Trinity Falls Trail Day 5K, McKinney, TX

I needed motivation to get back into shape and decided to sign up for a local 5K race that popped up in my Facebook feed. Despite its name, this race was not a trail run: it was a community run to celebrate National Trails Day which was on June 6 this year. It was easy to sign up; I drove over to McKinney to picked up the race packet a few days before so I could see where the place was. This turned out to be a nice/upscale community development with big single family homes and some townhouses.

It had been pretty hot in Plano, so I trained on the indoor track of the local gym. Hoped the heat on race day would not be too bad, especially since the race was scheduled to begin at 9 am. It turned out to be rainy and cloudy, which was great! Debated driving my RV there so I could relax while waiting for the race to start, and change clothes after. Decided to take the RAV4 instead, since I was not sure about the parking situation. Arrived early, got a nice parking spot along the road across from the starting point. It was still drizzling so I dug out my disposable raincoat, but the rain stopped about 30 minutes later. Went over to check things out, vendors were opening up booths, saw the row of porta-potties and something I've never seen before, hand washing stations complete with paper towels! What a great idea!

Race finally started promptly at 9, after a short warm up. Although this was a competitive chip timed race with prizes for top finishers, it was also a family run/walk with little kids joining and parents pushing strollers. The route ran through paved jogging paths through the development; I have to say it was quite pretty. There was a water station at the halfway point, most welcomed as I was running without my hydration belt (probably still packed away in boxes somewhere). Fortunately it was cloudy most of the way but very humid.

Well, I managed to finish the race with just a few walk breaks. Not my personal best, but it's been many years since my last timed race (I don't count the Bowie Veterans Day 5K four years ago, mostly walked). My interest in road races rekindled, I hope to do more, in cooler months and/or locations. A couple of my former running buddies wanted to do the Reykjavík Marathon or Half Marathon. I no longer have it in me to run marathons (been there, done 14 of them), not even a half. Definitely more 5Ks, maybe a 10K if I train consistently. We'll see.

Almost forgot, we had a coupon for snow cones at the end of the race! I'm not a fan of snow cones, but got a small one anyway. And a final photo for commemoration ...

Quilts and other creations

Quilting and associated crafting is an on/off hobby for many years. I'm just an amateur, but combining colors and designs into useful objects made me happy. In the earlier years, I used to quilt bedspreads, but had a difficult time finishing them. Nowadays, I make smaller items that I could finish. Below is a selection of items I have made through the years, starting with the most recent.

I just finished a cot-sized bedspread for my RV mattress, the colorful floral fabric was purchased during my trip to Japan a couple of years ago. It did not turn out the way I like, I found the colors/design too busy. But it will have to do until I make another I like better.

Two mini quilts completed recently for the Quilters Guild of Plano's annual auction this summer (forgot to take a photo of the finished blue quilt)

Table runners were easy to finish. I made these for friends, for special ocassions.

I am using these mug rugs myself, quilted from 100% Japanese cotton.

Made a lot of coasters, from scrap fabric and leftover batting. Mostly given away, the red set below for Chinese New Year.

Also taught two workshop on how to make coasters and pocket tissue holders to small groups with the Ladies of Bowie.

A coordinated set of bowl cozies with 4 coasters and a mug rug made a great gift to a friend.

Bowl cozies, potholders and placemats were a big hit as were the dish scrubbies that I crocheted during RV trips or in waiting rooms (the materials were very portable). I used to have a website that sold some of my creations. However, I could not keep up with demand, producing them started to feel like work, so I stopped selling. Now I only make them when I felt like it, sometimes on request and gave them to friends at Christmas, on birthdays, or when I visited them during my RV trips.

Below are some items I made years ago. A kings size bedspread for my sister-in-law, hand quilted while I was living in Italy. It took quite a few years to finish!

A twin sized bedspread for my daughter when she went to college. I did another for my son, but don't have a photo of it.

Another twin sized bedspread, hand quilted while stationed in Italy, a favorite quilt that I'm still using.

Finally here are two items I crocheted during COVID, in between sewing face masks for the community. Created just for recreation, never actually wore them. I think they got donated during our move.

Ocean Cay, Bahamas

We had a full day in Ocean Cay, the MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas. We reserved some beach chairs (for a fee) but there was not much information nor signage on where to go. We had to stop staff members to ask as we meet them. Finally made it to the beach, snag the chairs closest to the water. I'm afraid it was not very exciting. There was not much to do, especially for me since I'm not a sit at the beach type of person. Where's the snorkeling and kayaking? I took a walk around the shores, found some common seashells but could not keep them since this was a marine reserve.

Lunch was served on the island, food was OK, not great. All of us went back on the ship early. I went to the pool and jacuzzi, for once the area was not crowded. As we looked over the side of the ship, it appeared like they were creating another island nearby. We enjoyed a lovely sunset as we went for dinner.

We had our second speciality dinner, in the Japanese restaurant. Again the food was okay, not spectacular.

Nassau, Bahamas

I did not sign up any excursion at this port of call. Instead, I took a walk around the town, visited the Straw Market, collected my free gift at the Diamonds International store and did a lot of window shopping.

I walked past the tourist/shopping area and found the American Embassy as well as the Princess Margaret Hospital. Not very exciting, but I got my exercise in.