Leeches and 52 Hike Chanllenge / Sanguijuelas y Reto de 52 Caminatas

Being dedicated and consistent is not an easy task…I’m trying. On one of my previous posts I shared my goals for this year. I want to tell you that I met one of those goals…I’ve completed my 52 hike challenge! 

My finisher medal and trophy made by my husband

Getting ready to start our adventure

Last August, my husband and I, together with other family members, took a backpacking trip to the Boundary Waters Wilderness in Minnesota - this is where I finished hike number 52. It was a challenging trip and a challenging goal but I’m glad I did both. I prepared myself throughout the year for this trip, hiking every Saturday and Sunday, and sometimes during the week. At first, the challenge was to do 52 hikes from January through December but later, I decided I wanted to do my last hike on this trip so I pushed myself very hard to achieve that. Let me share part of my experience with you.

Hiking in the Boundary Waters was hard. On our first day, we had to go through overgrown grass that was taller than me. We walked over a beaver dam and climbed rocks. Went over and under fallen trees but the worse part was when we had to cross a leech infested channel that was muddy and dark; we couldn’t see the bottom. Everyone crossed ahead of me carrying their backpack over their shoulders. While I watched, I kept trying to figure out how in the world I was going to do that. Everyone in my group was tall and I’m very short. When they crossed, the water was up to their waist, there was no way I was going to be able to carry my pack through that! Luckily, I have an amazing husband who carried my pack for me. He crossed with his pack first and then came back to get mine; isn’t he awesome? I was so grateful. When I crossed, the water reached my chest and my footing was uneven, the bottom was sandy and rocky. I had to walk slowly, being careful not to lose my balance. It took me what felt was a long time to reach the other end, which was hard as I could see the leeches swimming around trying to crawl on my body. 

Upon reaching the other end of the channel, everyone had to inspect their bodies to remove any leeches. “Check everywhere.” They told me. “And make sure you look in between your toes, leeches like to hide there.” I turned around and saw a guy in our group who had blood coming down his leg, where he had just removed a leech, and I freaked out. I immediately took my shorts off and started inspecting my body all over, I did not care who was looking. I was glad nothing was on me but man, that was some crazy adventure!

After the channel crossing, we reached our first campground where we spent the night. This was an amazing site right next to a lake and we had it all to ourselves! After we rested a little and set our tents up, some in my group went swimming but I just washed myself and sat in the fresh water enjoying the view and solitude of the place. Remember I told you that on our way here we crossed over a beaver dam? While crossing, my foot went down into a hole and I heard a lot of noises, like little chipmunks or something, my niece said those were angry beavers — we never saw them though. But while we were relaxing at this site, there was the beaver, swimming in the lake. It was so cool to see a beaver in the lake! They are so cute, fast swimmers and very hard workers. On our way here we saw signs of the beaver’s hard work. They build incredible dams and have very sharp teeth to chew up big trees with the ferociousness of a giant but they still look cute and cuddly. We enjoyed watching the beaver swim while having our happy hour drinks. 

Day one ended with a cool swim in the lake, laying on our hammocks and having a nice hot meal, it could not have been better. We went to bed tired after a long hard hike but I couldn’t have been happier that hike #51 was done and I only had one more to go to complete my challenge. 

 

The next morning, we crossed the channel again, we had to! That was the only way out.  This time no one got leeches on their bodies...that was a good thing. We continued hiking about 5 miles to our next campground. This was hike 52 for me. It was hard but exciting! I couldn't wait to finish the challenge and give the girls what I brought for us to celebrate. This trail was not well marked and if it wasn't for the cairns, we could have easily gotten lost. So, my reward was a pair of sterling silver earrings with a cairn engraved on them, hiking earrings if you would, a perfect finishing trophy. I loved them so much that I got a pair for each one of the girls who hike the last trail of my 52 hike challenge with me - they loved them too.

Most of this hike was uphill. It was strenuous and everyone was tired of climbing over and under the fallen trees. This whole trip turned out to be more difficult than we expected, it was a lot of work to get from one campground to another but we were lucky to always find them empty and the sites were expectacular! When we finally got to the site, we set our tents up and then went straight to the lake. Everyone jumped in and, although the water was cold, it felt so great and refreshing. We prepared dinner and celebrated my achievement, of being able to complete the challenge, with a shot of tequila. This was a beautiful spot right in front of the lake! I couldn't have asked for anything else. I went to bed feeling accomplished and very happy, ready to continue with the adventure the next morning.  

 





The next morning we broke camp and started hiking to our next spot where we spent two nights. This was my favorite part of the trip. We did a lot of relaxing there, a little fishing, some exploring around the area, and a lot of laying on our hammocks and eating good food.

We spent two more days hiking in the Boundary Waters and stayed the last night camping on a spot next to a river. The beautiful sound of its cascading and rushing water was soothing and invigorating. On our last night after dinner, we walked down the trail to a nearby lake and built a warm fire. We drunk coffee and ate cookies next to the fire while we watch the sun disappear behind the lake.

The end of our adventure in the Boundary Waters

7 Bridges in 7 Miles with Joshua

I went hiking yesterday morning with my 6 years old great nephew, Joshua. We did the urban hike to 7 bridges in 7 miles and had a great time taking our picture at each bridge.

Bridge 1 - It is Georgia Street, crosses University Avenue. This used to be a redwood-truss bridge built in 1907 but the current concrete bridge was built in 1914. Its design is very pretty.

Bridge 2 – Built in 1995, Vermont St. bridge crosses Washington St. This one is very cool; it has many quotes written on it providing inspiration and enjoyment. The original bridge was a wooden-trestle built in 1916.

Bridge 3 - From 1912, the Spruce St. suspension bridge crosses over Sessions Canyon. To walk across while it sways is fun and exciting!

Bridge 4 - Quince St. wooden-trestle bridge was built in 1905. It spans Maple Canyon between 2nd and 4th Ave. This one is my favorite!

Bridge 5 - Built in 1931, the First Ave. bridge was shipped to San Diego to be reassembled in place. It also spands Maple Canyon. This is the only steel-arch bridge in the city and it is beautiful!

Bridge 6 - The Laurel St. bridge dates from 1914 and was the first multiple-arched cantilever bridge built in California. The side view of the arched bridge is spectacular and looking up from under it, lets you admire its amazing architecture!

Bridge 7 - This is the bridge that crosses Park Blvd. from the Rose Garden toward the San Diego Natural History Museum in Balboa Park. When crossing this bridge, you can enjoy the rose garden and part of the cactus garden, both gorgeous!

We started at the Georgia Street bridge but most people start at the Rose Garden in Balboa Park and work their way to end with Georgia Street bridge. Here is a map:




Map from The San Diego Historic Streetcars Blog

We finished our hike climbing up the big fat pipe from the bottom of Florida Canyon up to Morley Field Park. Joshua did an amazing job hiking 7 miles in 2.5 hours - what a big boy, I'm so proud of you!






I'm Back! / ¡Ya Volví!

 

It has been a while since I last posted a recipe, I think it’s time to come back. 

I have been away from my blog because I’ve been busy renewing a long passion of mine; hiking. I love walking and used to hike all the time but because of other priorities I stopped doing it. On February 2, 2015, I went on my first hike after being away from the trails for about 10 years. It was hard but it felt great!

My first hike was only a mile long and it took me a long time to do it. I could only hike during the weekends, which was fine because in the beginning, I was so out of shape that I needed the whole week to recover from any short hike. Now, after a year, I can climb mountains and can go on more than one hike per week. I can walk long distances much more easily and have taken a few backpacking trips, which I never did before but have discovered that I love it.

I’ve done the Mission Trails 5-peak challenge and found a #52hikechallenge on the web and decided to do it. The challenge is to go out and walk 52 hikes in 52 weeks; one per week. However, I’m working on a personal goal this year. I want to walk at least 52 hikes before August. My husband and I, together with other family members, are planning a big backpacking trip to the Sioux Hustler Trail in BWCA Wilderness, Northern Minnesota and I’m using my weekend hikes as training. I have done 21 so far…I have a lot more to walk.

Do you make New Year resolutions? I don’t but this year is different. I have set a couple of goals I want to be able to achieve this year; to be more active and to eat better. I really need to work on these so I can improve my overall health. With these goals in mind, I’m going to start doing a lot more cooking so, I guess this could mean posting more often…I’ll try. Here is a recipe for a healthy lunch or a light dinner. I found this soup in the book that came with my blender and adapted it to my taste. It is easy to make and it is delicious.

Hummus Soup

(for 4 portions)

3 cups of vegetable broth (chicken broth can be used)

1 15-ounce can of chickpeas, drained

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 1/2 Tablespoons tahini paste 

1 Tablespoon chopped garlic

1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin

1 teaspoon ground coriander

1 teaspoon turmeric

1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)

1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper (or to taste)

Combine all ingredients into the jar of a blender and secure the lid. Blend for a couple of minutes at a high setting or until everything is smooth. Pour into a pot and bring soup to a simmer over a medium-low heat and cook for 15-20 minutes. Serve hot with croutons or pita chips and enjoy. 

I accompanied mine with warm bread topped with greek yogurt, sprinkled with zaatar and a little olive oil. It was delicious!

Our Home Away From Home / Nuestro Hogar Lejos De Casa

Imagine a beautiful Victorian style, two-story home with 20 rooms equipped with big comfortable beds, a private bathroom, small fridge, television and DVD player. Some of these rooms are actually suites with a couch and a desk. All 20 rooms have their own patio or balcony. 

Imagine a huge kitchen with 6 stoves, 2 microwave ovens, 4 refrigerators, 3 sinks, a huge dishwasher and a big dining area - the dream of any cook! 

Imagine a big living room with comfortable seating, a big fireplace and lots of books to read. An adjacent reflection room where one can meditate, pray or just be in silence. 

Think about a play room where children can be safe, and a computer room with multiple PCs an Internet access. There is also a laundry room should you need it. This gorgeous house also has a wrap around porch with gathering areas and a meditation garden where one can relax while listening to running water from the fountain. 

Imagine having this as your home away from home. Wouldn't that be wonderful? This is where my family and I stayed while we were in Fresno awaiting the recovery of my brother, Sandy, who was involved in a head-on car accident. 

It was around 10:00 pm, on December 10 when I received a phone call from one of my sisters. "Sandy was in a car accident and he is in critical condition in a hospital in Fresno, we have to go!", she said. We promptly made the necessary arrangements, got in the car and  3 of us sisters drove throughout  the night to Fresno. We got there early the following morning and spent all day at the hospital with our brother who was very badly injured. We were scared, not knowing if our brother will survive; no one wanted to leave the hospital to look for a hotel. A social worker at the hospital told us about Terry's House. We were able to get a room to spend the night. The rest of the family arrived later, including my mom,  an 85-year old lady that had made the 6 hour road trip from San Diego. She was clearly tired but she couldn't bear to leave her son's side in the hospital. Knowing that Terry's House was just across the street from the hospital, we were able to have her rest there. 

My brother stayed in Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno for 50 days, the same days my family stayed in Terry's House. During this time, we were overwhelmed with the generosity of the staff who were caring and compassionate. 

Ana and Evie's picture not available

We did not know anyone in Fresno but the staff at Terry's House were very welcoming and friendly, they treated us like family. Starting with House Manager, Desirey Tolosa who on the first day put me at ease when she kept calling me on my cell phone to make sure I knew she had a room for us. And she made arrangements so Evie, a very sweet lady, would let us in and show us around the house when we arrived after hours.  Evie immediately made us feel welcome and Desirey was always available to assist in any way we needed. Trina and Rebecca, two beautiful  ladies who were always tending to us, were a blessing! They prayed with us, they cried with us and they shared a little bit of themselves with us. They were constantly demonstrating sincere concern for our wellbeing. A couple of nights they offered to keep an eye on my mom and keep her company while my sister an I were at the hospital with my brother. Ana and Patricia, the cleaning ladies, were always making sure we had what we needed. Sometimes they took their break with us and we shared meals and stories. They were both very sweet - especially Patricia who was kind and gracious to come on her day off to say goodbye to us the last day we were there. All these ladies and Executive Director, Christa Short, who was always very friendly, make an amazing team! They treat every family and guest with the utmost respect, care and compassion and they make everyone's stay at Terry's House an unforgettable experience.  They go above and beyond the call of duty to ensure families who have loved ones in the hospital enjoy a good meal and a clean and warm place to stay, with welcoming staff that cares for each person. They are truly a blessing and an inspiration! 

Terry's House is not a hotel, it is a home across the street  from Community Regional Medical Center in Fresno, California. Terry's House offers lodging specifically built for families with loved ones receiving care at Community Regional and is dependent entirely on private gifts and contributions. 

There are many ways in which one can contribute. Some people donate money while others donate groceries, blankets or cleaning supplies. Sometimes people volunteer to come to the house and cook a dinner for all the guests. If you would like to volunteer, please contact Desirey Tolosa at dtolosa@communitymedical.org. To learn more about Terry's House and how you can support this home, please follow this link, Terry's House/Make a Gift

So Long 2009, Hello 2010!

Today is the second day of the year, 2010, and I'm finally saying goodbye to 2009. Last year was a good year for me. I want to share some of my adventures of the year enjoying good food and great company of friends and family.

In January I had a nice time in La Cantina de los Remedios, a Mexican food restaurant in Tijuana, enjoying the company of my dear friends, Martha and Imelda, who have been my best friends since middle school. To preserve lifetime friendships in these times of bustle and hurries is a big challenge for many. I thank God that in spite of the difficulties I have these two beloved friends and hope to keep their friendship forever. I also thank God for Kim, my husband's niece, who gave me the recipes for Yogurt and Granola which I learned to make this month!

I initiated my own blog in February with the intention of sharing recipes and the memories of my childhood that these recipes bring to me. I hope to be able to instill some of the family traditions in my nephews, nieces and in the smallest members of the family who were not born and raised in Mexico. Also, my sisters invited me to celebrate my birthday, treating me to a very delightful Italian dinner. I had a great time sharing a meal with most of my sisters. Also, in February I learned to make a Mexican cookie called Coricos!

I had a lot of fun in March giving away the prizes for a series of contests that I had initiated early in the year. March held the end of the first contest in which I made Nancy, my niece, very happy since she was the winner of a very nice and useful mixer. The contests were very fun for me. In this month I learned to enjoy fresh ranch eggs that my brother-in-law Juan gave me.

April was the month in which I realized I enjoyed gardening more than ever. I started harvesting the first zucchinis in my back yard, followed by tomatoes, tomatillos, beets, fennel, carrots and more. In April we celebrated my husband Rich's birthday in Pío Pico, a campground, with sopes prepared by my sister, Boni and I. And the new recipe I learned this month was for Whole Wheat Crackers!!

I very much enjoyed the farewell party we had for my nephew, Hector, who moved to New York back in May. It was very entertaining and special to share with my nephews and nieces, to toast with tequila, and to see everyone having so much fun. In May I learned to prepare several new recipes - Prieta's Salt to give away for Mother's Day, Ginger Scones to accompany my vanilla ice cream, and I discovered avocado oil, which is delicious!

I had a lot of rewards in the month of June - a lot of vegetables, fruits and flowers in my garden and there is nothing more beautiful than to spend complete days enjoying and harvesting the fruits of my labor in the garden and to eat to my heart's content! The recipe of this month... Blueberry-Sour Cream Coffee Cake, mmm, delightful!

The most awaited event of the year happened in July - The Ojeda Family Reunion, 2009! It goes without saying, it was a great reunion! My favorite recipes of this month were the many dishes we all prepared together at the reunion - carne asada, nopalitos, chicharrones en chile verde, chilaquiles... mmm, so much! Everyone could feel the unity and the amazing love. Excellent!

August was the month we waited for with anticipation. Rich and I celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary! We celebrated it with a spectacular trip to Michigan in which Rich officiated a family wedding, we enjoyed seeing family members we don't get to see too often and we took a road trip to the northern part of the state; very beautiful! The new recipe that I learned was Three Berry Cake, a cake with strawberries, raspberries and blackberries, a new family tradition.

In México, September is called Mes de la Patria or month of the homeland. In this month my intentions were to cook only Mexican meals with honors to my homeland. I cannot remember the event but at my mom's house one day we prepared chiles rellenos and in my niece, Adriana's house, we ate tostadas de carne (beef) y cueritos (pickled pork-rind). My sister, Boni, cooked posole para dar el grito (to proclaim independence) on the 15th and on one day of September I prepared enchiladas with a sauce of poblano peppers and sweet corn, with the best Mexican flavors! Mmm, I wish every month was the month of the homeland. Ah, but my best preparation of the month was making corn masa! From grinding the corn up to cooking the tortillas and preparing 6 tamalitos! Yes, only 6 tamalitos because I was doing a test before spoiling the whole batch but they turned out very good.

My mom's birth month is October. We serenaded her on her birthday very early in the morning - at 5:30 a.m.! Also, we joined Daniel, my nephew, on his birthday eating super delicious tacos and drinking tequila! At work, I enjoyed an international meal from 10 different countries prepared by my team members and me. The new recipe that I learned in October was Eggplants Stuffed with Meat, Almonds and Raisins, a recipe of the Middle East that a lady from Lebanon gave me.

Mexicans celebrate the Day of the Dead in November. This was a somewhat bittersweet celebration. I amused myself preparing my altar de muertos  but with sadness I mounted pictures of my late friend, Faten and my nephew, Rafa, who died not too long ago. I would have liked to have celebrated the Day of the Dead with their presence in life but I settled with the presence of their souls. On the other hand, it was very pleasant to share my nephew, Esteban's art, and to discover that my niece, Raquel, also makes art and paints very nicely. The recipe of this month was not pan de muerto, perhaps for next year, but I learned to prepare Croquetas de Carne Molida con Papas (ground meat croquettes with potatoes), a recipe that Raquel, my cousin, gave me.

December, of course, was one very busy month. Everything began with an invitation that we extended to Rich's family to spend Christmas in San Diego. We began the arrangements and we spent the whole month working and making everything perfect; we wanted to create a memorable celebration. I prepared masa for tamales and tortillas weeks ahead and froze it. I cooked a big pot of beans a few days before Christmas and froze them. I did a delicious chicken soup in industrial quantities and froze it. And I don't know how many more things I prepared ahead of time so I didn't have to be working when my company got here but, guess what? Everything I prepared ahead of time was not enough! Everything was finished the first or second day of the visit and I had to cook like crazy throughout the visit! Fortunately they all helped me - in the kitchen, to adorn the Christmas tree and to ensure that our celebration was a great success. Thanks to Boni and Jorge, her husband for letting us use their motorhome and to Lucy, my sister, who lent us her apartment and to my neighbor, Mimi, who let us use her house. We were able to accommodate 12 adults comfortably in these 3 places and in our small house. And believe it or not, the recipe of this month was tamales! Yes, tamales de rajas con queso (strips of peppers and cheese), beans with cheese, and sweet tamalitos with nuts, cinnamon, maple sugar and dried cherries. We also prepared a taco bar with chicken in adobo and beef cooked in red wine, handmade tortillas, quesadillas and a lot of beans and different kinds of salsas, ah! And we did not lack el chile de Juan... Undoubtedly a memorable Christmas celebration and a memorable year.

So long 2009, hello 2010!