LUNA-TICS TEAM ROOM: Year-round "Looney" fun.

[Thor MW]

Thor

Thor, Keith and the others are correct. Let yourself heal. Force nothing. You became my friend when you reached out to welcome me to this wonderful team of great people, and you always will be even if you never row another meter and even though our friendship took root in cyberspace. Ed is right. We are not about numbers but about friendship. Sure, we talk about numbers all the time, but implicitly apply the ancient adage in its entirety. Patently, we do not enslave ourselves like most of the world is doing today to only the first half of that adage: “Numbers don't lie.” We know instinctively (and some us literally) that there is a second half: “but liars figure!” And so do the reckless, negligent, self-centered and those without empathy. We are persons. We celebrate and we comfort one another. It is a blessing to be a loonie. I am sure you know that, my friend. Tom

What Ed said!

At least lunies are supportive, I had to take a loooong break with ligament damage and got nothing but snarky comments from my old team captain because I wasn't contributing big metres.

Don't rush things, I did and it did not help!

Keith

Keith,

I am biased for sure - we have the best team! All do support - we are not numbers/meters. Friends that want the best for each other. Support as needed.

Love this team

Ed

Thank you so much my friend Tom. It is always a pleasure to read your words. Some day I will go on tour to meet as many of the loonies as I can to offer up a good Canadian bear hug. Two days ago I started a bunch of exercises with the band. Sadly the band is not musical in nature. I can't even play my guitar right now and that too hurts. I went from hefting weights to pulling an over sized balloon. Grin. Too soon to tell if it is helping but is sometimes feels like it is.
A big thank you to all the Loonies for your support.
The soon to be once again Mighty Thor.

[Kona2]

...for this snapshot in time!

We've got some paddlers and some canoeists in the virtual waters! MOST excellent progress, Lunies! We're nearing million team Challenge meters! That'll put some hip hop in our erging!

New paddles go to:


Zachary


bg


Ron


Martin ! He's in overdrive - we'll see if we can get a 200K image!

New canoeists:


Minnie


Chuck E


Doug


Rick C

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

2.25 MM Minnie
1.4 MM Gary
900 K Salvador
500 K Jonathan ... a cool half million!
200 K Melissa

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

Dennis 2,000 m
Michael O 2,223 m
Larry 2,906 m
Peter G 3,096 m
Steve W 4,168 m
AJ 4,320 m
Sorin 4,516 m
Kevin 5,000 m
Melissa 5,000 m
Tom M 5,000 m
Jeff D 5,031 m
Doug 5,323 m
David T 6,000 m
Teresa R 6,002 m
Chuck E 8,000 m
Keith 8,000 m
Jane m ...special 8's bookend some high fives in this palindrome!
Rick 10,000 m
Greg H 10,020 m
Nathan 10,500 m
Andrea 10,878 m
danwho 11,111 m ...a singular palindrome!
Jonathan 13,040 m
Ron 13,131 m ...a lucky 13 palindrome!
Stuart 13,531 m ...odds are that this is a palindrome!
Dan O' 17,648 m
Gary 21,097 m ...he moons us!
Wild Bill 21,097 m ... he moons us, too!
Minnie 22,189 m ...she moons us!
bg 22,219 m ...she moons us, too! These birthday twins were busy coordinating!
Zach 23,936 m ... he moons us!
Ed m ...a palindrome! With a built in moon!
Salvador 80,994 m ....Biggie update!

[Kona2]

Day 19 of 31....we're on the clock!

More canoes in the virtual waters today! It is absolutely magnificent, this ArMOONda of ours!


Rory


Andrea


Louis.. I was sure I had a graphic...but...no


Another episode...bunny trails of the mind...

At what point do you call the city you live in your hometown? And can you have more than one? My family has lived in Tucson for over 50 years, and while I am in Colorado, I still call Tucson my hometown. Friends from Colorado have been relocating to Tucson as part of the great snowbird experience, and as they flock in here, I try to provide some things that are iconic Tucson for them to check out. You've all done similar things. Today, however, I learned a new thing about a very old part of this region.

I met a friend for a short hike in the Oro Valley area so that I could get a golden retriever fix and a good walk in. We went on the Honey Bee Trail...and we were looking for petroglyphs left by the Hohokam tribe. Hohokam roughly translates to "those who have vanished." They were prehistoric native Americans who lived in the Southwest from 200 to 1200 AD. The retrievers were retrievering along the wash, which is the sandy trail that fills rapidly with flood waters during the rainy season. Word is that the Hohokam Village near the area is being resurrected by the town of Oro Valley. For many years the area was used by cattle and sheep ranchers. In fact, I did my graduate research at a dairy farm not far from the area...but that's another story. Back to the petroglyphs.

Didn't see them on the way out, but did on the way back. They look awfully new for old petroglyphs....


So it's good to share your hometown's stuff with friends...every so often, everyone learns new stuff. Also pleased to report that it was a snake-free day.

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

6.7 MM Ed
2.75 MM Dan O'
1.8 MM bg
1.6 MM Zachary
1.45 MM Ron
1.2 MM Wild Bill
750 K AJ
600 K David W
500 K Dana ...a cool half million

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

Richard M 1,000 m
Tony 1,111 m ....a palindrome!
Jeff B 1,843 m
Terry M 1,846 m
Larry 2,000 m
Michael O 2,000 m
Steve G 2,616 m
Andre 4,000 m
Sorin 4,000 m
Kevin 5,000 m
Melissa 5,000 m
Patrick H 5,000 m
Jeff D 5,208 m
Karyn 5,585 m
David W 6,457 m
Peter T 6,464 m ...a double double!
David T 7,500 m
Keith 8,000 m
Andrea 8,057 m
Tombeur 9,228 m
Dennis 10,000 m
Louis 10,000 m
Rick 10,000 m
Greg H 10,025 m
Nathan 10,285 m
Todd 10,503 m
Jonathan 11,074 m
Patrick S 11,155 m...a triple double!
Dana 11,445 m
Howard 12,085 m
Ron 12,121 m ...a Welkian palindrome!
Tim G 14,099 m
bg 15,122 m
Dan O' 15,322 m
Minnie 18,074 m
Zach 18,632 m
Derric 21,097 m...he moons us!
Gary 21,097 m ...he moons us, too!
Ted 24,000 m ...ANOTHER mooner!
AJ 25,293 m ...yet ANOTHER!
Wild Bill 40,004 m ....another mooner...with a palindrome!
Ed 42,195 m ...FULL mooner!

[Kona2]

Day 20 of 31....still ONE-THIRD of the Challenge remains!! Go get those meters!!


New paddlers!


Salvador



Ken


New canoes!


Kellee


Melissa

Hooboy! Lots of teammates have those canoes pulled to the very EDGE of the virtual waters....just a couple more meters and you can join the ArMOONda!! Meanwhile, we have a canoe-load of milestones to celebrate...including a rare A to Z combination.

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

6.8 MM Ed
2.3 MM Minnie
1.6 MM Andrew
1.6 MM Zachary
1.45 MM Gary
1.3 MM Ken
1.25 MM Wild Bill
750 K Rick
m david w (GBR)....a palindrome!
150 K Sorin
150 K Nathan
100 K Karyn


Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!



Dennis 2,000 m
Steve W m ...wait....a meter shy of a palindrome...as the yolk turns...
Kevin 5,000 m
Melissa 5,000 m
Patrick H 5,000 m
Peter G 5,000 m
William H 5,000 m
Janice 5,213 m
Teresa R 5,823 m
Larry 6,000 m
Sorin 6,052 m
Andrea 6,170 m
Karyn 6,331 m
Chuck E 7,000 m
david w (GBR) 7,633 m
Tombeur 9,258 m
Dana 9,522 m
FRiC 9,998 m
Rick 10,000 m
m ...a one aught palindrome! It's the Golden Fleece! Hahahaha!
David T 10,500 m
Kellee 11,000 m
Jeff D 11,393 m
Howard 12,021 m ...a dozeny palindrome!
Ron 13,091 m
bg 14,109 m
Nathan 15,420 m
Zachary 15,700 m
Richard McC 16,136 m
Stuart 16,761 m ...a palindrome!
Gary 21,097 m ... he moons us!
Dan O' 23,611 m ... he moons us!
Minnie 29,455 m ... she moons us...Minnie the Mooner bikes again!
Salvador 31,730 m ... good update!
Wild Bill 40,004 m ...he moons us with a biked palindrome!

[Kona2]

Day 21 of 31..and we're maintaining at

Another canoe hits the virtual waters (just before the snow hit the area, too!)!


Greg H

MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

2.45 MM Steve W
1.65 MM Zach
1.3 MM Wild Bill
800 K FRiC
650 K Larry
450 K Andrea
300 K Peter G
150 K John D

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

Tony 1,111 m ...a palindrome!
David T 1,500 m
Larry 2,500 m
Michael O' 2,851 m
Kevin 5,000 m
Peter G 5,000 m
Tim G 5,000 m
Patrick S 6,270 m
John D 6,855 m
David W 8,000 m
Tombeur 9,250 m
david w (GBR) 9,709 m
Greg H 10,025 m
Dan O' 10,061 m
Dana 10,442 m
Andrea 11,369 m
danwho 12,121 m ...a bubbly palindrome...a one and a two...
Ron 12,121 m ....ANOTHER bubbly palindrome...well, Lawrence Welk was a Saturday show....
FRiC 12,351 m
Dennis 13,431 m ...a palindrome!
Minnie 20,166 m
Steve W 25,122 m ...he moons us!
Zach 28,860 m ... he moons us, too!
Andrew 30,421 m ... he moons us, too!
Wild Bill 40,004 m ...he moons us with a golf palindrome!

[BAZzy]

Howdy Luna-tics...I did sign up for the Virtual Challenge thinking the doctor would allow me to get back to exercising earlier this month (I had a hernia op!), but only got the sign-off in the last couple of days. So I'll try and get some metres in...!

Mind you, in my new found status of "retiree" I have been spending most of my time on the water in the kayak along our fabulous Australian coastline, in between trips to our great Outback Country, and I've had a couple of those red dust trips over the past few months!

Otherwise, I trust all are well and Luna-ticking along, Cheers, Baz

[Steve W]

Howdy Luna-tics...I did sign up for the Virtual Challenge thinking the doctor would allow me to get back to exercising earlier this month (I had a hernia op!), but only got the sign-off in the last couple of days. So I'll try and get some metres in...!

Mind you, in my new found status of "retiree" I have been spending most of my time on the water in the kayak along our fabulous Australian coastline, in between trips to our great Outback Country, and I've had a couple of those red dust trips over the past few months!

Otherwise, I trust all are well and Luna-ticking along, Cheers, Baz

Easy does it, Bazzy. Is that a Surfski in your signature pic?

[bg]

Howdy Luna-tics...I did sign up for the Virtual Challenge thinking the doctor would allow me to get back to exercising earlier this month (I had a hernia op!), but only got the sign-off in the last couple of days. So I'll try and get some metres in...!

Mind you, in my new found status of "retiree" I have been spending most of my time on the water in the kayak along our fabulous Australian coastline, in between trips to our great Outback Country, and I've had a couple of those red dust trips over the past few months!

Otherwise, I trust all are well and Luna-ticking along, Cheers, Baz

good to see you here :]

[BAZzy]

Howdy Luna-tics...I did sign up for the Virtual Challenge thinking the doctor would allow me to get back to exercising earlier this month (I had a hernia op!), but only got the sign-off in the last couple of days. So I'll try and get some metres in...!

Mind you, in my new found status of "retiree" I have been spending most of my time on the water in the kayak along our fabulous Australian coastline, in between trips to our great Outback Country, and I've had a couple of those red dust trips over the past few months!

Otherwise, I trust all are well and Luna-ticking along, Cheers, Baz

Easy does it, Bazzy. Is that a Surfski in your signature pic?

Hi Steve, well yes and no (how's that for an answer). Technically it is an ocean racing kayak, in Australia our surf clubs use "surf ski's" which look basically the same, but are built to a certain specification, slightly different front to better ride the waves...a long winded way of saying - yes for all intensive purposes!! I've had this one for almost 15 years and love it and it is my sentimental favourite. I also paddle a K1 and a touring kayak (which travels to the outback with us in the vehicle).

And thanks BG...!!

Cheers, Baz...

[dag1]

Howdy Luna-tics...I did sign up for the Virtual Challenge thinking the doctor would allow me to get back to exercising earlier this month (I had a hernia op!), but only got the sign-off in the last couple of days. So I'll try and get some metres in...!

Mind you, in my new found status of "retiree" I have been spending most of my time on the water in the kayak along our fabulous Australian coastline, in between trips to our great Outback Country, and I've had a couple of those red dust trips over the past few months!

Otherwise, I trust all are well and Luna-ticking along, Cheers, Baz

Welcome back BAZzy! Here's to your speedy recovery, and what a picture perfect way to spend the time in retirement.

[Kona2]

Day 22 of 31....still 15th!

Many of our teammates are adventuring types...and Bazzy is certainly one as well. We look forward to his entertaining stories, and links to his blog (thelandy.com). Now that I think about it, there are many connections on this team to Australia! Welcome back, Baz. For you, retirement can only mean MORE adventure and walking on the edge of danger. Awesome!

Meanwhile, Lunies keep turning the meter wheel and we are getting close to TEN million Virtual Challenge team meters. Maybe today even! That's a biggie milestone to look forward to seeing our meter odometer swing through.

Two new paddles and one new canoe today!


Dennis ...we'll see if we can get a paddle on your image from the 100K...


Dana


Howard ...betting that he still has that red motorcycle...


MILESTONES...Bragging Rights...Celebrations:

2.8 MM Dan O'
2.15 MM Derric
1.9 MM Louis
1.65 MM Andrew
1.45 MM Doug
1.45 MM David T
950 K Stuart
800 K Tom M
700 K Howard
600 K Ted

Thanks, everyone, for erging with us!

Tony 1,111 m ...a palindrome!
Terry M 1,892 m
Michael O 2,000 m
Sorin 2,000 m
Anna C-S 2,095 m
Larry 3,000 m
Melissa 5,000 m
Patrick H 5,000 m
Steve W 5,000 m
Tom M 5,000 m
William H 5,000 m
Bernie 5,028 m
Jeff D 6,014 m
FRiC 6,671 m
David T 7,000 m
Jeff M 7,027 m
Andrea 9,252 m
Tombeur 9,321 m
Louis 10,000 m
Greg H 10,021 m
Doug 11,118 m
Howard 12,131 m
danwho 12,321 m ...a one-two-three...palindrome!
Baz 12,538 m
Ron 12,821 m ...a palindrome!
Ted 13,000 m
bg 13,182 m
John D 13,324 m
Dennis 13,431 m ...a palindrome!
Tim G 15,000 m
Dan O' 15,766 m
Stuart 16,361 m ...a palindrome!
Minnie 19,402 m
Derric 21,097 m
Gary 21,097 m
Dana 21,734 m
Andrew 22,222 m ...a twosie of a palindrome!
Ed 33,333 m ...a palindrome!

[HowardL]

Yes, still have the red motorcycle. But have been fighting a cold for the last couple weeks and haven't put in the meters I should have.
Hopefully I'm over the worst of it and I'll try to get 100,000 meters more by the end of the month. I HATE BEING SICK.

[bg]

Yes, still have the red motorcycle. But have been fighting a cold for the last couple weeks and haven't put in the meters I should have.
Hopefully I'm over the worst of it and I'll try to get 100,000 meters more by the end of the month. I HATE BEING SICK.

sending lots of healthy thoughts :]

[BAZzy]

Thanks Kona for the "shout-out" - I must say almost 12 months into retirement (from work) and loving every moment of it, although I've done little rowing, preferring mostly to kayak. But it is comforting to see so many familiar names in the Luna-tics team roster and many new names...!

Plenty of adventure coming up for us.

In fact, I am heading out on a "lunar" adventure next week into the Outback to observe a remarkable lunar event. A trifecta they are calling the "super red blue moon". I'm sure there is coverage of the event elsewhere around the world...

And you need to be a "Luna-tic" to do it in summer with daytime temperatures hitting around 46C (115F)

I will be watching it from a World Heritage Area - Mungo National Park. In fact, the area is a remarkable lunar looking landscape and it is World Heritage listed as they have found aboriginal existance dating back some 50,000 years. I won't "rabbit" on about it here, but I will be updating https://thelandy.com for those with an interest.

These days we also post a lot of photos on our Facebook page (Xplore - Out & About) and I've included a link if any of the team would like to see some photo's of our fantastic coastline and dramatic outback landscapes. https://www.facebook.com/TouringtheOutback

Cheers, Baz

[Steve W]

Thanks Kona for the "shout-out" - I must say almost 12 months into retirement (from work) and loving every moment of it, although I've done little rowing, preferring mostly to kayak. But it is comforting to see so many familiar names in the Luna-tics team roster and many new names...!

Plenty of adventure coming up for us.

In fact, I am heading out on a "lunar" adventure next week into the Outback to observe a remarkable lunar event. A trifecta they are calling the "super red blue moon". I'm sure there is coverage of the event elsewhere around the world...

And you need to be a "Luna-tic" to do it in summer with daytime temperatures hitting around 46C (115F)

I will be watching it from a World Heritage Area - Mungo National Park. In fact, the area is a remarkable lunar looking landscape and it is World Heritage listed as they have found aboriginal existance dating back some 50,000 years. I won't "rabbit" on about it here, but I will be updating https://thelandy.com for those with an interest.

These days we also post a lot of photos on our Facebook page (Xplore - Out & About) and I've included a link if any of the team would like to see some photo's of our fantastic coastline and dramatic outback landscapes. https://www.facebook.com/TouringtheOutback

Cheers, Baz

Good morning Baz,
Look forward to reading about your adventures. Travelled to pick up a Stellar Surfski on Sunday but have to wait for ice to melt off the Missouri River before launching Paddle safe!
Steve W.