not really a 5k

Today was the Merry-Go-Round 5K in Perkasie. We finished in an hour. But we didn't break any speed records and we stopped and took pictures. And we followed a map.


It was overcast when we left Bonnie's, but sunny. By the time we got off Rt 309, it was drizzling. By the time we parked at Menlo Park it was raining hard. We were early and waited it out in the car. The 5K run started at 9:15. In the middle of the downpour.


We were signed up for the fun walk at 10 which turned out to be only a mile. Yikes. So on the other side of our map was the 5K map. We used it. Since we weren't doing the silly 1 mile walk, we headed out.


Every volunteer we met said two things. "The walk started already?" and "The walk goes this way." Bonnie said if she heard it one more time she was going to have to hurt someone.


There was very little on the borough streets. Maybe three blocks. Then we headed into the park, crossed the covered bridge (1832) and hit the bike trail. We circled many ball fields. Bonnie found the luna moth caterpillar right before we headed over the suspension bridge. So we took many pixs. I looked on line and it said "When the caterpillar is fully grown, it will be 2 1/2 inches long" ours was easily that big "and ready to become a pupa. It will spin silk from near its mouth and wrap itself in a leaf. The caterpillar will usually stay in this cocoon for two to three weeks." So I think our little friend was off to make herself a cocoon!

On the other side of the creek we found the gazebo and some white geese playing in the puddles.

When we returned back across the bridge, we headed toward the covered bridge again, looped around more ball fields and up the gravel trail hill. With some great shelf fungus. It wasn't easy. It was steep, gravel and wet. Not a good combo. When you neared the top you could hear the calliope playing on the carousel.


At this point it was still dry, but humid. One of the sponsors was Dietz & Watson so in addition to the regular carbs and fruit there was meat! The ham was delicious.

 By the time we were ready to ride the carousel it was raining. We made it across the park before the deluge started. The carousel was free for us, as part of the race. However, on a regular day it only cost 35¢. American. There is no other ride on the planet that costs 35¢. But wait. It you take three ridges it's only a buck! A buck. I couldn't believe it. The ride was long and fast. Felt like 5 minutes. At Dorney it would have been $2 for a minute. Maybe.