passport finished!

Today Bonnie, Dawn, Lyd and I went to Hugh Moore Park in Easton. It was a two-fer walk. It qualified for both the Passport to Fitness and the Tail on the Trail Challenges.

We met at my place and headed to Easton using the back roads. Of course I made a wrong turn and ended up on the wrong road. I could get us to the right one, but the bridge was out. Very frustrating. We could see the park but not enter it! I almost had to have Bonnie press Starr's button for directions. But alas, I was able to get us to the park.

We parked, and I said, the bathrooms are this way. I know that's always our first stop. I did not remember them being a half mile away!

We entered the trail at the canal boat ride. They didn't start running until 1 pm, so there was no using the BOGO tickets today. We'll have to use them another weekend, since the rides are only Wednesday thru Sunday. Guess they can't over work the mules!

This section of the trail was grass and loaded with goose poop. By there were no geese in sight. After we had switched to the macadam path, we found the geese. There was, well, pooploads of them!

We walked for about a half hour before we found the post. It takes a while with four people doing rubbings.

The trail turned to gravel for awhile, and we finally reached the lock.  Dawn and Lydia were always behind us, but usually we could hear them talking so they were not far. When we didn't hear them, we turned around to make sure they were there. However, there was never a need to double back to get them.

After crossing the lock, we headed into the woods and took the upper path. I thought they both went the same place. The upper path is an old railroad track and it goes to the hump yard. The hump yard has a big "no trespassing" sign (Norfolk and Southern), so we doubled back.  We were going to take a cut off path, but that just led us to a bird watcher in a tent!

We returned to the trail. At the start, it was decided that we'd walk an hour one direction and then come back. The hour came about a mile away from the Forks of the Delaware. I gave the others a choice and we decided to continue on and reach that milestone. We were so close.

Then we turned around and headed back. The D&L in Easton is bright and sunny. We took some cut off paths into more wooded areas. It was hot and humid today. A little shade goes a long way. We arrived back at the car at exactly 10:30. Seven and a quarter miles. After a stop at the Wawa for the bathroom and gas (no hiking back to the park bathroom!) we arrive home by 11. Adonis was waiting for his walk!

Another half mile with Adonis. Then Bonnie, the roomie and I headed to the Saucon Valley Farmers Market. More walking. Bonnie dropped us off and then we headed for Illicks Mill to have our finished Passports verified. My pedometer says I walked 8.5 miles today. I feel it!

Lydia and Dawn both achieved personal bests for distance today. (:

Tomorrow Bonnie and I are going out at 7 am to do the Allentown to Hanover section of the D&L. It's about three miles one way.  This challenge is 165 miles over 5 months. Right now I'm at a total of 18 miles with 18 only weeks left. Two of those weekends I'll be out of town for other walking events (the Biggest Loser Half Marathon in Erie, and the Freedom Walking Festival in D.C.). So let's drop that to 16 weeks. That means I'm going to have to average nine miles a week on the D&L. That's gonna be tough! Because if I break the 100 mark, I'll have to finish. I know what I'll be doing Monday morning for the rest of the summer.

Wednesday, since I don't have Zumba, I'm going to a walking clinic at the Rose Garden. Lydia is coming for dinner and coming along. I think Bonnie might be coming too. Bonnie and I know what to expect. Lydia, I'm not so sure.

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Trail Update

The Palmer Bike Trail that goes from Easton High School to Riverside Park off 25th street was always a bit of a pain. If you wanted to go to Hugh Moore Park, you had to walk on a road with no shoulder. It was dangerous.

I'm happy to report that the connecting trail is done! All you need to do is cross the street and keep walking till you get to HMP. That's very exciting if you're walking the whole D&L, or training for an ultra walk or marathon.