Leg Day on a bike...at the beach

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     So this week we are on vacation. My husband and I travel to Chincoteague Island, VA to go camping every summer. This is our 7th year here. We have a 35 ft travel trailer camper and love staying at the same campground every year on the water, with a view of the lighthouse on Assateague Island. Chincoteague is also right across the bay from Wallops Island, a NASA facility where they launch rockets. We have seen a few launches over the years. We always go the same week in August every year because of the Perseids Meteor Shower. Assateague Island in Virginia is a National Shoreline that is maintained by the Park Service. There is no boardwalk or night activities on the island. If you are on the island after dark the only lights are literally one light at the ranger station and the lighthouse light. And if you get a night pass for the beach you can sit there all night and watch shooting stars during the meteor shower. So here we are. We arrived 3 days ago. Me, my husband, my 4 year-old grandson and this year, my mother-in-law. (We'll call her mom. She and I get along very well although she is always trying to feed us.)

     I was very nervous about going on vacation while training and trying to eat clean. (especially with mom going). Even the five hour ride from PA to VA can be a challenge when you are trying to eat clean. We stopped at McDonalds in Delaware and I did the best I could and ordered an iced black coffee and an oatmeal with fruit. Traditionally, camping means smores, hamburgers and hotdogs, campfire pizza pockets, homemade waffles in the morning, snacks on the beach, beer and wine and the Mr. Whippy Ice Cream truck. And this year it also meant all the foods I don't normally buy that Mom decided to pack. Like the tomato pie she brought from the Italian bakery in Roseto. She told me she got it so we didn't have to worry about cooking a meal the day we arrived and had to set everything up. Very thoughtful. But I couldn't eat it. When packing I managed to stock the fridge with lots of veggies, Greek yogurt, almond milk and fruit. And I managed to avoid eating tomato pie and other tempting foods so far. The day we arrived I make myself a nice salad with grilled chicken instead. And last night I avoided the ice cream truck and made my plain Greek yogurt and chocolate protein powder.  Today I mixed up the yogurt and protein powder and put it in the freezer so I can eat it like ice cream later.

     Camping in Virginia also means time on the beach and in the ocean and daily bike rides. Our campground is exactly 8 miles from the beach. So if we ride out to the beach an back we get a 16 mile leg day on a bike. And after all the leg days at the gym with Brandon over the last couple months I was anxious to see if I can feel a difference when I am riding. Well it did make a difference. Today we rode out to the beach and I notice my endurance and energy level was a lot different than the last time I was on my bike. Approaching the beach there is a long stretch along the causeway where there is a slow and steady incline. In the past I'd be huffing and puffing and ready to do my inhaler. (yes. I have asthma) But not yesterday! I rode right up to the top no problem. Don't get me wrong. It was a great workout. Especially when I consider the 40 lb toddler I was pulling in his bike trailer. We got out to the beach, took a couple swiggs off our camelbacks, took a look at the water and started to head back. My grandson had fallen asleep in the trailer so I'd say the ride was a success. The next few days we will spend time at the campground, on the beach, on our bikes, and in the ocean. It won't be the same as going to the gym every day but we definitely stay active as much as we relax while we are here and this year I definitely have more energy than in past years. I probably won't have time to blog anymore while we are here. I'm trying to disconnect while I'm away. #lifebalance. But I will continue to stay active and eat clean as best as I can. And I'm sure I will text Brandon at some point for motivation.