Last night I ran my 72nd consecutive day of running.  My training plan for yesterday was to run 12 miles around the Egg Lake Loop, but a cramp in my right calf caused me to cut the run short at 8 miles and walk the reminder miles home.  I was running with my friend Stan, who went ahead and finished, then drove out and gave me a ride home.

I was disappointed that I cramped.  I was happy that I finished my 72nd day.  I am proud of this accomplishment.  This goal of Streak Running has give me some purpose.

The other day I read about a woman, Roz Savage, who is solo rowing a small boat from San Francisco to Australia.  Before this adventure she had rowed across the Atlantic Ocean.  Amazing.  Talk abut an accomplishment.

Check out her web site at:  http://www.rozsavage.com/

And watch this video clip.

• Running helps me to feel good about myself by giving me goals and objectives that only I can accomplish. 
• Running helps ...   more »

On the evening of July 24, I ran with Jane and Laura out in the DNR/Roche Harbor Watershed for 1 hour, 37 minutes.  This was my 51st day of continual running.

The run was great with sunshine, warm temperatures and great trails.  The company of Jane and Laura was pretty nice as well.

Back on June 4th, the day after the San Juan Island Marathon that I direct, I started a Running Streak - which is basically how many days in a row that I can continue running.

Why a Running Streak?  In a nutshell, motivation.  Knowing that I had made a commitment to determine how many days I could run without stopping has gotten by butt out the door and down the road.  My definition of a running day is a day where I went outside and spent more than 20 minutes running. 

Yesterday I logged my forty-one day of continual running.  Thus far, no aches or pains.  My longest run as been 1 hour, 50 minutes and my shortest has been 20 minutes.  I have also dropped 16 pounds.

I have not determined when I will end the streak, but for now I am really enjoying it.

See you on the roads.

From Ammon and Angela from their recent visit to Hawaii.

This is so totally cool or rad, or whatever is the hottest thing to say.

Each year, in May or June, I travel down to the Seattle area to purchase a new pair of Reef flip-flops.  I was introduced to wearing flip-flops by my son Ammon and his friend, Nick.  Were were in Seattle looking for flip-flops that would be used in Ammon and Angela's wedding some time later in the year.  For whatever reason I never really looked in to wearing flip-flops, thinking they would not be good enough support for my most wonderful feet.  Boy was I wrong.

I purchased a pair of Reef's Flex Sandals and feel in love with them.  I wore them all the time.  To work, around town, wherever.  They were the most comfortable shoe I have worn!  My feet grew stronger and, most importantly, happy.

This past week weekend I was very happy to learn that San Juan Surf Shop, located at the Cannery Landing here in wonderful Friday Harbor, carried Reef Sandals or Flip-flops.  I purchased are really nice, comfortable pair - green, at prices lower than the mainland.  How cool is that.

If you need a pair of sumer flops, San Juan Surf will do your right!!


This the pair I just purchased.

I love summer.  Long days, warm and sunny - well at least for the most part, make this time of year here in the islands really enjoyable.  This morning Stan and I were running around Pear Point, starting at 8:00.  During the run the sun felt warm on my back as we ran around one of the most beautifulest roads here on island.  The sensation of having the sun warm me so early in the day was really nice.

Here in the islands the temperatures rarely reach above 80 degrees, so the warm days are not really hot days that I was used to by living in California, Montana and Wyoming - where hot meant 90 degrees or hotter.  In Helena, Montana, where I lived for some time, we would often go run in 100+ temperatures during the summer months.  The sweat would run off our bodies like torrents. 

Lately, I have been running early in the day, often on the road by 6:30.  The early morning temperatures are still chilly and often I need a long sleeve shirt to keep my arms warm, but by the time I run for 40 minutes I wish that I had short shirt sleeves on.  My friend Stan, when he runs in the morning, is still wearing gloves to keep his hand warm.

A sad point of this summer is I am boat less.  I sold my boat, SloPoke, over a year ago.  Not having a boat makes my heart long for a time that we can get on the water.  Motoring up to Stuart Island and running out to the lighthouse on Turn Point would be idea.  Turn Point is the farthest distance in the N.W. one can go in the United States.  I have run that distance before and it is a blast.

Last night we ate our dinner out on the deck, and, actually, I am writing this posting outside as well, which makes a great indicator for summer time.  I love eating out doors during the summer.  Takes me back to my childhood days when we ate outside on our patio much of the summer.  Nice hot summer days and cool summer nights.  Yum.

Last Tuesday Mike, Jan, Sam and I rode over to Lopez on Mike and Jan's boat, and ate a bunch of fried foods as we watched the sun dip down.  What a great evening.  Great people and good food.  Great weather as well.

Here is wishing everyone a fun filled, safe and exciting summer.

My son, Ammon and my dad, Ralph.

Last Sunday, June 3, was the 5th Annual San Juan Island Marathon and Half-Marathon.  I have been organizing this event with Paul Hopkins for all five of those years.  Along with Lynne Rodgers and Hedda King we brought the idea of having a local marathon and half-marathon to reality.

The races take a high amount of planning, organizing, marketing that begins in July and ends the following June on race day.  There is so much that needs to be done and much of that happens in the final weeks before Race Day.  Besides our efforts we utilize close to 100 volunteers who do every thing from manning Ham Radios for course information to filling water cups for both runners and walkers.  With out these wonderful people this race would not happen.


Frank and Wayne, local Ham Radio Operators who volunteered on Race Day

Besides doing such things as ordering T-shirts, medals, drinks, supplies, there is permits that need to be arranged for, insurance to purchase, law enforcement to coordinate - a ton of stuff to do.  On Race Day we start at 4:30 and often don't finish until 7 or 8 that night! 

Now that the Race is over, I have the rest of my summer to go and have some serious fun.

Here are some pictures from the day.


Ammon placing the 26th Miler marker.


Bill with bike - Half Marathon Escort


Runners at the Start Line


The Start!





Participants of the Kids Race which started right after the Marathon


Paul reading the names of top finishers.



Hedda King, who was awarded the Lynne Rodgers Award, enjoying the Awards Ceremony.

A big THANK YOU for all who helped.

For More Articles about the Race, check out:

Results:  http://www.perfecttimeevents.com/results/event/1853/results.php
Official Photographer:   http://www.brunkphoto.com/
San Juan Update:  http://www.san-juan.net/marathon07/

My buddy, Paul, who has a small tent business just expanded with the recent addition of a 3500 square foot ...   more »

For the past year I have had this concept for a nice little mystery based here on San Juan Island.  ...   more »

Ammon and Angela visited their doc today and the ultrasound tells them that babygilbert is a Boy!!!!

How exciting.  Check more pictures at www.babygilbert.org.

Yesterday the sun came out over Friday Harbor and brought with it some really nice and warm temperatures.  Weather Underground ...   more »

My friend, Brian, works for San Juan Safaris here in Friday Harbor.  Last weekend he was showing how to roll ...   more »

Samantha and I took a motorcycle ride out to Roche Harbor today, April 29, and stopped by to visit the Marine Fun Center provided by San Juan Safaris.  Picture from left to right, Bill, Brian and Nick.

San Juan Safaris put on really great whale watching boat trips - leaving from Roche Harbor and Friday Harbor as well as kayaking in the north island area.

Check out their web site:  http://sanjuansafaris.com/

very interested in me.  Skye follows me everywhere I go and watches what I do, making mental notes along the way.

My friend, Mike C., emailed me the other day and invited me to fly over to the Skagit Regional Airport ...   more »

I was talking to my baby sister, Merit, on the phone the other night.  She lives in Wyoming and we ...   more »

I was at this concert in the 1991.  Bill Graham, the concert promoter was killed in a helicopter accident in November or December 1991.  A free concert was held at the Polo Grounds in Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, some of the best bands from the 60's, 70's and 80' that had a bay area connection performed.

I saw some great performances.  The Grateful Dead jamming, they also backed up Dan Fogerty - who was band less.  This video is of Neil Young and the Grateful Dead, who jammed together for over an hour.

Totally cool.

The fun part of this story was that my son, Ammon, had just turned 11 and he didn't want to be there and worked really hard not to hear the music.  He just laid down, as only a 11 year who didn't want to be somewhere could.  I would say, "Ammon, it's Neil Young!"  Nothing.  It was fun.

Last summer, Ammon and I, attended a Crosy, Stills, Nash and Young concert.  It was cool.  See the video clip, "Tree Top Flier" below - we were there!

I could be a rambler from the seven dialsI don't pay taxes 'cause I never file
I don't do business that don't make me smile
I love my aeroplane 'cause she's got style
I'm a treetop flyerBorn survivor
I will fly any cargo you can pay to run
these bush league pilots just can't get the job done
Got to fly down into the canyons, never see the sun
There's no such thing as an easy run
For a treetop flierBorn survivor
I'm flyin' low, I'm in high demand
Fly fifteen feet off the Rio Grande
Blow the mesquite right up off the sand
Seldom seen, especially when I land
I'm a treetop flier
Born SurvivorPeople ask me, "Where'd you learn to fly that way?"
Over in Vietnam, chasin' NVA
The government taught me, and they taught me right,
Stay under the treeline, and you might come out alright
I'm a treetop flierBorn survivor
Comin' home, I'm runnin' low and fast
promised my woman this one's gonna be my last
Get the ship down, and I tie her fast
then some old boy walks up, says "Son, you wanna make some fast cash?"
I'm a treetop flyer
There's things I am and there's things I'm not
I am a smuggler and I could get shot
But I gonna die, I ain't goin' to get caught,
'Cause I'm a flyin' fool and my aeroplane is just too hot
I'm a treetop flier
Born survivor

Ok, I have a thing for pens, which goes back to my days in elementary school when I received my first fountain pen.  Like Moleskines, I find pens to be a fine hobby to participate in and enjoy.

Currently I am using these three pens:



The Retro 51 Fountain Pen                  The Retro 51 Tornado in Red            The Retro 51 Tornado in Green

Good quality pens for a very fair price.  Nice balance and fun to hold.

Yesterday I received my very first digital camera from www.buydig.com  I purchased a Olympus Stylus 740 with 7.1 megapixel and a 5X Optical Zoom.  Now this all-weather camera has been really fun in learning all the cool things it can do.  I have wanted a digital camera for some time now and will be using it for my blog postings.



As an example this is a close-up of my coffee cup.  Pretty cool.  I like the orange rings.

With this new camera you, my readers, will have a optical view into my ramblings as well as printed words.

My good friend, Stan the Man, is having his Grand Opening this week at his new wine store, Blazenly Lucid Wines, at 80 Nichols Street in the happening area of Friday Harbor.  Having his own wine store has been a dream of Stan's for a long time.  I am happy for him.



Blazenly Lucid Wines, 80 Nichols Street, Friday Harbor.



Stan on the right with Mica, trusty son on the left.  Mica is also a awesome golfer.



A happy customer selecting from Blazenly Lucid's fine wines.  Notice the San Juan Vineyard wines on the left.  Locally made here on San Juan Island. 



Stan carries locally baked rolls and bread from John, owner/chef/baker at 120 Nicholas Street, a great, romantic little restaurant.

To learn more about Stan and his shop visit:  http://www.blucid.com/

Well, here is where I spend most of my week days.  From this little command center all sorts of great ideas spring forth.  Please note the new metal wall covering that Mike Greene and I installed a few weeks ago.  Very Retro and very Cool.



I have all the elements a successful business man needs.  I have my chair, a nice place for my HP nc6400 computer.  A well spaced area for my pens and notebooks and a wide arrange of drinking devices.  Stereo speakers for my listening pleasure.  A great place to spend the day.

I have a couple of posts that talk about my love for the Moleskine Notebooks.  I think they are just the item. 



On the left is my yearly soft cover calender with the week on the left hand side and note taking space on the right hand side.  I have a Dude Abide sticker to help identify it as my calender.  The sticker comes http://www.lebowskifest.com.  This wonderful sites has all kinds of cool things from The Big Lebowski movie, which is my favorite all time movie.

To the right of the Abide book is my pocket ruled notebook where I keep a hand written record of thoughts and notes.  Either one of them will be with me at all times.  Don't want to forget something.

My son, Ammon and his wonderful wife, Angela, are expecting their first child - and my first grandchild - in October.  How totally cool is that!!!!  I am so excited.

We have set-up the web site www.babygilbert.org as a wonderful for family and friends to keep in touch with this grand happening.

Check it out!  http://www.babygilbert.org/

The other day, my sister, Carla, just emailed me and asked why I haven't posted any ramblings for a couple ...   more »

My running buddy Paul sent me a link to a blog of a ultra runner.  In his posting this ...   more »

 

In late January I purchased, from Rock Island Technology Solution, a HP nc6400 laptop.  This little, kick ass, ...   more »

I do not like getting sick, though I suppose I am not alone in that category.  I am happy to ...   more »

I am sick. Boo hoo. I hate chest colds and that is what I have. Boo hoo some more. I am such a whiner when I am sick.   more »

If you haven't read the prior posting about My Goal, you might want to do so.

Here is my Plan ...   more »

Last Sunday my friend, Stan, and I were running in the DNR land/forest and we became lost (see prior posting).  ...   more »

Ok, maybe trail running in the remote DNR forest after the two biggest storms in the last ten years can ...   more »

My dear little sister, Merit Addie, has paid for me to fly to Billings, Montana.  Then my dear older sister, ...   more »

Stan Reitan and I traveled across the big water this morning on the red eye to participate in the Nookacamps ...   more »