the electric run fizzled

The Electric Run looked like it might be fun. But as we were waiting in the que lightning was off in the distance. Then, when it was just about our turn, the fire department pulled the plug. Really. It was on the news and everything. All 14,000 of us had to go home at the SAME TIME. It was a nightmare. It created the worlds largest vacuum.

We all assembled at my place at 5 and were on the road at 5:20. We had to take two cars because no ones car would hold 6. Lydia followed me. She kept saying I was doing 80, but I was being diligent stay under 70.  Is my odometer broken?  Anyway, following people on the sure-kill is hard. Bonnie and Bug kept looking out the window to see if they were still behind us. We never lost them. Getting on the Sure-kill took a good 15 minutes. Getting off, and to the lots was probably another 15.

We found our way to the assigned parking, paid our $15/car and finally parked. It was a sea of humanity. We had a picnic on the hood of my car. I had packed nutritious snacks—fruit, cheese, multi- grain chips, humus, eggs, water—to eat when we arrived. After cleaning up we hiked over to the shuttle station. The buses filled up quickly. More buses were coming but stuck in traffic. We decided to walk instead of wait. We barely got across the street and a bus pulls up and starts loading the walkers.

It was still only about 7:30. We hit the port-o-potties, got out our glow stuff, and decorated ourselves. At about 8:15 we headed to the start line. The waiting began. We were in the front half, probably close to the front third. Watching how people were dressed was fun, for a while, but it was hotter than Hades and the sweat was pouring off us. Everyone was bored. Especially Bug. We saw lightning in the distance. It was finally 8:45. The waves of people started rolling out.

It was starting to be fun. We had finally reached the start chute. There was one group in front of us. We were next. Finally. Each wave left with a countdown, and a cheer. The group in front got the 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-----and then the words we never expected to hear. "I'm sorry but the Philadelphia fire department has closed down the event due to severe lightning in the area." WTF? A wave of disappointment hit the crowd. People were angry. Bug was puzzled. "Mommy, why must we leave. it's our turn."

We followed the crowds and hiked back to the car. We pulled out onto the road and then stayed there for the next half hour+. Everyone in front was leaving other people out. It was two blocks to the main road. The traffic headed for the zoo/Sure-kill was not going anywhere. I put to use my 3-day walk memories and tried to get us to Route 1 by going around the park. We got there after a few wrong turns and enter the highway on City Line Ave.

It was a little long but we were moving. Wish we would have had Bonnie's car with the GPS but we did it. We probably didn't save any time. We got home at 11. Probably the same time we would have gotten home if we had walked.

Should have gone to the Moon Walk in NYC instead.