Visual Soliloquy #826 From the very beginning perplexing and wandering from one ocean to another an everlasting wander…

Posted on August 27, 2013 by TA Loeffler

From the very beginning
perplexing and wandering
from one ocean to another
an everlasting wander
― Rixa White

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“Strong Like Bull”

Posted on August 26, 2013 by TA Loeffler

This is a captured still from my Go Pro camera on one of the hundred (at least) of portages I’ve done this summer…I love the sense of being able to put the canoe up and go!

One of my dad’s favourite expressions was “strong like bull” He used this to describe strong flavours, strong materials, and strong people. He always believed in my strength and frequently said, “You are strong like bull.” This past week, training week two, I felt strong like a bull. I continued to set personal bests and felt like my mountain athlete training program was easier than ever before.

I think both this absolute strength and sense of strength has come from our summer of 50, no 70, no 80…likely 100 ponds. I’ll be writing more on this canoe project in other blog posts but I can see, now that I’m back in training, that a summer of paddling and portaging has me feeling great in and about my body. I found myself looking forward to the challenge of each training session and excited to be seeing/experiencing/recognizing/celebrating gains in strength and fitness.

Training is fun again. This is a relief since I’d come through a period where it wasn’t fun, it wasn’t exciting, and it wasn’t something I looked forward to…I’d likely plateaued and the canoe summer seems to have pushed me past that flat spot onto a slope where gains are possible once again. So, I’m heading into week three with the three F’s keeping me company: fun, focused, and fabulous.

Posted in Aoraki/Mount Cook, Canoe, Everest 3.0, Toubkal | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #825 Set out from any point. They are all alike. They all lead to a point of departure…

Posted on August 26, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Set out from any point. They are all alike. They all lead to a point of departure.
― Antonio Porchia

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #824 In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out…

Posted on August 25, 2013 by TA Loeffler

In everyone’s life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit.
–Albert Schweitzer

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #823 Our power lies in our small daily choices, one after another…

Posted on August 24, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Our power lies in our small daily choices, one after another, to create eternal ripples of a life well lived.
― Mollie Marti

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Et tu, Brute?

Posted on August 23, 2013 by TA Loeffler

This is Brutus. Brutus probably weighs about 50 pounds with the rim in. Brutus is new to Signal Hill and is still getting broken in so that’s how it got its name. It’s a brut to pull up hill.

I’ve been pulling tires up Signal Hill, on and off for about five years. I usually pull a tire that came off my Oma’s 1988 Chevy Corsica. I’ve wore the sidewall down on that one so it behaves pretty well (doesn’t buck, flip, or roll too often). A few fine folks have been joining me of late so I offered to take Brutus and try to tame it for the hill.

The first few pulls were, without a doubt, brutal. Muscles burned. Lungs burned. I cursed Brutus under my breath when I had enough air left to curse.

This morning, Brutus and I were getting along just fine. All my training seems to be paying off with strength and cardio fitness gains. Now, pulling a tire up a hill is not a “usual” kind of activity and so folks often stop to share their best tire pun with us.
“Are you tired yet?”
“Where is the rest of the car?”
“Are you going to retire soon?”
“Would you like me to call you a tow truck?”

We also get lots of curious questions and funny looks and car horn toots of encouragement…
“You training for something?”
“Wow that workout looks tough.”
“You’re cracked you know!”

I love stopping to chat and answering people’s questions. I love the puns and looks of incredibility. The only thing that makes me sad is when people say things like this:
“I was feeling so good about walking up the hill until I saw the likes of you.”
“Wow seeing you pull that-now my workout on the hill is worthless.”
“I was so proud of taking the tough way up the hill until I saw you.”

I’m usually sweaty and out of breath and we pass in an instant but this is what I would like to say back…

I love that you are out on this hill. I appreciate that you’ve gotten out of bed and up this hill anyway you can. That you’ve walked up slow, run up fast, climbed the stairs, drove up and walked down, rode your bike, wheeled your chair…anyway you got yourself here is fabulous. Congrats. Celebrate that achievement. Celebrate that you overcame inertia, lassitude, bad weather, stress, fatigue, health challenges, family strife, gravity and/or e) all of the above to be here. Out. Outside. Moving your body. Enjoying the view. Building health one step at the time. Let’s high five next time. Let’s smile and cheer each other on. Let’s be proud of actually getting out of bed and onto the hill.

Yes, I can pull a silly big tire up the hill…this morning it actually felt easy-almost like I was cheating easy. Perhaps it was super super hard for you this morning. We can’t always tell how tough or easy a task is by looking. We don’t need to compare. My pulling the tire up the hill does not lessen your getting up there in any way, shape or form (or at least that’s how I see it and hope you will too). Please don’t use my achievement to beat yourself up…appreciate your own achievement instead…

Thanks,
TA

Posted in Everest 3.0, Toubkal | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #822 The sky grew darker, painted blue on blue…

Posted on August 23, 2013 by TA Loeffler

The sky grew darker, painted blue on blue, one stroke at a time, into deeper and deeper shades of night.
― Haruki Murakami

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #821 Life in us is like the water in a river…

Posted on August 22, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Life in us is like the water in a river.
― Henry David Thoreau

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #820 To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles…

Posted on August 21, 2013 by TA Loeffler

To conquer frustration, one must remain intensely focused on the outcome, not the obstacles.
― T.F. Hodge

This electronic communication is governed by the terms and conditions at http://www.mun.ca/cc/policies/electronic_communications_disclaimer_2012.php

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #819 Don’t dare to be different, dare to be yourself…

Posted on August 20, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Don’t dare to be different, dare to be yourself – if that doesn’t make you different then something is wrong.
― Laura Baker

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

“In Training”

Posted on August 19, 2013 by TA Loeffler

For the past week, I am have been “in training.” It was a good week. Nicely physical. Decently busy. Challenging in the good kind of way. I put in about 18 hours worth…some strength training, some cardio, some hikes, some carrying of barrels :-), in other words a good mix. I was pleasantly surprised to learn how a summer of canoeing has strengthened me in all kinds of ways.

As I started week two today, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to be “in training” and what it changes to be “in training”. For me, being “in training”, ups the ante. It gets me to show up to all (or almost all scheduled training events) despite most obstacles (weather, busy schedule, lack of sleep, etc.). It helps me take my preparation more seriously…I log my sessions, put on my heart rate monitor, pay close attention to progress, etc…overall it creates a deeper commitment to the process. “In training,” I tend to eat better, sleep better, inhabit my body more, and generally feel more focused in all parts of my life. Sounds pretty good…

The key, I guess, is discipline. Exerting myself in a self-directed way. Some how, choosing to be “in training” makes it easier to exercise my discipline muscle. I am reminded of my Buddhist teacher Moh’s definition of discipline…”gentle bravery.” And that is how I aim, now, to be “in training”…with gentle bravery…living up to my expectations of myself in terms of physical and mental challenges/activities I’ve set for myself while also having gentleness and awareness/mindfulness for fatigue, fun, and spontaneity. I want “in training” to be a container that supports my goals and objectives without becoming a rigid and unyielding state of being. So, it appears that I have goals that being “in training” will help me meet as well as goals for how to be “in training.”

Posted in Toubkal | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #818 Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and…

Posted on August 19, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Whenever you want to achieve something, keep your eyes open, concentrate and make sure you know exactly what it is you want. No one can hit their target with their eyes closed.
― Paulo Coelho

This electronic communication is governed by the terms and conditions at http://www.mun.ca/cc/policies/electronic_communications_disclaimer_2012.php

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #817 The reactions of the human heart are not mechanical and predictable but infinitely subtle and delicate…

Posted on August 18, 2013 by TA Loeffler

The reactions of the human heart are not mechanical and predictable but infinitely subtle and delicate.
–Daisaku Ikeda

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #816 It’s not so much the journey that’s important…

Posted on August 17, 2013 by TA Loeffler

It’s not so much the journey that’s important; as is the way that we treat those we encounter and those around us, along the way”
― Jeremy Aldana

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

Mountains of Morocco Expedition Intro

Posted on August 16, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Thanks to all who participated in “What’s TA Climbing Next IV?” Using your peak detective skills, you deciphered my cryptic visual clues to what I am climbing this fall. This adventure will take me to a new country, Morocco, a new mountain range, The High Atlas, and into many new experiences and cultures along the way.

We will depart St. John’s in mid September for Marrakesh, Morocco. It will take about 24 hours of travel and stopovers in two countries along the way (USA and Switzerland) to get there. We will meet our expedition teammates there on September 21 and there is a strong contingent from Newfoundland and Labrador.

The first peak we will climb is Ighil M’Goun (4071 metres, 13,356 ft), the fourth highest peak in Morocco. This climb will provide some acclimatization and get our legs used to long days of trekking. Next, we’ll head to Jbel Toubkal 4167 metres, 13,671 ft) and touch the roof of North Africa. Following this, we’ll head to the Atlantic coast of Morocco for four days of coastal trekking.

Morocco has been on my wish list for several years and I look forward to getting back on the African continent, climbing with friends, and learning lots about a new place. There will be a school curriculum delivered during the expedition and we will send audio updates out each day so folks can follow along.

Posted in Toubkal | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #815 For in the end, we will conserve only what we love…

Posted on August 16, 2013 by TA Loeffler

For in the end, we will conserve only what we love, we will love only what we understand and we will understand only what we are taught.
~ Baba Dioum
Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s TA Climbing Next IV Clue #7?

Posted on August 15, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Here’s another clue for the peak I am climbing in late November…

It’s a guessing free-for-all…remember a winning guess will list all three peaks I am hoping to climb this fall…go big peak detectives!

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Visual Soliloquy #814 The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go…

Posted on August 15, 2013 by TA Loeffler

The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.
― Dr. Seuss

Had a chuckle about my bookshelf last night…shall I row across an ocean, bicycle around the world, trek 4000 kilometers home or go on an adventurous motorcycle trip? Guess I am itching to go!

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

What’s TA Climbing Next IV? Clue #6

Posted on August 14, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Here’s another clue…they’ve been toughies so far…this is the peak I am climbing in late November…do you have a guess at what it is? Do you remember what the other(s) are?

Please enter your guess(es) on my blog/website (it is so satisfying to see the graph with site visits go up). If you list a guess on Facebook-please also place it on the blog. Two guess max per person per day…we want a few more days of fun!

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Visual Soliloquy #813 Sometimes the little opportunities that fly at us each day can have the biggest impact…

Posted on August 14, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Sometimes the little opportunities that fly at us each day can have the biggest impact.
― Danny Wallace

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s TA Climbing Next IV Clue #5

Posted on August 14, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Onto guessing the peak I am climbing in late November…the photo clue above is the second one for round two…

Please enter your guess(es) on my blog/website (it is so satisfying to see the graph with site visits go up). If you list a guess on Facebook-please also place it on the blog. Two guess max per person per day…we want a few more days of fun!

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next IV? Clue #4

Posted on August 13, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Turns out I have three climbing objectives for the fall. Congrats to Mona who honed in on the Atlas Mountains and to Carla for coming up with Jbel Toubkal (and Patti and Cathy as well), the highest peak in Morocco and North Africa as my first climb…I realized I forgot one of the acclimatization climbs for Toubkal…the second highest peak in Morocco…who can find the name of that one? The peak as far as I can gather in pronounced something like toque ball…which if you look back, you can see I was wearing a toque in the first peak and the dung beetles were rolling a dung ball in the second…toque ball…get it? 🙂 I’ll do a separate post introducing the Morocco climbs once the guessing is done…

And now onto peak two, err three-the one I am climbing in late November…the photo clue above is the first one for the November climb…

Please enter your guess(es) on my blog/website (it is so satisfying to see the graph with site visits go up). If you list a guess on Facebook-please also place it on the blog. Two guess max per person per day…we don’t want this thing over instantly! The photo above is your third clue…I’ll provide clues for the first peak until it is guessed and then the second… the winning guess must list both climbs…peak detectives start your googling!

 

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #812 If it weren’t for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song…

Posted on August 13, 2013 by TA Loeffler

If it weren’t for the rocks in its bed, the stream would have no song.
Carl Perkins

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

What’s TA Climbing Next IV? Clue #3

Posted on August 13, 2013 by TA Loeffler

I have two climbing objectives for the fall. Manaslu didn’t work out because I wasn’t able to train hard enough while teaching so much this summer so I’ve chosen two other peaks instead…one in late September and one in late November. Can you guess what they are?

Please enter your guess(es) on my blog/website (it is so satisfying to see the graph with site visits go up). If you list a guess on Facebook-please also place it on the blog. Two guess max per person per day…we don’t want this thing over instantly! The photo above is your third clue…I’ll provide clues for the first peak until it is guessed and then the second… the winning guess must list both climbs…peak detectives start your googling!

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next IV? Clue #2

Posted on August 12, 2013 by TA Loeffler

I have two climbing objectives for the fall. Manaslu didn’t work out because I wasn’t able to train hard enough while teaching so much this summer so I’ve chosen two other peaks instead…one in late September and one in late November. We’ve had fun guessing the last few times before climbs, I thought I would offer up the picture clue peak guessing game again this time.

Please enter your guess(es) on my blog/website (it is so satisfying to see the graph with site visits go up). If you list a guess on Facebook-please also place it on the blog. Two guess max per person per day…we don’t want this thing over tomorrow! The photo above is your first clue…Mona, Paula, Heather et al get your fingers ready, on your mark, get set, guess! A guess must list both climbs…peak detectives start your engines!

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

What’s TA Climbing Next IV?

Posted on August 12, 2013 by TA Loeffler

I have two climbing objectives for the fall. Manaslu didn’t work out because I wasn’t able to train hard enough while teaching so much this summer so I’ve chosen two other peaks instead…one in late September and one in late November. We’ve had fun guessing the last few times before climbs, I thought I would offer up the picture clue peak guessing game again this time.

Please enter your guess(es) on my blog/website (it is so satisfying to see the graph with site visits go up). If you list a guess on Facebook-please also place it on the blog. Two guess max per person per day…we don’t want this thing over tomorrow! The photo above is your first clue…Carla, MC, Shelagh et al get your fingers ready, on your mark, get set, guess! Trien-I think you already know one of these-no fair using insider info 🙂 A guess must list both climbs…peak detectives start your engines!

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , | 8 Comments

Visual Soliloquy #811 Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are…

Posted on August 12, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Wanting to be someone else is a waste of the person you are.
― Marilyn Monroe

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #810 I wandered everywhere, through cities and countries wide. And everywhere I went, the world was on my side…

Posted on August 11, 2013 by TA Loeffler

I wandered everywhere, through cities and countries wide. And everywhere I went, the world was on my side.
― Roman Payne

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #809 We need the tonic of wildness…

Posted on August 10, 2013 by TA Loeffler

We need the tonic of wildness…At the same time that we are earnest to explore and learn all things, we require that all things be mysterious and unexplorable, that land and sea be indefinitely wild, unsurveyed and unfathomed by us because unfathomable. We can never have enough of nature.
― Henry David Thoreau

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Visual Soliloquy #808 A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you…

Posted on August 9, 2013 by TA Loeffler

A friend is someone who knows all about you and still loves you.
― Elbert Hubbard

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #807 Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower…

Posted on August 8, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Happiness held is the seed; Happiness shared is the flower.
–John Harrigan

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #806 I can hardly wait for tomorrow, it means a new life for me each and every day…

Posted on August 7, 2013 by TA Loeffler

I can hardly wait for tomorrow, it means a new life for me each and every day.
― Stanley Kunitz

 

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #805 Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain…

Posted on August 6, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Find a place inside where there’s joy, and the joy will burn out the pain.
–Joseph Campbell

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #804 They blossomed, they did not talk about blossoming…

Posted on August 5, 2013 by TA Loeffler

They blossomed, they did not talk about blossoming.
― Dejan Stojanovic

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #803 It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important…

Posted on August 4, 2013 by TA Loeffler

It has long been an axiom of mine that the little things are infinitely the most important.
― Arthur Conan Doyle

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #802 There is no end to education…

Posted on August 2, 2013 by TA Loeffler

There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning.
–Jiddu Krishnamurti

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #801 Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds…

Posted on August 1, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Do not train a child to learn by force or harshness; but direct them to it by what amuses their minds, so that you may be better able to discover with accuracy the peculiar bent of the genius of each.
–Plato

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #800 Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence…

Posted on July 31, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence.
― Hal Borland

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Part Lawn Chair, Part Wheelbarrow

Posted on July 30, 2013 by TA Loeffler

Part lawn chair, part wheelbarrow… It’s not what comes to mind when you picture an off-roading adventure. But that’s just what MUN’s using to get people out into the field. Their new Trail Rider is aimed at getting people with mobility issues out and about, and into the great outdoors. The Morning Show’s Julie Skinner swung by the university on Friday to sit in on a Trail Rider tutorial.

Posted in Everest 3.0 | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Visual Soliloquy #799 If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary…

Posted on July 30, 2013 by TA Loeffler

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.

– Jim Rohn

Photo by Jim Desautels

Posted in Photography, Visual Soliloquy | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment