Brunette River, pre-run: The right side is going full Fall.
The first was intentional, the other was a pleasant surprise.
I didn’t have a set plan on where to run this morning, but generally I favour the lake because it’s more exercise and a more interesting location. But the weather app on my phone promised rain by 11 am, so I changed to the river trail. They also said wind gusts up to 19 km/hr.
Neither the rain nor gusts materialized, and I was able to complete the run both without getting wet or blow down by a rogue burst of wind.
Even better, I managed a pace of 5:35/km, matching my Friday pace. My BPM was higher at 152, but I felt I worked a bit harder. It was both cooler at 10°C1Future reference: In Linux, I can make the degree symbol by using Right-Alt + oo and a lot more humid, starting at 93%–which made me think rain was indeed imminent. It is still not raining as I type this, which is pleasant after a few days of The Rains.
There were dogs, but on leash, and a platoon or whatever you call a large group of cyclists, but I managed to stay behind or beside them as they rode by. They were very yellow, as most were wearing rain gear.
As for the fastest 1K, I beat my recently set record of 5:18/km with a pace of…5:17! I shaved a whopping 0.4 seconds off, woo. And this is not an official lap, like going from 1 km to 2 km, it seems to be just tracking the fastest 1 km stretch of the run, because my fastest lap was around 5:19/km.
In all, a good start to the week: fast, dry, a new record, and no issues!
The river, post-run, with some foliage especially eager to put on its fall colours.
Run 977 Average pace: 5:35/km Training status: Productive Location: Brunette River Trail Start: 10:18 a.m. Distance: 5.03 km Time: 28:06 Weather: Cloudy Temp: 10°C Humidity: 93-91% Wind: light BPM: 152 Weight: 165.3 pounds Total distance to date: 6,715 km Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation) Shoes: ASICS Trabuco Terra 2 (310/662/972)
A new retro console! An Intellivision console, just like I had as a surly teen! It’s called the Intellivision Spirit.
But wait, there’s a YouTube link in the same article…
This seems to suggest the name is Sprint, not Spirit. And yes, it is the Intellivision Sprint, not Spirit1Bonus: How does a carpet get “cigarette-soaked”, exactly? And were the kids playing Intellivision back in 1982 chain smokers or something?.
The story was posted two days ago (as of this post I’m writing) and this curiously obvious gaffe has not been corrected. The first (of two) comments also points out the error.
But hey, it’s just a sloppily rewritten press release, rather than AI slop, so I guess we should be thankful for that.
View from Cariboo Dam, looking east, with bonus heron.
With The Rains easing up for the afternoon, I decided to don my running clothes and get my steps with a walk to the lake and back. I recorded the return as an official™ exercise, which is recorded below.
It was cloudy but relatively mild, with some light drizzle, some sun and basically a bit of everything. I saw two herons, no salmon and pretty near every dog was on a leash, hooray.
I ran about the last 500 m, just to improve my overall pace and burn a few extra calories, as I had bacon for breakfast.
There is still a lot of debris at the lake and on the river trail from the wind, but nothing that wasn’t difficult to navigate around.
Overall, a pleasant afternoon outing. Now I can transform into Couch Potato Man.
‘Tis the season for changing leaves.
Stats:
Walk 134 Average pace: 8:40/km Location: Brunette River trail Distance: 4.03 km Time: 34:35 Weather: Cloudy, some drizzle Temp: 12°C Humidity: 80% Wind: light BPM: 108 Weight: 164.5 pounds Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Total distance to date: 947.07 km
I have an external 2 TB Samsung SSD and wasn’t using it for anything in particular, so I loaded up some of the better-known or regarded Linux distros and tried each in turn to see how they fared.
Bazzite: Billed as the distro for gamers, this took a very long time to install and when it finally did, I kept getting odd error messages and quirky behaviour. I tried installing again and it booted to a blank desktop, with only the mouse pointer visible. Could be my system, but whatever it was, my experiment with Bazzite ended here.
Pop_OS: I installed the beta, which is using the also-beta Cosmic desktop environment (DE). It seemed fine, but I decided I didn’t want to mess around with a beta after all. I’ll try it again once it’s a regular release.
Fedora: The KDE version. The default wallpaper is weirdly unattractive, but it otherwise it was perfectly fine. No issues stood out, but overall it felt a bit bland. Not a bad choice, though.
Ubuntu: I have played around with Ubuntu before and the setup was fast and polished. I am unconvinced that Gnome is better than KDE for the desktop, it’s more just different. However, I got further with Ubuntu than all the others, so it was doing something right. I missed the desklets from Mint, but other than that, everything else seemed to work well.
I’ll keep Ubuntu for now and tinker with it some more, but none of these have convinced me to move on from Linux Mint just yet, partly because of the time I’ve invested in customizing Mint, and also in part because none of them do anything better enough to woo me away, even though there are bits and pieces I like about each distro (except Bazzite).
One plus: All distros now use the grub loader to make it easy to dual (or triple) boot between Windows and one or more Linux versions, so it’s relatively painless to try them out.
View from Cariboo Dam, pre-run: Sunny, but also windy.
How windy was it? Windy enough that I had to clamber over a downed tree on the Piper Mill Trail. Fortunately, it was not a giant sequoia, so I was able to hop over and keep running.
As for the run, I knew the wind would be strong (16 km/h and gusting at times), so I wore two layers. This turned out to be the right call, because the wind did indeed bite through when it picked up. Also, the second layer came in handy post-run, as I will explain shortly.
I missed Monday’s run due to birding (though I got a lot of walking in) and Wednesday’s due to getting an MRI scan (which involved a lot of laying on a bed while a very noisy machine whirred around me), so my plan for today was to adopt a more moderate pace, given the week off. I started with a respectable 5:47/km, then…got faster each lap, finishing with an unexpectedly strong overall pace of 5:38/km. Nice!
No issues experienced during the run, other than that weird strobing effect you get when it’s sunny and the trees are starting to lose their leaves and the sun will flicker in your peripheral vision through the increasingly naked branches. But even that wasn’t too bad.
I had a late start and did not see any regulars, but apart from the wind, conditions were pretty decent. In all, a good way to wrap the week, running-wise.
As for the benefit in wearing two layers, two blocks from home a group of crows in a yard across the street from me took over and flew over. One of them pooped on my left shoulder, but it was only a glancing blow. The OR hoodie is in the wash now, but the shirt underneath was unaffected. This is why layering is important when you go outside to exercise. Pooping birds.
Brunette River, post-run.
Stats:
Run 976 Average pace: 5:38/km Training status: Peaking Location: Burnaby Lake (CCW, short loop) Start: 11:32 a.m. Distance: 5.04 km Time: 28:24 Weather: Mostly sunny Temp: 13°C Humidity: 74-72% Wind: light to strong BPM: 149 Weight: 164.1 pounds Total distance to date: 6,710 km Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation) Shoes: ASICS Trabuco Terra 2 (305/658/963)
My McVeggie burger did not radiate or glow (to my knowledge).
The obvious question from readers would be: Why? And my answer would be to see what magic McDonald’s could work on a “healthy” burger option.
My own question, though, is different. How can a McVeggie burger have only 10 fewer calories than a McChicken? Observe:
McChicken: 480 calories
McVeggie: 470 calories
Filet-o-Fish: 400 calories
And keep in mind, 90% of the calories in the Filet-o-Fish come from the giant blob of tartar sauce they put on each one, and it’s still 70 calories less.
Given that this is not the calorie-friendly delight you might hope for (it was slathered in the same volume of mayo as a McChicken), how did it taste?
It tasted fine. I think the spicy variant might be better, because it’s probably not hot, but may add a little more kick to it. As it is, it was OK and given the high calorie count, I’d only opt for this if I swore off being a meat-loving hedonist. Next time I’ll go for a Sausage and Egg McMuffin (440 calories). In the meantime, I ponder the market for a healthy option that is nearly 500 calories.
Today I journeyed to downtown Vancouver, to St. Paul’s Hospital, where I had my first-ever MRI.
The staff were very polite, friendly and professional. Everything was explained to me in detail. I squished the provided earplugs into my ears, then donned the headphones, through which they would speak breathing instructions to me. The process took roughly 30 minutes.
After changing into a hospital shirt and pants, which made me look like an extra from Scrubs, and removing my watch and glasses, I laid down on the bed of the MRI machine. They would be doing a “contrast” thing near the end, which required an IV, so dye could be injected into the bloodstream. My bloodstream. At this point, getting an IV just makes me shrug. Even the contrast thing was no big deal, as they had done the same when I got my CT scan earlier this year and that one made me feel like I had peed myself, which this one did not. I told them to use whichever arm was more veiny when they asked if I had a preference for where I wanted to be stabbed. They went left, as they usually do.
With the IV inserted, they placed a camera on my chest and strapped it to the bed. They assured me the straps were for the camera, not to restrain me. They finally put a squeeze ball on a cord into my right hand which I could use to alert them if I suddenly needed to pee like no one’s business, panic or otherwise pause the procedure.
With these things done, off I went into the tube, and it became extremely clear why the questionnaire you fill in advance out asks if you’re claustrophobic, because once I was in, all I could see was the curving contour of the tube not far above my face, and nothing else. One staffer said most people just close their eyes, which I did.
There is no danger in falling asleep, though, as at regular intervals (which they warned me of when they came up) the machine would clatter, clank and hum like industrial music, loud even through the earplugs and headphones.
When the machine wasn’t revving up to maximum Magnetic Racket Index, I was asked to breath in deep and hold my breath. I was pretty good at this, though it felt like I had to hold my breath for a long time. This left me a bit light-headed by the end, though I didn’t realize it until I tried getting off the bed when it was over. The guy who gave me the IV had to help me sit up.
When it came time for the injection, I was told that some people feel a salty taste in their mouths. I didn’t taste anything, but was asked if I was OK. I said yes. I think I was asked, because I did feel something, but couldn’t really name it. Whatever it was, it made my heart rate jump for a few seconds, hence the inquiry (I suspect). The best I can do to describe it is that for about five seconds, I felt rather weird.
It wrapped up shortly after the dye injection. I got a very nicely-applied translucent bandage over the IV insertion point and told my doctor would get the results in about a week.
Overall, it wasn’t a pleasant experience, but I think I did pretty good at just laying there like a potato while the machine made its noises and did its thing. I would not be sad if I never faced another MRI, though.
Some of the marsh grass has taken on a very fall-like orange hue at Reifel.
We got our first chance to visit Reifel in a while, on a rare Monday opening (due to the Thanksgiving holiday). It was a HBD (Hardcore Birder Day), with a plethora of dangerously large telephoto lenses being carried about. I saw monopods!
The weather was cool and there was some wind, but the sky was perfectly clear, affording is good light.
In addition to seeing a gaggleplex of Snow Geese flying overhead1Yes, I have finally relented and am full capitalization for all birbs and birbs., we saw several newly-arrived migrants, like ring-necked ducks and coots (which had already appeared at Piper Spit). We even saw a rare(ish) Ruddy Duck, which is a lifer for me. The Sandhill Cranes didn’t show themselves, however. I wonder where they were?
Dowitchers and Greater Yellowlegs were also in abundance, in the main slough and pond, among other places. One group were inadvertently harassed by some hero drama as a Great Blue Heron chased another directly over the shorebirds. The shorebirds would fly–a little–then return to as they were, so the harassment was pretty low-key. One of the herons landed in the pond and the other flew off, thus preserving the unspoken “one heron per pond, no matter how huge the pond” rule.
We saw hummingbirds at the feeders, keeping alert for a very interested wasp (or hornet?), as they are quite large when you’re a hummingbird. Imagine getting stung by a flying dog. Or something.
Centennial Beach
Mt. Baker overlooking a windy Boundary Bay.
I suggested Centennial Beach next, and we parked near the pump house, basically working in reverse to our usual path. This afforded us early shorebirds and waterfowl and plenty of them. After spotting a Belted Kingfisher shortly after arriving, we saw something on the bay, where the tide was in. What we saw were wigeons. Wigeons everywhere. Wigeons flying, wigeons floating, wigeons that numbered in the hundreds or maybe even more. I am not good at counting massive numbers of birds. But there were oodles of them, along with some gulls, Canada Geese and other duck variants.
The beach was also buffeted by gusts of wind up to 25 km/hour. At one point, I had my cap pulled down so tight to keep it from blowing off that I could barely get the camera up to my eyes. I didn’t observe any birds trying to work against the wind–not even the seagulls, which are usually kind of into that.
This is where we saw a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, an unexpected treat. They were eating from one of the wind-whipped bushes in the sand.
Both here and at Reifel we saw Northern Harriers and while I was pretty successful in tracking them, I was not able to get any great shots. A boy2I’m a boy at heart, or something can dream, though!
By the time we left, I was glad I’d opted for my heavier hoodie. I also noted the light was already taking on a more golden hue. Come November 2 we switch back to Pacific Standard Time (grr) and we’ll have about 23 minutes of quality birding during the day.
Piper Spit, Burnaby Lake
A Canada Goose ponders against a very blue backdrop at Piper Spit.
We ended at Piper Spit, which was initially chock-full of people, due to the holiday. The dowitchers were fairly close in, allowing for some good shots, but we didn’t spot any new migrants here, such as scaups or Buffleheads. Maybe next time. Or at least soon™.
We made due with bathing blackbirds, battling coots and Wood Ducks just being stunning.
Shot with a Canon EOS R7 with 18-150 mm kit lens and 100-400 mm telephoto.
A few shots:
Dark-eyed Junco pausing in the sun at Reifel.Great Blue Heron flyby at Reifel. Despite appearance, it did have eyes!A coot being very coot at Piper Spit.
I got into a bad habit of waiting till the end of the day to do the prompts, often leading to brain freeze and nothing to show for it. I’m going to work on them earlier going forward and see if I can catch up.
I make no promises. Mostly because I’m really bad at keeping them. But here’s hoping!
Also, I’m going to try to post more. Cue typing cat!
Brunette River, pre-run: October showers bring November…uh, showers.
It was already raining before today’s run, so off to the river trail I went. I was running (ho ho) late due to accidentally sleeping in, so I didn’t start until close to 11:30. I opted for two layers because of the rain, but in retrospect, I think one layer (the Echo hoodie) would have sufficed, though I didn’t get overly warm or anything.
I was a bit tired, though, maybe due to somewhat interrupted sleep last night, and didn’t have the same zip as Wednesday. I still finished with a perfectly cromulent pace of 5:42/km, and BPM was still below 150, albeit just at 149. Pretty good!
There were a few more people out than I expected, given the weather, but it mostly seemed to be dutiful owners walking their dogs. One other person was jogging. The weather itself was a mix of everything:
Rain
Light rain
Drizzle
Sun (only for a few minutes)
Cloud
This meant I didn’t get completely drenched, which was nice. Overall, a decent, if soggy wrap to the week.
Brunette River, post-run, looking the opposite way, with bonus heron.
Stats:
Run 975 Average pace: 5:42/km Training status: Productive Location: Brunette River Trail Start: 11:23 a.m. Distance: 5.03 km Time: 28:41 Weather: Light rain, drizzle, sun Temp: 12°C Humidity: 88-87% Wind: light to moderate BPM: 149 Weight: 163.2 pounds Total distance to date: 6,705 km Devices: Garmin Forerunner 255 Music, iPhone 12, AirPods (3rd generation) Shoes: ASICS Trabuco Terra 2 (300/650/950)
