Month: January 2017

I arrived at Siesta Key Beach around 4:30/5pm, I think. Either way, it was prime drum circle hour. Yet when I walked out onto the sand, they weren’t out there. I figured maybe it had been cancelled due to the impending weather. So, I continued with my pack on toward the water. The sand was kicking up all around me with the huge gusts of wind, but still I planted my butt in the sand and took a few snapshots of the water and sun. I ate some chocolate and people watched for maybe a half hour. Then I picked myself up and started back toward the parking lot.

About half way toward the park and parking lot I could vaguely hear, off in the distance, the sound of what seemed like drums. So, I took a B-line and followed the sound. Eventually, I found them. Maybe a hundred people, die hard and tourists lucky enough to stumble on the scene, tempting the weather, and drumming on.

Its always a great scene. There are hippies and drum circle geeks, gypsys, and kids hulahooping, beach goers and teenagers, tourists and elderly folk, people dancing and swaying back and forth to the drums. The crowd is always friendly and smiling.

The only thing that definitely is annoying are the ultra christians and their megaphones screaming the whole time in the background. If they are trying to convert, they aren’t exactly going about it the right way. Somehow the crowd just assimilates them and they blend in with the noise. Well, I suppose that depends on how far you are from them in the circle.

I found a nice spot behind some drummers where I could still catch what was happening in the circle as far as dancers and firetwirlers and the like. There is always this older woman who likes to dress herself all up for the event in total gypsy garb and dance around with multiple hoolahoops and/or a sword balanced on her head. She passed out flowers from a basket around the circle this week. Very 1970 free love.

All and all I stayed put about two hours, then got back into the truck and took off for home. Around mile marker 167 I hear “Bam!”, and think to myself I ran over something. Three miles later my tire just disintegrates. Luckily I was in a construction zone and wasn’t going fast. Plus, I was already in the far right lane. I’m also a pretty good at quick response, so I never worried about loosing control or overcompensating. All good, just slowed down fast and parked it.

Unfortunately, it’s pretty creepy as a woman, or for anyone, to pull over on a busy highway and change a tire. Luckily for me, Taylor Becker, who I camped with the night before and lives in my complex, was about 20 miles behind me on the highway. She stopped and we changed the tire together. Between the two of us, it rolled pretty quick. We got the spare on and both headed to the nearest gas station, at exit 170.

We had our war wounds, Taylor sliced her finger and I jammed the pole to the jack into my leg pretty hard at one point, but we survived. At the gas station, Taylor washed her hands and I found some coins to get the air pressure machine going. Tire pressure good. And off we go toward home. I think Taylor went back on the highway, I took Tamiami Trail, hoping for some slower speeds just in case this spare was a bit more questionable than anticipated.

Anyway, Siesta Key was awesome, as usual. Totally, worth  the trip from the park to the beach, and even though I had a tire blow. No worries. Won’t hold me down! Taylor would call that Girl Power. Ha!

Even though the wind was picking up, the sky seemed overall sunny when I finally chose to get back on the trail today. I executed a relatively light second hike for the day at 5.5 miles. Considering my radar was telling me thunder and lightening were supposed to be upon me already, the hike remained relatively uneventful throughout.

Super cool to see the wind whipping through the Spanish Moss and Live Oak. I got a few pictures which I sent to my nieces in Phoenix. Much of the trail I took today was tore up from wild hog. They left huge holes in the ground and it was difficult at times to get around them and continue to follow the trail.

I left from the same trailhead I said goodbye to the kids at and followed Ranch House Road east into the preserve. Ranch House is basically a dirt road and runs relatively straight until after its first intersection with All Weather Road. I took that south from there and over to Powerline Road, then up past Bee Island again and back to Ranch House and west to the trailhead. Pretty much just one big circle.

There were no flying bugs, lots of wind, and on again off again sunshine. All that made for a really pleasant hike. I believe making my way through all the chewed up terrain left me with at least on blister on my right foot, but I cut this hike short. So, I’m sure later when I investigate my injury, it will be minimal.

I came back in at a pretty good time. It was starting to get a bit more on the dreary side out, winds picked up and it seemed like at any moment the weather could potentially turn a bit more ugly.

In I went. Back to the truck. Pit stop at the restroom on the way out of the park and on to find some real food and then head to Siesta Key for drum circle.

It’s a Saturday, and I work all day. Normally this is not a problem, but a benefit to my pocketbook. This day was no different. Busy as usual.

Here’s where the delema begins… It’s Marcus’ birthday and the gang is going to Myakka River State Park to camp for the night. They’ve chosen to park it for the night at the Bee Island primitive campsite. It’s just under a 2.5 mile hike in, and they forgot their adult beverages at Marcus’ house.

So, I hustle. I get my work done. I stop at Greg’s and pick up his flask. I stop for groceries at Publix, the liquor store for adult beverages, the gas station, and home to pack my pack then change clothes and orient myself with the park map.

By the time I got to the park, it’s already around 9:30pm. I found the trailhead thanks to a little back and forth text with Greg, and now I had to hike in, alone in the dark. I must be well versed at this at this point. During the drive to any trailhead I get on I get that adrenaline pumping rush. I’m scared, but excited, and now I have to do it. Hiking alone in the dark is not a preference, but a necessity at times. Once, I got the pack on and hit the sand walking, everything relaxed and I started forward. Greg and Taylor hit me enroute saying they needed to stretch their legs, so they began the walk to meet me somewhere in the middle.

The night was dark, quiet, and off in the distance in every direction is the light haze of civilization. Spanish moss and creepy trees, noises from a variety of animals in the distance, and some not so distant, stars, it was beautiful out. The temperature was cool, but nothing a light jacket couldn’t handle. I logged into Strava and sent a last goodbye.

About 1.5 miles in they approached me with headlamps blaring. We made our greetings and pushed on toward camp. Matt was waiting for us, tending to the fire. Marcus was already down for the count, in his hammock, snuggled up for the night. The four of us stayed up and enjoyed the fire, I dished out the adult beverages. Taylor was first down, and one by one we followed.

My alarm is set for 6am. So, yeah… That was awesome. From then on I slept off and on having insane dreams about toddlers and buckets and privys and boyscouts, lots of boyscouts, who invade your campsite. It wasn’t a nightmare, but I remember the dream giving me that “Oh crap! Get packed and get out of here quick!”, feel. Strange.

I was pretty much the first one to get up and start packing. The group woke up slowly and we had coffee and rapped. Packing it up, I hiked out with the group. My solar charger had questionable charge in it. I had let it sit after charging a little too long. And the same went for my recharge stick. I got down to 18% on my phone, and with recharge only got back up to 48% with the stick. In we went.

At the trailhead we parted ways. Sweaty hugs all round. I plugged everything in and here I am, in my truck, charging up. The radar had said earlier that there was a 76% chance of rain, but it wouldn’t hit until 7pm. In the meantime there were supposed to be thunder clouds and lightening. It’s overcast and it’s just after 1pm, but if you asked me, good to go for more hiking. My plan is to wait for electronics and go back in.

The wind is kicking up, but that won’t be a problem for me until I hit the open plains. The sun just started to shine. Charge!

So, I received word back from Snickers:

Dear Cindy-Jo:

In response to your email regarding SNICKERS®.

All sponsorship proposals are initially handled by our sports agency, Team Epic. Please direct your inquiry to Mars.Sponsorships@anepiccompany.com or call 908-979-5050 and they will compile your request for review and forward to the Mars Sponsorship team.

Thank you for inquiring with Mars Chocolate North America and we wish you every success in your future endeavors.

Have a great day!

Your Friends at Mars Chocolate North America

Case ID 41566300

Its the 17th of January. As much time as I have put in this year in work outs, I know I could do better. I really need to turn this training up a notch. In my defense I had a pretty hefty setback with my knees hurting this year. I’ve been lucky lately, but I know they aren’t the same as before last year’s hike, but they are the only knees I have. The big lesson? Don’t hike with so much crap on my back. I’m still 11 pounds over on pack weight, but I still have six months to figure it out. That time is going to fly though.

I joined a gym called New World Defense and Fitness. I joined up so I could get into a self defense class, which will help for every day life and especially if some weirdo approaches me in the woods. So I get double the benefit, plus the gym also offers crossfit, which I’d very much like to try soon. Tonight was my third class. I love it, but a lot of how much physical energy I put into the class has to do with who I’m partnered up with and who is teaching that night. I partnered with a younger girl tonight and we both were on and off taking it seriously. Plus, the head instructor tonight really didn’t let us kill it with the warm up or cool down.

So, what did I do? I went for a little stair climbing downtown after class. I ran up and down the six floors of stairs ten times. Yeah, that about did it.

Another development. I picked up some UFC Neoprene Gel Gloves from Dicks Sporting Goods today. I like them, but I had to take them off a few times during class tonight and they aren’t the most efficient to put on and pull off under quick changes in routine. Actually, also today a friend on Facebook suggested I take them back. Moreso, because he felt the ones I purchased didn’t provide enough protection, it had nothing to do with their efficiency. Oh well. I will most likely just go and buy what he suggested next week, but this week I got what I got until I get some more time off and can get back over to Dicks.

I also purchased some new Acer sneakers. Not that they have anything to do with hiking, but in the meantime when I’m not near a mountain, it is definitely not unheard of for me to do some urban hiking, or run, on concrete. Crazy thing, apparently I wear a whole size up now from what I used to wear. Did my feet get flatter from last year’s hike? Is this even possible? Time for some Google searches on whether that can happen. I love Acer sneakers. I am that person that goes to the sporting goods store and literally tries every pair on sometimes three and four times. Do not ever go to the sporting goods store with me if you are in a hurry. It doesn’t matter how many shoes I try, what brands, etc., I always feel best in Acers.

Well, tomorrow comes quick. More to do before bed, and hopefully I’ll get a decent work out in before getting ready for work tomorrow.

So, while I was hiking last year I pretty much had an overwhelming craving for two things: Beer and Snickers bars. I’m sure a nutritionist could point me in the direction as to why that is, but all I know is the thought of chocolatey goodness hitting my tongue at the end of a long hike is what got me through many a mile.

I figured this year, while I’m hitting up sponsorship from companies like Osprey and Mountain House, I might as well hit up the one food product, candy if you will, that I couldn’t do without. Why not? Right? I mean, if everywhere I go this year there is a Snickers Bar waiting to greet me, how cool would that be??? Hell, I might even walk an extra 700 miles just because of the promise of all that chocolatey goodness right around my next corner. Mmmm… yes.

My mind just escaped me… Anyway… So, I got online and looked around the internet this weekend to try and find whatever information I could about sponsorship opportunities with Snickers. I’m not going to lie, my search was not some big multi-month task. I basically went to their website where they give no such information. There is, on the other hand, a form you can fill out. So, I filled it out. We shall see…

Keep your fingers crossed for me someone from Snickers contacts me back. If I don’t hear anything within the month, I’ll look further to see if I can find more information on my own. In the meantime, it’s time to locate info on some of the  other brands I love.

Patagonia, Osprey, Mountain Hardwear, Mountain House, Gatorade, Oboz, MSR, Sawyer