to get back onto the main roads so that I'd take a direct route, rather than the wildly twisted shoreline.
On the way, I found the place I lived in Grade 3, and in the two summers following that. It was a co-op community at Wallace and 2nd and it was just how I'd remembered it, if not quite as big as it had once seemed. I walked into the grounds and looked around for a bit, letting the memories all flow back. It had been a lot of fun living there.
I continued on my way, sticking to 4th avenue. By now I was getting really worn out. Not only had I walked a long way in regular street shoes, but I hadn't had any water since 11:30, and no food since noon when I'd stopped to get a rosemary and rock salt bagel from Siegel's (to die for!). If I'd known I was gonna walk this far I would have prepared a little better, but I hadn't expected to go for more than an hour. This was getting to be a lot! It was now about 4:30, and I'd been walking for a full 5 hours and between 35 and 40 kilometers. This is after a half hour on the exercise bike, remember. I was hungry and I was thirsty, and my legs were getting sore.
And that's when I saw them. The most magical sight you could possibly imagine! My eyes lit up and my face beamed as I eagerly crossed the street. The most beautiful thing I could possibly imagine was just a minute away: The Golden Arches. I hadn't eaten at McDonald's in ages, and for good reason: I hate their food. Greasy, flavourless, and completely unfulfilling, but in the state I was in, it was like heaven. Double quarter pounder with cheese, fries, and a Coke. *sigh* It was so good! I scarfed it down in no time and then I was on my way.
A friend had called me and asked me out to dinner (I was still hungry, of course), so I was now pressed for time. I looked for a cab as I walked, not knowing the number to call and hoping to find one driving by on a holiday weekend. When I finally managed to hail one, I hopped in thankfully and told him where to go... and within a single block, he was already turning down Burrard! I'd had no idea where I was, and it hadn't even crossed my mind that taking the direct route down 4th could be that much faster than following the shoreline. It had taken me a full 4 hours to walk down to Acadia Beach, but after just 1 hour, I was already within 30 minutes from home! Hmpf, I could have kept walking and gotten home almost as fast. Oh well, the cab ride was only a few bucks and I'd already walked about 40 kilometers today. Not too shabby.
I got home, guzzled some water and walked (ugh!) down to Milestone's to meet my friends for dinner. And believe me, even after the greasy McDonald's I was still desperate for food!
I tried to stay up until a decent hour last night, but by 9:20 my body was telling me enough was enough. I needed some rest. I read in bed for a few minutes, but that was it. It was an early night but a very satisfying day, and a great way to end the long weekend.
See, I started the day with a half-hour ride on the exercise bike. I don't usually do "useless" cardio like that, preferring to get my exercise from real activities like paddling, biking to work, or hiking. But since my bike is in the shop, and my normal activities are still on hold for a few more days (due to my cycling accident), I've been making do.
After that, at around 11:30, I decided to go for a little walk. You, know take a stroll around Stanley Park or something. But by the time I reached English Bay, I decided that, you know what? I always do the Stanley Park sea wall. I wanna do something different. I thought about it for a second and then decided to walk across the Burrard bridge and head over to Kits. So I did that. But then I got there and decided to keep going. See, when I was a little kid, I lived in Vancouver near Jericho Beach. I didn't know if I'd make it that far before getting worn out, but I decided it would be cool to head out in that direction. So I continued. I reached Jericho Beach. And then I hit the Spanish Banks. And then I continued all the way to Acadia Beach which is way out in the UBC's Endowment Lands.
It was now 3:30. I'd been walking for 4 hours and, based on a loosey-goosey estimate done through thumb measurements on park maps, I think I'd walked about 30 kilometers so far. It was time to go home. So I turned back, but this time decided to get back onto the main roads so that I'd take a direct route, rather than the wildly twisted shoreline.
On the way, I found the place I lived in Grade 3, and in the two summers following that. It was a co-op community at Wallace and 2nd and it was just how I'd remembered it, if not quite as big as it had once seemed. I walked into the grounds and looked around for a bit, letting the memories all flow back. It had been a lot of fun living there.
I continued on my way, sticking to 4th avenue. By now I was getting really worn out. Not only had I walked a long way in regular street shoes, but I hadn't had any water since 11:30, and no food since noon when I'd stopped to get a rosemary and rock salt bagel from Siegel's (to die for!). If I'd known I was gonna walk this far I would have prepared a little better, but I hadn't expected to go for more than an hour. This was getting to be a lot! It was now about 4:30, and I'd been walking for a full 5 hours and between 35 and 40 kilometers. This is after a half hour on the exercise bike, remember. I was hungry and I was thirsty, and my legs were getting sore.
And that's when I saw them. The most magical sight you could possibly imagine! My eyes lit up and my face beamed as I eagerly crossed the street. The most beautiful thing I could possibly imagine was just a minute away: The Golden Arches. I hadn't eaten at McDonald's in ages, and for good reason: I hate their food. Greasy, flavourless, and completely unfulfilling, but in the state I was in, it was like heaven. Double quarter pounder with cheese, fries, and a Coke. *sigh* It was so good! I scarfed it down in no time and then I was on my way.
A friend had called me and asked me out to dinner (I was still hungry, of course), so I was now pressed for time. I looked for a cab as I walked, not knowing the number to call and hoping to find one driving by on a holiday weekend. When I finally managed to hail one, I hopped in thankfully and told him where to go... and within a single block, he was already turning down Burrard! I'd had no idea where I was, and it hadn't even crossed my mind that taking the direct route down 4th could be that much faster than following the shoreline. It had taken me a full 4 hours to walk down to Acadia Beach, but after just 1 hour, I was already within 30 minutes from home! Hmpf, I could have kept walking and gotten home almost as fast. Oh well, the cab ride was only a few bucks and I'd already walked about 40 kilometers today. Not too shabby.
I got home, guzzled some water and walked (ugh!) down to Milestone's to meet my friends for dinner. And believe me, even after the greasy McDonald's I was still desperate for food!
I tried to stay up until a decent hour last night, but by 9:20 my body was telling me enough was enough. I needed some rest. I read in bed for a few minutes, but that was it. It was an early night but a very satisfying day, and a great way to end the long weekend.