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After four years I’ve finally hit my weight target
When I started I was 182lbs. Today I finally hit my target of 156lbs. Which means I’ve lost 26lbs. It took a lot longer than I thought, now I’ve just got to work on keeping it down. I still want to reduce my body fat percentage from its current 20% down to 18%. In another four years?
Update: With the benefit of hindsight, this was a one-day wonder. I doubt I’ll hit this weight again
by 2024! -
How much IKEA furniture can you fit in a Cadillac?
How much IKEA furniture can you fit in a Cadillac? More than you’d think, but not everything Ginger bought. Just as well we had our car to take home what didn’t fit. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I worked in Kansas City on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, we were holding a special diocesan convention to vote on a change to the diocesan rules of order that would enable us to hold an online convention in November. We hoped the meeting would be short, with just one item to vote on.
Friday night I was getting ready to go out for dinner when I received a message from Ginger. It was a bunch of dimensions. Would these fit in the trunk of my rental vehicle? (This weekend’s free rental upgrade was a Cadillac). She asked if I’d mind going to IKEA to pick up a table for her. “Sure thing, no probs, if it will fit,” says I, not knowing if the backseats laid flat at that time, and blissfully ignorant what entering an IKEA store in the midst of a pandemic entails. A few minutes in the car and I’d worked out how to lay the backseat flat and it looked like I could fit something 6ft. long and 3ft wide in the space. I was good to go. I’d go to IKEA after I’d finished work, load up, and head home.
Saturday morning, we’d finished setting everything up and everything was still working (phew!), and I checked my messages. There was one from Ginger, essentially saying she’d found a load more stuff she wanted from IKEA, and she was driving up to Kansas City.
My diocesan business successfully conducted, and all the gear packed up and put away (thanks guys!), Ginger and I had a brief chat on the phone. I’d go and sit in the IKEA parking lot, and wait for her to arrive. All I can say is, I’m glad she decided to come up. The line to get into IKEA was impressive, and I’m not sure I would have had the patience for it on my own. After an hour touring the store and spending an awful lot of money (this is all for Ginger’s business, so, fortunately, it’s all tax-deductible), we were ready for another game of IKEA Tetris. The Cadillac swallowed an impressive amount of stuff, and the remainder fitted in our little SUV — I still miss our minivan on occasions like this.
We stopped for dinner around half-way back at Clinton, and when we got home, we indulged in a bottle of wine to celebrate Ginger’s upcoming studio remodeling.
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Special Diocesan Convention
All set up. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Friday and Saturday I was working in Kansas City. We were holding a special diocesan convention on Saturday to vote on a change to the diocesan rules of order to enable us to hold an online convention in November. The special convention had to be in person with appropriate physical distancing and all the associated precautions. Friday we’d set up all the AV equipment, ready for the meeting. We hoped the meeting would be short, with just the one item to vote on. It might be a short meeting, but the preparation and break-down times are the same if the meeting lasts 30 minutes or two days.
All ready to go – sneaky selfie, can you see me? Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Saturday morning, we’d finished setting everything up and everything was still working (phew!), and I checked my messages. There was one from Ginger, essentially saying she’d found a load more stuff she wanted from IKEA, and she was driving up to Kansas City.
Once our diocesan business was successfully conducted, all the gear was packed up and put away, thanks to all the staff members who helped pack everything. You saved me loads of time!
Now, to head off to IKEA!
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Hike over
Hike over – Selfie back at the car. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Time for a quick selfie sitting in the back of the car. All in all, I hiked 11 miles and climbed 1,100 feet. Considering I’ve not done any exercising since my last trip (and that was only six miles), I’m happy with that result. The new tarp setup worked well, and my new food and other stuff sacks did their job admirably. Now I need to get out on the trails more. However, work is going to be going against me on that.
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End of the hike
Looking east from the Pole (Pete) Hollow Trail – that’s another view I don’t get tired of. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I had a bit of trouble getting up onto the ridge. The bottom of the trail was very overgrown and I couldn’t spot the trail heading up the ridge. I quartered the area for a short time, I checked the GPS, and then I decided that rather than waste any more time I’d just bushwhack up the side of the hollow, and pick up the trail on the ridge. Bushwhacking out of the hollow was tough. Not only was the brush dense, but the hollow is also steep. But sure enough, once I got up on the ridge I found the trail and got on my way. I stopped on the top of the ridge to take the above picture, I’ve taken several pictures here before, but the late afternoon sun made the lighting different.
I’d left the pool below The Falls around three-fifteen p.m. I reckoned I’d be back at the trailhead between half-past five and six p.m. Bushwhacking out of the hollow had slowed me down, but I was at the cairn at the junction of the Pole (Pete) Hollow Trail and the Pilot (Tower) by four thirty-seven. There I looked to see if I could find the stones I’d place there in April, and I think I did. The Cairn is only half an hour from the trailhead so my timing was good.
Our rocks are still on the cairn – the cairn at the junction of the Pilot (Tower) and Pole (Pete) Hollow Trails. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. There are four hills to climb between the cairn and the trailhead, and I was rapidly losing steam. Even with a few stops to catch my breath, I got back to the parking lot by five-thirty p.m. Hike over!
Well almost. I noticed a big poster on the noticeboard, so I headed over to read it. I found I could see what it said from a fair way away, it was just a standard ‘No Fireworks’ poster. But, I hadn’t been thinking, and I’d crossed and stood on a load of grass. There must have been a lot of hungry chiggers in that grass, as I had loads of bites – 50 to 100. The bites didn’t stop itching for a week, and I’m still covered in scabs.
Hike over – Selfie back at the car. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
The pool below The Falls
Pool below The Falls. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Long Creek Falls
Long Creel Falls – I knew the falls wouldn’t be running. I also knew they’d be plenty of water in the pool for my lunch. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. The falls were dry as expected, but there was plenty of water in the pools. Enough for me to think about having a dip before continuing on my way. There had been no one else on the trails (the spider webs across the trails gave that away), but while I was heating water for my lunch a small group of people arrive, dashing my plans for a finding out how deep the water was.
I spent over an hour here, enjoying the view and eating my lunch.
Looking down Long Creek. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
First trail junction of Day Two
First trail junction of Day Two – This is the junction with the Devil’s Den East Trail (Upper Pilot Trail). Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. This is the junction of the Pilot (Tower) Trail with the Devil’s Den East Trail (Upper Pilot Trail).
And below we have another example of what the well-dressed Brit backpacker is wearing out on the trails.
All ready for the trail – though I see a minor dress malfunction. The belt on my kilt has got caught on the hip belt of my pack and I’m showing far too much leg. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Though, as it says in the caption, there is a minor dress malfunction. The belt on my kilt has got caught on the hip belt of my pack and I’m showing far too much leg.
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Watching the wildlife (and drinking tea)
Watching the wildlife (and drinking tea) – I watched a deer run past, followed shortly afterwards by a much more stealthy coyote. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I planned on having a relaxing morning, and getting away around noon. While I was sitting enjoying the morning and my second cup of tea, I heard and then saw a deer running north on a game trail about 50-100ft down the hill from where I was. The wind was blowing up the hill, so the deer didn’t have a clue I was there. That was cool. Then a few minutes later I watched a much more stealthy coyote trotting along the trail in the same direction. I didn’t hear the coyote, but it moved some brush which caught my eye, so I was able to watch it pad along the game trail in front of me. That was even more cool!
Watching the wildlife (and drinking tea) – I watched a deer run past, followed shortly afterwards by a much more stealthy coyote. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Morning tea, breakfast in bed, and things that rustle through the underbrush at night
Morning tea and breakfast in bed. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. In the dark, the animals that you imagine are making the noises grow four-fold or more, with teeth to match!
The night was quiet, but not without some visitors. First, there was a pissed-off deer huffing, puffing, and stomping, then some coyotes yipped and howled their way past on the trail a couple of hundred yards away, and finally, there was something creeping through the underbrush. The latter, I don’t mind admitting, spooked me.
I’ve taken part in several discussions online about night noises in the wilderness. It takes a while to adjust to them, and this was my first trip in a couple of months. In the dark, the animals that you imagine are making the noises grow four-fold or more, with teeth to match! Some people wear earplugs so they remain blissfully ignorant. I tend to ignore the noises or tell the critters to go away. Not that they take much notice.
This one got me out of my hammock peering around in the dark to try and see what (and where) it was. The last time that happened was at Piney Creek Wilderness in 2018. Maybe my recent dream about something walking into my hammock affected me more than I thought. Anyway, I told myself I was being silly and retired to my book again. Whatever it was (probably an armadillo or a possum) snuffled off.
Breakfast and tea in bed, are not quite as relaxed as they look. Mainly because before you can make tea or prepare your breakfast, you have to wander off into the woods to retrieve your food bag. Needless to say, I didn’t bother lighting my wood burner and used the Fancee Feest stove to heat the water.
Morning tea and breakfast in bed. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Camp Life – Journaling
Camp Life – Journaling – One of the few times I’ve actually got round to writing in my journal while I’m out backpacking. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Today was one of the few times I’ve actually got round to writing in my journal while I’m out backpacking.
Camp Life – Journaling – One of the few times I’ve actually got round to writing in my journal while I’m out backpacking. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Camp Life – Journaling – One of the few times I’ve actually got round to writing in my journal while I’m out backpacking. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Camp Life – Journaling – One of the few times I’ve actually got round to writing in my journal while I’m out backpacking. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
Camp Life – Journaling – One of the few times I’ve actually got round to writing in my journal while I’m out backpacking. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
All set up at my spot near ‘Twin Falls’ creek
Camped near ‘Twin Falls’ creek – I’m trying out a new tarp setup, and I have a new, much improved food bag. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Spring-fed pool – I’d previously found a spring and broken spring box here. Given how dry everything is at the moment, I was glad to find water. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I must be getting quicker because it only took me a couple of hours to hike the Pilot Trail to ‘Twin Falls’ creek. The creek bed and falls were dry, the pool at the foot of the falls was tiny. I remembered the spring box and spring I’d found further down ‘Twin Falls Hollow,’ so I gave myself half an hour to search for water before I gave up and hiked another three miles to Rock Spring.
Spring box on ‘Twin Falls Creek.’ Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. 
Spring on ‘Twin Falls Creek’ – theres no water running in the pipe, but the spring is still producing water. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Ten minutes later I’d bushwhacked down the hollow, found the spring, and there was plenty of water. Happy I’d secured my water source, I climbed up the hill to a spot I’ve camped at a couple of times before. I sat down and enjoyed the view for a few minutes before setting up camp. I’ve made a few gear changes, that seems to be the story of my backpacking life! I’ve changed the tarp setup, hopefully, it will no longer slip in the wet. It’s the first time I’ve set the new system and I took it slowly, working out the best way to rig it to make it easy to use in future. Besides the tarp setup, I have a new Dyneema food bag, rock sack, — a small sack you put a rock in to throw the food bag line over a tree branch — and a small pouch to keep my keys and wallet in. The rock sack surprised me. It was a lot better than the previous one I was using. I easily got the line over a branch 20 feet up.
Recently, thinking about my gear, I realized that my next step is to start simplifying things, removing anything unnecessary. It’s not so much weight as bulk that I’m looking at reducing. This trip I tried out a compression sack for my quilts. It worked fine, but I’m not 100% convinced that this is the way I want to go (yet). I really liked it when I was just shoving the quilts into my pack with no stuff sacks at all, and I have a new Dyneema pack liner to try out, which for some reason I didn’t bother to use on this trip. If you’ve not heard of it, Dyneema, is a very strong, lightweight, waterproof, and expensive fabric.
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Back on the trail
Gary at the junction of the Pilot (Tower) and Pole (Pete) Hollow Trails – I was distracted at the trailhead and didn’t take any pictures. This is my usual spot for a quick selfie and the Pole Hollow cairn. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. I was working in Kansas City two Saturday’s running, so I decided I’d earned myself a Monday off, and headed down to my usual stomping ground, Hercules Glades for a single night visit. It’s been very dry of late, so finding water away from the popular spots might be a challenge. I decided that the pool under the Twin Falls might still have some water, and if I couldn’t find any there, I’d hike on to Rock Spring which has always seemed to be a reliable water source. I wasn’t quite sure what I was going to do. I might just stop somewhere and do nothing, or I might try and get a few miles in. I’d make up my mind once I’d settled for the night.
There were some people at the trailhead which put me off my trailhead selfie stride, so I stopped to grab a picture with the cairn at the junction of the Pilot and Pole Hollow Trails — as you can see I failed to get the cairn in the picture. Oh well.
Hercules Glades – Pilot (Tower) Trail – I’m on a one-night solo trip. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
On the road again
On the road again – my third trip up to Kansas City since the COVID thing kicked off. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Today we had an Area Confirmation service at St. Andrew’s in Kansas City, which meant I spent over five hours in a rental car. I plan to get some backpacking in when I get home. I had a volunteer lined up to take pictures, but she’s been out of state and quite reasonably was self quarantining, so I went up to get some pictures of the service. That’s only my second time in church since March. With three more confirmation services, plus two conventions (one in person, one virtual) I’m in for a busy few months.
As I was driving back I wondered what is was about Chevy Impalas (today’s rental offering from Enterprise) that puts me in the mood to listen to British college rock. It’s happened before.
On the road again – My third trip up to Kansas City since COVID-19 kicked off. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
On the road again – my third trip up to Kansas City since the COVID thing kicked off. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Chapel Cross
Chapel Cross – St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Missouri. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. -
Photoshop Blues
That moment when …
you regret ignoring the message from Photoshop asking if you really want to close the window without saving …
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My job for the weekend
My job for the weekend – is to convert this lot into a new front deck. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Is to convert this lot into a new front deck
Fortunately, I had a lot of help, as it involved digging 10 post holes and a lot of assembling. With Ginger’s dad, Jim doing most of the ‘heavy lifting,’ my job was to cut everything up, move it, and hold things while they were assembled.
This what it was supposed to look like
How the deck was supposed to look And this is how it turned out
It looks a lot like the plan – which was what I wanted! Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. If you are wondering why it isn’t all decked, that’s because there is a shortage of lumber at the moment, and I haven’t been able to buy all the decking I need. There’s also another platform still to be added.
It may not look too complicated but there was quite a lot to it, and only a couple of modifications to the plan were required as we went along. Below is the framing plan for the complete project. Now I know exactly where the lower platform sits, I can finish working out how best to put it together (once I’ve bought some more lumber).
Framing plan for the front deck Thanks to Jim’s help and experience we got a lot done in a couple of days. Now Ginger is forming plans for landscaping the front yard which was all torn up by the Bob-Cat that broke up and removed the old concrete step. We have two big trees to have taken down before we do any landscaping. We hate the idea of getting rid of them, but one is unsafe, having been damaged in the ice storm in 2007, and the other dropped a big limb a year ago, just missing the house, and it drops loads of gumballs which are a huge mess, not to mention, a big slip and trip hazard.
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Polymer Clay Plant Pots
Polymer Clay Plant Pots – Ginger recently undertook a project to make a vessel a day for 100 days, and I managed to keep some. These are three of the eight I have. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Ginger recently undertook a project to make a vessel a day for 100 days. Most days a new vessel of some sort would appear on my desk. The vases came with flowers, and the pots came with small plants. The latter I’ve tried (not entirely successfully), to keep alive. The trouble is my office and desk don’t have a lot of natural light. A recent drop in temperature meant I opened up my office window to let the fresh cool air in, at the same time I moved my plants onto the window sill to see if some more light would get them looking more healthy.
Today the temps rose again, so the window had to close, and I put the pots on top of my PC. I liked the way the light caught them, and took this picture. It should have been simple, but as I said, it is dark in my office, with a shutter speed of .4 second, I had to drag my tripod out. Then after I’d taken the first picture I didn’t like how I’d arranged the pots, and I realized the top of my PC needed dusting, and it was back for a second go. Then I had to edit out all the dirty marks on the wall, and dust spots on the camera sensor. The camera was due for a service when COVID hit. I ought to check if the local camera shop is now open for sensor cleaning.
Anyway, here’s the complete 100 vessels from Ginger’s project. See if you can find the three pots above.
100 Vessels Project. Copyright © 2020 Ginger Allman, all rights reserved. -
Stamen
Stamen – Hibiscus plant in the back yard. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved. Hibiscus plant in the back yard. I was chatting with Ginger when I noticed the contrast between the light on the stamen of this flower and the darkness of the greenery behind it. It’s a lazy shot, as it needed a tripod, and instead I went for a hand-held image with the zoom lens with image stabilization. It’s pretty though.
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End of Trip Selfie
Piney Creek Wilderness – Day Three. Copyright © 2020 Gary Allman, all rights reserved.
