Day 27

It's still early in the day, but today was my 27th straight day reaching 10,000 steps.  As a group we reached a high of 102.64 miles last week, but it looks like we'll drop this week with only 28.4 miles in.  Of course only Michelle and I have reported any steps this week. 

It'll be longer if it's just us, but we'll get there.  Today's music - Mr. Brightside by the Killers

5/31 - Nadie Te Va A Amar Como Yo

I work from home Friday's and Friday is the new day for music releases.  I usually have time to play my Release Radar playlist, which contains new songs from artists I listen to.  A few weeks ago there was a new song by Band of Horses - Nadie Te Va A Amar Como Yo.  I didn't even what language that was, but upon listening it was a familiar song - No One's Gonna Love You. 

I wasn't sure why it was being released again in a different language, but found the reason here.  It's a great song, but even sadder after reading the story about why it was re-released. 

5/30 Update

I realized I made a mistake with our destination for Leg 2.  I mapped it to Craters of the Moon, ID, but we should be headed to Craters of the Moon National Monument.  The National Monument is 30 miles closer, although that just means our trip to Destination #3 (Yellowstone National Park) is 30 miles longer than originally planned.

That means that after today's miles we're now 21% of the way to our destination.  We've got 369 1/2 miles left.  Based on our average the past three days we'll get there in 39 days.  If we can get everybody logging 10,000 steps per day we'll get there in less than half the time. 

But I'm in it for the long haul, even if it feels like I'm just talking to myself!

Tonight's musical selection is from a band called lovelytheband with a song called broken, a catchy little song that I thought sampled Kids. 

I've read about the lawsuits for songs that sounded less similar to me, so I'm surprised there isn't one for broken, but I still like both songs.

5/30 - Songs from the Awesome Mix Volume 2

Today is day number 26 for me where I expect to hit 10,000 steps.  I've now done it for 25 days in a row, averaging 12,600 steps during that time.  Here are some reasons why walking 10,000 steps a day is good for you.  So let's get those 10,000 steps in. 

Today's musical selections are from the Guardians of the Galaxy - Awesome Mix Volume 2.  First up is Mr. Blue Sky by Electric Light Orchestra, followed by Brandy (You're a Fine Girl) by the Looking Glass. 

An Update

I haven't posted a progress update recently, but we are now 18% of the way to Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho.  We still have 408 miles left, so we have a way to go. 

Just a fun fact, between Michelle and I we've walked 90% of the steps. 

Today's musical selection comes from my favorite band, Vampire Weekend.  They have one of the four albums I was most excited for this year.  Two have come out, and two have let me down so far.  Hopefully, they won't let me down too. 

Here is Step, and Unbelievers:

5/25 - Keep on Moving

I'm looking forward to the long holiday weekend this weekend, despite a rainy forecast.  Hopefully, everyone will have plenty of time to get moving!

Today's musical selection is a cover song by Weezer, with a little bit of a story.  There's been a twitter campaign #WeezerCoverAfrica since last year, for Weezer to cover the 1982 song by Toto - Africa.

Thursday they responded, sort of, by releasing a cover of Toto's other big song - Rosanna.

And an update to complete the post, Weezer's long-awaited cover of Africa.

5/24

Leg 2 is a long one, and we've made it just 6% of the way so far, or 31.95 miles.  I don't know too much about our destination, but it looks pretty:

Keep up the good work!  Today's musical selection is from the Kooks - She Moves in Her Own Way.  I saw them a few years ago, and they put on a good show. 

Leg 2

The next leg of our journey will take us from Bryce Canyon, Utah to Craters of the Moon, Idaho.  It's a long one, 500 miles, so this is going to take some work from everyone!

There aren't too many songs about Idaho.  There is one song by Train called Idaho, but Train also had an album called Save Me San Francisco - and I'm going to pick songs about San Francisco.

Up first is the Mowgli's, with an upbeat song about San Francisco -

Then we'll get Foxygen's take on San Francisco next, a song that feels like it belongs in a different decade - 

Then finally we'll wrap up with the Arctic Monkeys and Fake Tales of San Francisco, from the album 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not'.  It's hard to believe this album turned 12 years old this year, but I think this is one of the best albums since the turn of the century -

Welcome to Bryce Canyon!

Today was a big day for us as we finished up leg 1 of our journey.  1 down, 47 to go.  We've made it to Bryce Canyon, Utah where the current temperature is 54 degrees with a light rain. 

You can learn more about Bryce Canyon National Park here. 

In honor of making it to Utah today's music selection is The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage by Panic! at the Disco, since Brendon Urie was born in Utah.

5/22 - Rise and Shine

It's time to wake up and get moving - we need to get to Bryce Canyon soon!  I put together a Spotify playlist containing all of the songs I've posted so far, so today I'll share three songs to get the total up for the songs in the playlist.

Up first is White Flag by Bishop Briggs.  I saw her last year at Firefly, and she put on a high energy show.  She released her first album this year, and White Flag is her first single.  It's a good song, and I like the message of not waving the white flag or giving up.

The next song is Punching Bag by Cage the Elephant.  I probably have 25 of their songs on my playlist, by this is one I've been listening to heavily lately.   It's about an abusive relationship and fighting back. 

Then the last song is Sixteen Saltines by Jack White.  The guitar riff in this song motivates me to get moving.  

5/21 - A Ways to Go

Another day in the books.  I finished my walk on the trail and ended up with 5.5 miles for the day, and with Michelle's 4.3 and Mom's 1.73 for the past three days that adds 11.5 to our total pushing us to 124.5 miles on our journey, and 85% of the way to Bryce Canyon National Park.  We've technically already crossed the border into Utah for state number two, but we still have 21.5 miles to go until we reach our second destination.  We'll get there this week, but we've still got a ways to go.

Which brings me to today's musical selection - Ways to Go, by Grouplove.  I've got several songs on my playlists from Grouplove, but figured the title of this works best.  If you've ever watched Bojack Horseman on Netflix they are the ones that perform the closing song (Back in the 90's).  

Keep on moving!

How to Enter Information

You can pick the date, select your name and enter either your miles or steps using this link or add a comment with the date and miles or steps.

Live in the Moment

16 days ago I got my new fitness tracker, and set my goal to walk at least 10,000 steps per day.  16 days later I've met my goal every day so far.  It hasn't always been easy, with life getting in the way sometimes, and the weather hasn't been very cooperative so far.  But I've been finding ways to squeeze in as many steps as possible.  Sometimes that's walking around the parking lot at work during lunch, parking further away, waking up extra early to get in a quick half hour walk, or even going to the one place I dislike the most - the mall. 

For 16 days in a row I've met that goal, and that's resulted in 91 miles for me.  With Michelle's steps for the last few days that puts us at 113 miles, 77% of the way through our first leg.  We should reach Bryce Canyon National Park this week.

When I bought my fitness tracker I also got a pair of wireless headphones.  They've been great so far, and they allow me to listen to music while I walk, which is a must for me.  I figured I'd share some of the songs that I listen to on my journeys, at least the PG-13 ones. 

Up first is one of my favorite bands, Portugal. The Man.  I saw them for the first time about five years ago in the middle of the afternoon at a festival, and with their latest album, they've really gotten pretty big.  Even if you've never heard of them you've at least heard a commercial playing Feel It Still.  It's hard to believe they are doing things like playing Ellen now. 

This was a good rendition of Live in the Moment -

The Journey Begins

I found a website that calculated the optimal route around the country stopping in all 48 states in the continental US.  The calculations were meant for driving, but we'll use the same stops.  I found two different options, capitals, or landmarks, and decided to go with landmarks. 

We'll begin in state number 1, Arizona, at the Grand Canyon:

The first leg of the trip will be 146 miles and take us from Grand Canyon National Park to Bryce Canyon in Utah:

Right now the weather at the Grand Canyon is 68 degrees as we begin our virtual adventure.  I'll work on updating the website to make entering the miles easier, but for now either send them to me, or post them in the comments. 

Any miles that you walk, or miles that you ride on a bike will count.  If you want to put the number of steps that you walk that's fine too, and I'll add them as 2500 steps for a mile. 

Now get moving!