Recently I have been asked two questions by several readers.
First, do I do my age in push-ups without stopping? I do.
As I have written here before, but not recently, my workout, done three times a week when I'm in Evanston, takes nineteen or twenty minutes and starts with some stretching, then my age--actually I now usually go to 80--in push-ups, my age or 80 crunches, 60 knee bends, then 40 push-ups, 40 crunches, 40 knee bends, then 40 push-ups, 40 crunches, 100 side leg raises each leg, and 150 knee bends. All moving immediately from one to another, though I do sometimes pause for a couple of breathes between the first 80 push-ups and the first 80 crunches.
Since I almost severed the supraspinatus in my left shoulder rotator cuff in a fall two or three years ago I do not do nose to the carpet push-ups any longer, but do get my elbows to at least 90º angles. When I started physical therapy for my shoulder they did not expect I would ever be able to do a push-up again, but I was within a few months.
I've always been able to do my age in push-ups and adding one more each year is not difficult. Beyond 80 it may be.
I exercise differently three other days a week and take Sundays off.
Since I almost severed the supraspinatus in my left shoulder rotator cuff in a fall two or three years ago I do not do nose to the carpet push-ups any longer, but do get my elbows to at least 90º angles. When I started physical therapy for my shoulder they did not expect I would ever be able to do a push-up again, but I was within a few months.
I've always been able to do my age in push-ups and adding one more each year is not difficult. Beyond 80 it may be.
I exercise differently three other days a week and take Sundays off.
Second, do I intend to sail from Panama directly to San Diego? I do.
As some of you know, that will not be an easy sail, with the last 1000+ miles against the prevailing winds and the cold California current. I sailed against them in EGREGIOUS on the final passage from Tahiti to San Diego, but GANNET is a bit wetter than EGREGIOUS.
It is possible that I will find it too difficult in GANNET, in which case I will ease the sheets and sail to Hilo, Hawaii, which is much easier and close the circle there.
And there is always the temptation to head WSW for the Marquesas Islands and then proceed across the Pacific to New Zealand. If I did, I would close the circle of the GANNET circumnavigation in Neiafu, Tonga.
But I find compelling symmetry in completing the ‘Being’ part of my life in San Diego where it began on November 2, 1974, when I pushed EGREGIOUS away from the dock on my first attempt at Cape Horn.
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I am now officially a cartoon.
Zane in New Zealand thought that in the photo I ran Monday I was in something of a ‘preacher pose’ and so provided captions.
I think I thank him.
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From John, a sailor, boat builder, cellist, I have learned of what I believe are called F1 Rubber Band Airplanes, elegant feats of gossamer engineering so delicate that applause can cause them to crash, but which can stay aloft for more than thirty minutes on the twist of the rubber band. John once folded his plane in half by not walking back to the table with it slowly enough.
His class has a weight limit of 1.4 grams which is 0.05 of an ounce.
Here are some links to this ethereal world, including one of the world championships held in a Romanian salt mine.
Thanks, John, for broadening my education.
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The lead photo is a stylized version of a photo I have run here before. I find it more compelling than the original.
