Chrisy's 2000th post!

Bill · 08-11-2009, 04:51 PM

I'm not the awesome quizmaster that Lee is, but I wanted to do something to commemorate Chrisy's 2000th post. I know that she is one heck of a fast walker. I had the pleasure of meeting our own sweet Chrisy for dinner and a "stroll" through old-town Richmond a few years ago. I'll never forget that afternoon. I could not keep up. In honor of Chris, I'd like to start a thread in which we re-call our favorite hikes, or walks, or even a short moment in time outdoors, and why they were special to us.

chrisy · 08-13-2009, 02:55 PM

Ha HA!

I just saw this! - maybe your exaggeration of my pace scared people off! Thanks so much for the post tho!

We do a lot of hiking (I do mild day hikes, John hikes big mountains) and I have many favorites.

One of my most most favorites hikes is really a stroll up Lyell Canyon, in the Tioga Pass area of Yosemite. You wander around through the woods, cross a creek or two, then I usually stop where the creek opens up to a long canyon - green meadow surrounded by mountains and forest. But the best part is, the creek "bends" here and cascades over, around and through boulders and fallen trees. Depending on the time of year, you can sometimes get to the "middle" by jumping from rock to rock and shinnying up dead tree trunks.

You've all seen this place in a couple of my avatars - the one with the mystery "blue bottle" which PinkGirl was convinced held something more than water...and more recently the rushing creek and what I call my "chi tree" because it is life that has sprung from solid rock. I go there to suck up as much of that energy as I can...

My second favorite walk was around in circles in Richmond VA...

Believe51 · 08-13-2009, 08:27 PM

My Father and I would take 12 mile hikes in the woods, many areas that only experienced walkers could achieve. One walk I told him that there were easier ways to kill me, as I stuck my fingers into the side of a cliff and made sure my feet stayed steady on the 10" footing. I made it across and when Daddy and I came to the top of the mountain we walked through a hallway of hardy pines. The clearing that we came to was like a doorway into another land. I was on top of the world. I startled a giant hawk and as he passed me at eye level I swear his long wings were like an industrial fan. I felt the breeze it produced, he was huge and scared the daylights out of me. I will never forget the moment Dad and I finally sat up there. This was another world, I knew it was now. Pure nature at its best and I was experiencing this with my Dad. We stayed there as complete peace encompassed us. Daddy no longer hikes anymore, he physically is not able to and he is Marine tough. This makes each hike, each water break, each bird call we heard a precious memory deeply encompassed into my mind. When I meditate, I sometimes use this day as a tool to bring me to the zen I felt that day, works every time. I will have more stories and pictures but now I must get to work.

Chrisy, this thread is a tribute to the admiration and appreciation we have for you. You are loved and respected, and cherished just like you very well should be. Thank you for sharing your journey, your life and your being with us. Sending love tonight as I write with you on my mind.....and thanking Bill.

ElaineM · 08-15-2009, 04:07 PM

It doesn't matter how fast we are walking or weather or not we can keep up with Crisy as long as we are putting one foot in front of the other and walking everyday.
I have had wonderful hikes growing up as a Girl Scout on the East Coast, in around Olympia and Tacoma in Washington state, on most of the islands in Hawaii and in Japan. I can't pick a best hike. I enjoyed them all.

StillHere · 08-15-2009, 07:16 PM

I love the smell and feel of damp, cool cedar in Meir Wood, CA.

hutchibk · 08-17-2009, 04:56 PM

Walking uphill both ways to and from school in the snow.

vickie h · 08-17-2009, 07:20 PM

Chrisy, You are an inspiration to us all and I'm thrilled to see this thread for you.
My favorite hikes used to be in Yosemite and Three Rivers. Lately my latest walks have been through Venice Beach, Santa Monica Promenade, and Montana De Oro in Los Osos. Today I walked downtown and back, sat in the sun and drank iced tea. Cheers to you, Chrisy!
Love,
Vickie

Believe51 · 08-18-2009, 06:17 PM

One change of the season evening I took a girlfriend and her Husky puppy for a relaxing walk on one of the hiking trails that Dad showed me. I knew it very well and decided that it was easy enough for her and the dog, I was going to show her the beautiful scenery she misses out on. We started on the main trail and walked deeper into the woods darned with bug spray, a walking stick to chase down spider webs and bug spray.

Deeper and deeper we hiked as the high sun hit our backs. Well, let me tell you, in the woods at that time of the year it goes from 'high sun hitting your backs' to 'Pitch Black'.....lol. I still proudly kept walking because there was a shortcut that went straight to the main walking path. Silence occurred with the replacement of new species came to life; all as the pitch black of the night took over, along with our thoughts. I went from being a proud experienced hiker in this area to scared to death. Oh yeah, even left the compass in the car.

All of a sudden my feet sink a bit, I walk some more and sink some more. I freeze realizing that I am entering the cranberry bogs.....but wait, I see a landmark. I know I can not get a signal here but I try, Daddy can help. I get through and ask Daddy for help....."I am in the cranberry bog area, I see a landmark, I cannot believe I am getting a signal, I am trying not to panic. I am breathing Daddy all I need is to know whether to go north or south to get out of here??"

"I will be right there Little Girl." I tell him not to come, that I know where I am going now. I will not head to the cranberry bogs, the spots of quicksand or the giant ant hills in the far edge of the forest. Dad just had knee surgery the previous week and I did not need his help. My girlfriend is starting to get nervous but even Dad relieved her. My father forced me to wait there for him but I figured if I can get to the parking lot I will wait safely in the car. Who knows what is out here at night but Marie is not going to meet up with a hungry Fisher Cat!!

We get to the car and wait. I am feeling safe and know that Daddy will not have to walk that far with his knees. All of a sudden a car pulls into the secluded dirt parking lot, you have to know where this lot is, very hard to find. I do not recognize the car. A gentleman with a hat is getting out of the passager side of the car. Now we start to really panic because it was so weird. She starts saying that it is a pervert.....what to do, we have to wait for my Father. The man in his hat gets out and approaches the car.

It was my Dad, he had his walking hat on and needed to get out of the passager side door because of the surgery. In the middle of the night, smack dab in the wilderness, we laughed together like there was no tomorrow. After all these years Daddy always makes me feel safe and loved, always saving me from harms way and no one can make me laugh that particular way......Oh, this happened about 7 years ago....hahahaha.>>Believe51

PS: I was so embarassed about this adventure that I did not start telling people until many months later (lol)

harrie · 08-19-2009, 11:35 PM

Well......for Chrissy's commemorative post here....and BTW. 2,000..awesome Chrissy! Thank you. I have really appreciated so many of your posts. You're great. Really...

Went on 2 nice hikes this summer. Early part of the summer our whole family went on this nice hike in Alaska. The intent was to ck out this glacier. But along the way we got chased by a moose!!! Yea, really did!!! hahahahaha!!!

2nd hike. Was last month up in the Volcano National Park. Was was nice about this hike is that we use to go on this trail many times when our kids were very young and my mom was visiting us from Calif. (now my mom has passed on and my kids are living away from home) So the hike brought back many many wonderful memories.

Mary Jo · 08-22-2009, 04:41 PM

Well, honestly truly, I have no memorable hikes to report.

I just walk daily and enjoy it. Nothing at all exciting about it. BUT...couldn't let this thread slip by me because I love Chrissy and had to tell her so.

Love you Chrissy...

Mary Jo

chrisy · 08-23-2009, 05:32 PM

I love to walk out to the end of the street where I work (turning before I walk off the cliff above the beach) and then look out over Monterey Bay.

I always say "OH! look at that"! Sometimes it is a clear day ane I can see all the way to Monterey. Sometimes it is ominous clouds and dangerous surf. Sometimes it's a driftwood strewn beach. Or a flotilla of sailboats.

Point is, there's always something breathtaking to see if I just stop to look!

Believe51 · 08-23-2009, 11:35 PM

How very true, Chrisy.>>Believe51

harrie · 08-23-2009, 11:39 PM

Chrissy, what a great way to connect with the positive energy of the universe.

juanita · 08-25-2009, 02:13 PM

garden of the gods in shawnee national forest in illinois is the best hike i've ever been on.

Bill · 08-25-2009, 05:24 PM

One of my most favorite hikes was through a cave in SW Virginia. You had to walk along a hill-side until you felt cool air around your legs and then you walked up the hill until you found an opening in the earth. Then you just did what anyone would do. You laid on your belly and crawled in. After that, you could stand up and walk upright, at least until you got to the underground stream, then you had to crawl again on your hands and knees for about 20 feet, against an icy current in pitch blackness while your back scraped the ceiling, but it wasn't too bad if you just turned your mind off. Then it opened up into an awesome cavern that very few people have ever seen, for some reason. I have alot of favorite hikes, but my second favorite will always be walking in circles with a sweet soul in Richmond, Va.

hutchibk · 08-26-2009, 01:17 AM

Ok, other than hiking uphill to and from school in the snow... my other favorite hike is up two opposing hills in Heidelberg, GER. One is the hill that the Heidelberg Schloß is on, and the hike up that one is on city streets and German walking paths. There are three destinations, #1 being the Schloß, #2 is the Molkenkur Hotel, and #3 at the top of the hill (by this time it is a mountain) is the Königstuhl and Alterkohlhof Biergarten.

The mountain across the river is a gravel walking path that takes you first to the Philosphenweg (which Mark Twain wrote about very lovingly) then up the hill to the Heiligenberg (heavenly mountain) where you will find the roman ruins and the Thingestätte.

I love my sweet Heidelberg. Has anyone here ever been?

Colleens_Husband · 08-26-2009, 08:06 AM

Chrisy:

Thanks for posting 2,000 times. You are truly a pillar of the HER2 community. Keep up the excelent work.

I was sweet on a girl in college but she wanted to test me out first. She invited me to her best friend's birthday party and said it would involve a bit of a hike. She told me to bring water, long pants, sun glasses, a warm jacket, and lots of sun screen. She picked me up and we drove for almost two hours before finally arriving at the base of Mt. St. Hellens. This was in 1978 before the mountain exploded. I asked where the party was being held and she points straight up to the top of the mountain. So off we go up the side of the mountain. The hike is pretty difficult but I tried my best to avoid complaining or lagging behind. After about three hours we got to the summit. I was feeling pretty good about myself having trekked to a summit over 10,000 feet tall until I started looking around. There were tables, chairs, a three foot by five foot sheet cake, and a keg of beer. All of this was brought up by various members of the party. I was just amazed! How did people get a 120 pound keg of beer up the side of a mountain with human power alone? When they tapped the keg, the difference in pressure between sea level and a 10,000 foot tall mountain created an enormous beer geyser and emptied half of the keg. Mt. St. Hellens was the the world's largest beer flavored snow cone that day! After the party was over, we had to descend pretty quickly because large rocks would tumble down the mountain and crush people when the mid-day sun would start to melt the ice, so we got pieces of cardboard and slid down the mountain on our butts, steering ourselves with ice axes.

It was a lot of fun but I was sore for almost a full week.

Sheila · 08-26-2009, 03:26 PM

Oh Chrisy dear...couldnt let this commemorative post to you go by without a reply....thank you for all you do for me and all on this site! You are a gem.....now about hikes...I know I have taken a few.....like when I would ask for something and my Dad would say...go take a hike....just dont remember if I did.
Anyway...seems like now that I am off the Taxol required Steroids...I am always hiking my pants up...the pounds are starting to roll off....guess that hikin will have to do for now.....but then it barely compares to someone who pees by the campsite, or hiking trail, or wherever it was!
LOVE ALL YOUR POSTS!

chrisy · 08-26-2009, 04:53 PM

AWWW Sheila, don't go there! For the record, it was a parking lot (but trailside, campsite also applies). For the record, none of the above ever happened in Richmond

Must've had one too many beer flavored sno-cones...or freaked out after getting stuck in a cave

Gerri · 08-26-2009, 08:57 PM

Chris(y),

You are one of my heros on this site. I really look forward to your posts whether it is propeller-head Chris or clever/funny Chris chiming in. Thanks for all you do for us. I am so thrilled with the response you got from the T-DM! trial. You are such a gift to all of us here.

My favorite walk is not a scenic walk through nature, but is awe inspiring in its own right. Each year since about 2001, I have participated in the Revlon Run/Walk for women in Los Angeles. It is a 5k walk with approximately 50,000 people coming together to raise money for breast and ovarian cancer research. As a matter of fact, this is how Dennis Slamon first got funding for his research for Herceptin. Each year Lilly Tartikoff introduces Dr. Slamon to the crowd and he talks about what he is working on and the exciting advances in breast cancer research. I love listening to what Dr. Slamon has to say and hope someday to get close enough to thank him for making it possible for so many of us to live a long and full life.

I love this day and look forward to it every year.