Walking the "Hill"!

One of my new "hobbies" is to walk the road from Tembagapura to Hidden Valley with some really good friends. I can't remember the exact numbers, but I think the walk is a little over two miles... one way... and the elevation change is about 3,000 feet.... and the road has about a 20% grade... for most of the road. Maybe it's only 2,000 feet.... I can't remember... Let's just say it's a tough walk!!!! The first time I ever walked it, I was cussing out the whole group of women that were walking, and I was seriously reconsidering my mental state!!! I have no idea how long it took me on my first trip up the hill, but once I made it to the top, it felt like I was on top of the world! AND, I could not wait to do the walk again! It was an awesome feeling!!!
The next time I did the walk, I got better and better. So then I started doing the walk once a week. Since I have a very competitive nature, I started timing the walk. The first time I timed the walk, it took about 45 minutes to get to the top. After the next few times, that was getting too "EASY".... yeah right.......... So then I start doing the hill TWO times a week!
One day I finally remembered to take my camera with me and took these pictures as we walked up the hill. On this day, with all the stopping to capture a photo, it took 40 minutes to get up the hill. So I am thinking..... if I can now do the hill in 40 minutes messing around..... What time can I get by just busting my butt to get up the hill??? So my last time up the hill before I left for vacation was................. (drum roll here).............................. 34 minutes!!! WOO HOO!!!
It was very exciting and very rewarding!
Here are the pictures. The beauty of the mountains........ You just can't capture it. But I tried...
This is the start of the walk. That's Mt. Zaagham. It will be in most of the pictures, and you can hopefully see the change in elevation with the pictures.
The group of women for this days walk. Also the big trucks and buses on the road. They are BIG!

The steepness of the road... Mt. Zaagham and Tembagapura.

Around another turn.... You can no longer see Tembagapura.

On this particular day, we met these ladies on the road. On the back of the lady on the right is a one to two year old child!!! This road is a tough walk with just a water bottle on your back!! Imagine carrying a 25-30 lb. child!! OUCH!

Mt. Zaggham. We are getting there....

Just a picture of what the roads are made of. No small gravel here!

Some small vehicles on the road.... Almost there. Our last major steep part around the corner...

This is just after the last steep climb.

WE MADE IT!!!!! Michelle and me with Mt. Zaggham in the background. Sorry Susan..... Susan, another of my walking buddies, was in this picture also, but she was squinting so bad that I figured she would kill me if I put her picture on here! :) Next time....... ;)

I know, I know..... I don't even look like I worked up a sweat. That's because I don't. Seriously! It's not good for you.... So I take two bottles of water along. One to drink, and the other to dump on me to keep me cooled off!!!

Walking back down the hill..... The clouds are moving in....

Now here is my FAVORITE sign in all of Tembagapura!!! Like really people!! No one drives this road except for the people who live and work here. You have to have a special permit to be on this island! If you come here, you know you are going up to Tembagapura..... One road in..... The same road OUT!! Albuquerque is NOT 50 miles from here! :)

So it's my favorite sign, and I finally got a picture of it!

My new "Hobby"! I am missing walking the hill while I am back in the states.... and I am sure I will really be very out of shape once I get back...... AND I will probably really hate the first time back up the hill! But I am looking forward to the time when I can do it again. My new goal is to get my time under 30 minutes. I will let you know when I accomplish it....

Until next time....

Robin