And.. What about the boat ?

Well. Not much.
We dodged a couple of hurricanes in July, but August and September are to be the more active month of the season - which have been relatively quiet.

Not much is going on this year

Still, I prepared for it.As always I start with the mooring. I was still unhappy with the setup, lines being tangled, etc...

I am getting way better at the art of splicing

Goal was to change a couple of lines that have been stretched, and potentially "compromised". Now that I can splice decently, this is time consuming, but not too expensive.

The new setup has 2 lines, one with a bridle to the bow cleats, and the other one to the mast.

Now, the weak point is the chain.

(and that's a big chain).

Pulling all that cap on the deck.

Time to time, I start a new project. Just to keep things going.
That time, Manu was there to help. Ex-carpenter, he did the base of the dodge roof like a 3d sculpture.
Next step was messier, the epoxy glass and sand and glass and re-sand step.

Manu, first time ever glassing.

Top view, 2 epoxy layers. That will be strong enough.

Paint job was ok. They promised a super glossy paint, and it is glossy. But not that thick, and hardly cover little imperfection in the underlying job. Little disappointed, I think I should have gel-coat-ed it. But that's way more work, and more money. When I am retired, maybe.

Blue as the sea.

As you can see, does not look that bad once in the context.

Next step, the windshield :)
And, maybe, hopefully, some sailing ? (mainly my fault, I have to say, as I have other priorities at the moment).
Bah. Traces, your time will come.
I can hear the South pacific seas calling.

Running Downtown L.A.

Nothing better than a early morning run to discover a city.
There is always more to it than just few pictures grabbed here and there, but it gives an idea.

It is 6:00am. 

We will have LoL Worlds 2016 finals here

Pretty cool mozaic

Official buildings are massive. Question of respect ?

Looks like a modern museum, but that's just a mega church.

Palm trees and buildings.

Amelie's new musical ?

Little bit ironic in those troubled times

A door open on .. what ?

This have to be a museum.

I like the morning light.
I like the morning runs.

How Long is too long

This trip was all about spending few hours with my Grand Ma. At nearly 95, and according to the fact I am unlikely to come back before at least few years, it is unlikely as well she will be still alive next time.
Or not.
Seeing the conditions we keep our old people in a geriatric center makes you wonder if this is worth it. Tired, in pain, losing memory, cruising endlessly the same white corridors, barely limping if not wheeling, is it really a life to be lived ?

First half of your living space

Second half

Progress of the medicine are impressive, to the point it might be unnatural. Oxygen if you can't breathe, intravenous feed if you cannot eat or drink, pain medication if you suffer, pacemaker if your heart is tired, ... Is it even possible to pass away anymore ?
But the body is giving up.
The mind is giving up.
And you end up crawling through life for years and years.
Now I am worried. How will it be in 40 years ?
At this pace, will I live forever ? Crawl forever ?
And should I ?

Running Villeneuve d'Ascq

Last entry for those North of France runs - at least for this year - I came back to my youth playground - I lived in this neighborhood more than 15 years.
Of course, at the time, everything felt way bigger.
Distance were enormous at the time, usually made with my bike.
Now, while still relatively big for a park in the middle of the urban net, the feeling is quite the opposite.

Art forms. Water Drops ? Gooses ? Never solved that mystery.

The pond. I lived next to it.

Further along, a bigger park, and its lake

Our dog have been tricked by those water plants and ran through it as it was grass.
He got wet.

Sleeping standing, not bothered by the hundreds of people around.

"Le Lac du Heron"

Some wheat fields aside the bigger loop.

Famous Modern Art museum

I made a good 1:30 run, double looping at one point and fooling around to see some old places. It was a Saturday, and there was a lot of people. Runners, Bikers, Strollers, you name it. This is the almost unique spot for nature lovers that is easily accessible without too much drive.

The highlight of the run would be my focus on running from the glutes and the relative lack of pain generated afterward in my hips. As the last couple of runs, I ran way faster than usual around 8:30min/mile, helped by the flat terrain, the relative low heat and a lot of runners around.

Running faster and not getting (too much) pain is almost a first.

Running Lille - Part 2

Did another pseudo long run today. That time I had water, and I decided to push it a little further along the banks of la Deule.

Peniches

Still water

We have turtles here too. But in the zoo.

We have (2) Rhinos !

If you were wondering where the people are in the city a Friday afternoon,
they are in that Park. (There aren't that many parks after all)

My mum asked I take the 'Vieille Bourse' in picture as it is the most beautiful building in the city.
Here you go.

The run was overall alright, but I felt a start of pain in the hip when I stopped at the Zoo (No running here, please !) - The zoo is free, and quite small, but, hell, it is all about going back to those places I used to go, young and less young.

Then, I cut it short.

I am disappointed a bit. I did not run that much those last couple of weeks, and still, incapable of getting rid of this recurring flexor pain. 

I stretched almost two hours afterward, and now I am planning at least one hour of foam roller.

Jeez.

This is hopeless.