where the blacktop ends

i spent last week down on the carolina shore. it was refreshing to not (really) have internet access (technically i still had my phone), and i almost considered dropping out of the blogosphere -- don't worry i'm still too narcissistic for that just yet.

i read a couple good books:

• "the places in between" by rory stewart. a personal account of stewart's walk across afghanistan... in 2002 (aka a few short months after the twin towers fell). it was a new perspective, for me, on the people of afghanistan, and an eye-opening reminder of the many privileges we have here in america.

• "river of no reprieve" by jeffrey tayler. another personal journey - this time in an inflatable raft up the lena river (siberia) to the arctic sea where temps can range from -91°f to 114°f. amazing to learn about the towns and people who live in the extreme weather of the "true north".

(i am not an amazon associate. clicking on those links and purchasing either book will not provide me with any profits whatsoever. i borrowed the books from my local library. personally i enjoyed "the places in between" more than the "river".)

in addition to laying out on the beach, reading and cooling off in the ocean, i did a little running and riding as well:

• sunday -- morning "long" run, 9 miles 83°
• monday -- morning easy run, 6 miles 81°
• monday -- afternoon bike ride, 15 miles (15mph) 85°
• tuesday -- afternoon brick 14.75 miles bike (14mph)/4.6 miles run (somehow this was the fastest run of the week) 86°
• wednesday -- morning barefoot run on the beach, 6 miles, 84° - saw a hatched loggerhead turtle nest

obviously a non-hatched nest

• wednesday -- afternoon jillian's "ripped in 30" dvd
• thursday -- morning bike ride 22 miles (15mph) 85°
• friday -- morning run, 5 miles 82°
• saturday -- morning run, 4.5 miles 80°

{title reference: keith urban's "where the blacktop ends"}