scavenger hunt

For today's walk I has a scavenger hunt planned. Angel and the tween showed up. However, with a busted ankle, Angel couldn't walk. But it got her out of the house. She sat at the bagel shop and waited for us. At an outdoor table.

I made the list. For a route we used the Bethlehem North Volkssport route. We went thru the historic distric, San Island and around the city center. In all we logged about 4.5 miles in 2.5 hours. Angel was beginning to think we left her. But where ever there was water the tween need to be in it. She loves water. And is fearless.

And tired. I certainly hope this raging hormone stuff stops soon.  I'm tired is getting old.

On the way back, we were walking up Main Street talking about the letters we were missing. A man, sitting at one of the outdoor cafe tables, asked what we were doing.  So we told him about the scavenger hunt. He asked where we "got it". I told him I made it up. Then he asked to "see it". So I handed it to him. At that moment I remembered I had extras. I printed five on the off-chance someone would show up. So I gave him one. He has a group coming in from out-of-town and looking for a way to show off the town. Hope they enjoy our hunt. We didd.

Again, I forgot to take a picture of us. Even though we took 150 pictures of things from A-Z.

When we were done, I took Angel home. And we colored. I could have stayed all day. But I have work to do.

got my canadian stamp!

At the picnic I finally got my Canadian stamp insert card from the Niagara Falls trip. I had to fold it in half. There cards are a little bigger than ours.

Next time I do a Canadian walk, I want it right in the book.

lake nockamixon

Today was the annual picnic and walk for the Liberty Bell Wanderers. This year it was at Lake Nockamixon.

Darrell dropped off Angel and the tween here—he had to work—then we drove up to Bonnie's and left from there. I forgot my bean salad so I had to circle the block and get it. It took two cars to get us all there. Driving in on 563 was like a parade going to the park! There were cars in front and behind.

We started with the 5K, then I was going to take the tween and do part of the 10K. I think she would have been just as happy to stay playing with the 18-month old. Ultimately we should have stayed with them because we made a wrong turn and our 10K turned into about a 4K.

I forgot to take the group picture. I thought of it on the trail, and decided Angel (who stayed behind at the pavilion with her broken ankle) should be in it. Then when we all returned to the pavilion I forgot.

The picnic was a lot of chatting with people. I never heard any announcements.  The tween was having a ball "playing" with the 18-month old. I'm not so sure how much fun he had. We walked him down to the lake. He was totally uninterested.

The most exciting thing that happened was me losing my keys. Angel brought homework to do while waiting for us to finish walking. She had given me her bag to put back in the car, which I did. Later, she needed her wallet from the bag. I couldn't find my keys. I looked in my pockets, and my walk bag and everywhere. Then I walked to the car. Don't you know I locked it. I was just about to call AAA. I had Bonnie's phone in my hand. When I decided to look one more time. This time retracing my steps. On the way back from the car, I stopped to have my book stamped. They were on the table. Pshew.

Lunch was a pot luck. The club provided brats, dogs and burgers. Do you see the second one from the left? The super-sized one? That's the one they gave me. I decided brats not boiled in beer are not as good. There were also a couple gluten free options for Bonnie.

Bonnie's family ate and ran. They had another picnic to go to. We left about 1:15. They still hadn't done announcements.

Next year I'll take money along to rent a boat.

I took Angel and the tween home. The tween opens up the house while we chatted on the curb. She came out carrying a 6x9 envelope. It was her patch, pin, propaganda, certificate, and cancelled 10 walk book.  The timing couldn't have been better.

almost walked into a hornets nest ... really

Today Bonnie and I walked. It's been nearly a week since we went out together. She texted me while I was at work. She was tired of her 'hood and had to see something different. I know the feeling. In her 'hood she has two main ways to go, with maybe two variations. I have at least six, with variations.

We planned to meet at 7:30. We headed down, then up the hill and out past the childhood home. At 3rd, we headed down to Perkins, and behind the Banana Factory. Then it was up and down the steps on the Fahy bridge.

On the south side of the bridge is River Port. It's an old Steel machine shop that's been converted into condos, a gym, a metered parking garage, and a restaurant. There used to be a small parking lot next to it, under the bridge. That has been turned into "The Play Yard"... an outdoor portion of the gym. It kind of reminded me of a prison yard gym with the fencing. All it was missing was barbed wire. But it did provide an interesting photo diversion.

After we came down the stairs, we headed east on the canal path thru Sand Island, then crossed the footbridge and headed back to the trail head on the other side of Fritch fuel. Then came back again to the road, and up the stairs of the Hill to Hill Bridge. Today we took Ontario and Itaska home.

Yesterday, I took an early morning walk to the supermarket.

Wednesday is when I had the close encounter with the hornets nest.

I hadn't washed the blankets and comforters since winter ended and it's almost time to put them back on the beds (eek!). My sister Sharon spends way too much time at my house. Wednesday was going to be one of those days. I called her and told her to get off the bus at the laundromat. She was doing winter bedding.

I loaded the car up and got to the laundromat within 30 seconds of her arrival. We got the triple loads filled, the money in and I walked the scenic route home. (Otherwise it's 3 blocks). I was barely home when she was calling that the wash was done. Told her I'd be there in a couple.

I'm headed down the street and heard a buzzing. I looked to the left and there was the nest. It was less than a foot away. It took me a minute to figure out what it was. I turned around and went home for the camera. And used the zoom lens. I wasn't getting too close.

This thing is massive. You can see the front door in this photo. And there's at least 8 out there making it bigger. More swarming around.

Thank goodness I wasn't looking down. I would have gone head first into it.

Why the homeowners haven't done something about it I have no idea. Someone is going to get hurt. (Ask my brother David about the swarm of yellow jackets when he was a kid.) This nest probably took all summer to grow to this size.

Anyway, 15 minutes later I arrived for Sharon. She was waiting in the car. Laundry already inside. "What took you so long?" She asked.  I showed her on the way home.

Monday I did the Fountain Hill walk.

Now that school has started I am no longer walking to work. I miss it. Now I go from work to work. And then home to work. I need to make an effort to go out really early  in the morning.

Tomorrow is the Liberty Bell Wanderer picnic and we have a choice between a 5 or 10K.  Angel and I had planned to do the 10, and the tween would go with Bonnie's family to do the 5K. But then Angel broke her ankle. For that story. Go here. Let's just say no walking for 4 weeks.

They are still coming to the picnic. Angel is bring a book. bet she doesn't get it read. I bet they'll get her working a registration table or something before we get back.

this came with the driver's licence renewal.

I feel so old.

The AAA course is $19.95. The AARP is $15.95. Guess who wins? I'll do it during winter break. I'll probably do the online version.

people came!

For the first time since July 18 someone came to one of my weekend scheduled walks. Exercise is so much more fun when others come along. I was delighted last night when Angel said her family would be there.

It was a nice day for a walk. Not hot or humid. But still plenty warm. Thank goodness that heat wave broke. The meeting place today was Festplatz. I parked on the street.

We headed thru the Industrial Quarter and up the ramp to Main Street. Then up Main to Broad, and out Broad to 3rd. We made a left on 3rd and headed out Market to 8th. Then a right on 8th and thru the Rose garden. Taking time to smell the flowers. And use the bathroom. (Mom & Dad I-4, Child 3. There were bugs and the toilet didn't flush right.).

We went out Union to 13th, and headed down the long hill past Holy Family Manor, ending up playing in West Side Park. (Don't go to the pool there. The water is green.)

When the Wee One is bigger we must take him to this part. That play set is amazing. Lots of things to climb up and on. I couldn't make my legs do anything that twisted. One of the ladders looked like a DNA strand. Couldn't do it. One looked like circles. My foot got stuck. I have no upper body strength, and my legs are not flexible, and I think it's getting worse.  I couldn't figure out how to get down and in the proper position to do the slide. My legs wouldn't cooperate. I'm starting to think something is wrong.

The worse part of the ladders was the top. I had to remember to duck to get on the platform. The entrances were made from shorter people. Only in one entrance did I get a little stuck. It must have been very narrow.

There were no swings in this section. They were on the other side of the park in the "old" (aka traditional) playground.

After playing for 15 or 20 minutes, we headed out to 12th and went down to Lehigh and back towards Festplatz. We reached the stairs and Darrell said those look like fun steps. We decide to run up them.  Well, I walked.

Coming down the tween says those were steep stairs. I said, you should see the ones on the Fahy Bridge. Those are steep and narrow. The tween who 5 minutes ago was complaining she was tired, said "how far?" I did not say a half-mile. I said over there, past the playground and basketball courts.

We went. I think she was just about to say how much further when she saw the bridge and the stairs. Up we went. Angel ran again. We walked. I brought up the rear. She didn't think they were steeper. Mom and dad did. And narrower.

On the way back to the car, she saw the stairs from the canal path. We had to do those also.

The child manage to take a 3.5 to 3.75 mile walk and change it to just a hair under 5 miles. But don't tell her.

Next Saturday is the LBW picnic and walk at Nockamixon State Park. I think Bonnie's family is coming. Bonnie wants the Q (Quakertown) also. And it's a hard letter to hard to get. Angel and the tween are coming. Lydia is not. She has to work. Maybe we can all fit in two cars.

this race was so fun I'd pay to do it.

I  haven't done any races since last fall. The half-marathon might have been the last one. With the news of the change in job status in February, I cut races from the budget.

Fitness friend Dawn sent me an email about this race. Told her I was on a no-race budget and she sent me a coupon code for a free race. Apparently the first 500 were free. Free fits every budget.

Yesterday, I picked up the first batch of swag—tee, hat and bandana. That was more than enough. And pick up was run like a well oiled machine. I could see part of the course, at least, was already set up.

The race began at 8:30. I left my house for the extended voyage to Lehigh University's Stabler Arena at 7:30. I was parked in the shade, and at the start line by 7:45. At that point only one other family and I were there. Everyone else was at registration. It was shady. I wasn't moving.

The Hawk was setting up for music, or so I thought. Instead they called everyone over for a warm up—line dancing. You read that right — line dancing before a race. I thought I saw Dawn with a group of people I didn't know, so I texted her. It was her. I was glad I saw her, it has been a while.

(Note to self: Add line dancing to the fitness adventure list.)

About 10 minutes before the gun (excuse me, cow bells) they closed the gap and there was a lot of people. During the race I noticed that the proportion of walkers to runners was unbalanced. Lots of families. A lot of walkers. I'd say 65%.

This race was sponsored by the Corner Store. Apparently it is a chain convenience store in the deep south, Texas, and the southwest. And Aquafina water. They provided water, and propaganda about how wonderful their purified tap water is.

Everything was very country. For example there were cowboys on stilts.

The course followed a cross country course at the Goodman campus, past cornfields, barns (who knew?), and soybeans. There was also a large garden for Lehigh. To supplement the course to give it a country feel were giant blow ups of farm animals—pigs, cows, chickens and cocks could all be found. Lots of hay bales too. And the biggest John Deer tractor I ever saw.

I think the course was a little longer than a 5K. I heard 3.4, 3.5, and 53.6. The first mile took forever. It was a Koman mile. All I know is that I had five miles on my tracker when I got home.

Of course cows greeted us at the finish line. I finished a few seconds over 1 minute. Really long for a 5K. But it was on a cross country course, maybe long, and well, frankly, I'm out of shape. Use it or loose it.

Thankfully there were no medals at the end. I find that to be silly. Instead, we received blue ribbons. Even sillier.  But ya gotta, carry that country theme through. And the tiny people looked cute with them around their necks.

The event finished with a Country Fair. If you went home hungry it was your own damn fault. Yes, there were lines at some places, but usually not more than about 10 people. Except at the Icee station. That was probably 15. Because they were giving out full size Icee's and you got to pick the flavor.

As you entered the Fair, you were given a string backpack and water. A really nice, sturdy backpack.  I quickly found out why. The entrance to the Fair was the Corner Stores booth. Nuts, granola, drinks, salty snacks. All the usuals after a race were available. The fruit was outside.

The entire right side of the Fair area was free food. Including beer. Now, most of it was non-nutritional, but still. Dogs, Icees, soft pretzels, chips, water, sports drinks...

The Corner Stores claim to fame must be whoppie pies in both vanilla and chocolate. They were handing out mini ones. They were good, but not to my liking. Too much pie, not enough whoopie. The stilt cowboy photo-bombed my photo with Ms Whoopie.  His guns are bananas.

I didn't get a beer because I had no ID with me. They carded everyone at the beer tent. Besides, it was 10 am.

The middle was a midway with carnival games. You just played. No prizes. No hawkers. No giant bears to win. Play just to play.

The opposite end was the stage with a live, and good, country band. The right side was all the sponsors handing out stuff. I picked up energy drinks for Kool-J and organic beverages and coconut water for Angel.  My bag was heavy. And I was being picky. Lyd and her friends (I found them at the stage) filled two bags. They even won a whoopie pie t-shirts.

This was a $40 race. Normal races are between $20-$30. Steep. But really you got what you paid for and then some. It was well organized and the people were friendly. An excellent race. If I can't get it free, I'd pay to do it again.

Yesterday, instead of walking I went to assist my eleven-year-old friends with her Girl Scout Bronze project. We were painting flowers on the fence and planting plants at the Meuser Library in Wilson. This is us with some of the kids that came to help. Eventually she plans to do her Silver, and Gold Awards here.

They finished today.

This is a small portion of it. That plain grey rock on the right is being saved for me.  I have big plans for it.

fitness adventure—roller skating.

Eleven was a very long time ago.

Last night I went roller skating for my fitness adventure. I remember as a kid going to the YWCA on Market street, occasionally, on a Friday night to skate. The rollers clipped onto the bottom of your shoes.

I might have gone after that. It wasn't really an activity I took Girl Scouts on, but if I did, I sat on the sidelines.

Yesterday afternoon I had a bunch of boring meetings for back to school. I planned on meeting Angels family at 6:15 at the Skateaway on William Penn Hwy. It's minutes from campus. Of course my meeting went till 6:15. It was okay, we still arrived within minutes of each other.

Angel waited in the lot for me, sending the child and husband in to get skates on. The child roller bladed at camp this summer, so it took her mere minutes to get back into the groove. At one point she had daddy timing her laps. (She got down to 64 seconds.)

Angel and I managed to get our skates on and stand up. Time for a party! Then we practiced a little on the carpet. But the carpet is nothing like the floor. Nothing. The first round took me maybe a half hour and I was sweating like a pig. I didn't hug the wall. I clenched it. Child, helped mom and I around that first time.

I was on the last wall, child had gone to help mom, and this lovely girl about 25 said, here let me help you. She was trying to give me instructions and boom, down I went, almost taking her with me.

Then a very large man (quarterback size) came over to help—Terrance, I think. The two of them got me up and Terrance took over. I learned a lot walking with him on the fourth wall. Child was a little disappointed she was replaced.

He leaves me on the carpet. I am flop sweating. I want to sit down, but that would mean getting on the linoleum. No thank you. I practice on the carpet for at least 15 minutes. I get the courage to go out again.

I did better. I still used the wall, but not as much. The skating pro came over and gave me more tips. Lean back, instead of front, and put the weight on the front wheels. Not the rear. I bet I made it around that time in 10 minutes.

Then I went for number three. I made it!

I felt like I had run a marathon. I was done. The calorie counter this morning says an hour and a half of roller skating at my weight burns 1200 calories in 90 minutes. Now I'm assuming that you are skating the whole time. Still, much more of a workout than I thought.

Turns out, roller skating is a tricky way moms get kids to exercise.

quarter mile short

Today was my walk from the Forks of the Delaware trail head to Wi Hit Tuk park, downstream in Williams Township.

When I looked it up on line it said it was 2.3 miles. When I arrived at the trail head the story was much different. The trail marker say 4.8. That's nearly 10 miles round trip. I'm not training for a half marathon!

I decided to head 45 minutes in one direction then turn around and come back.

Since I was alone I took a lot of pictures. It helped pass the time.

This section of the trail just reopened. It was hit hard with a storm a couple of years ago. I don't think it was Sandy. It was before.

Everything was lush and green and in the shade until I arrived at the reconstruction site.

Then it was sunny with little growth except for some weed trees. Reforestation will take time.  The water in the canal was clear and moving or stopped and green with alge. No middle ground.

There are many locks at the trail head. This one is on the actual trail. One of the places water was stopped.

When I first saw this hitching post I thought what a dumb place to camp. Canal on one side, incline on another. Then when I blew the cobwebs out of my head I realized that they lived on the boat. Duh. I'm guessing the boat was tied to the middle on the canal side. The horses to the rings on the trail side. The difference between water and trail was slight, so it would be easy to fetch water in buckets. They did look a little like horse shoes.

 I didn't realize at first that this was route 78. About 5 minutes before I had reached the 45 minute mark. Yes, I stopped a lot. Nobody to yell keep it moving! I decided to go to the bridge. Little did I know that Wi Hit Tuk park was .3 miles away.

Coming back I saw this piece of yellow metal hanging in the tree. I'm guessing it's from the same storm damage that washed out the trail. It's two ply metal, yellow, with holes along the bottom. Like perforation marks. It is stamped City of Easton in black paint. I'm thinking guard rail?

When I returned to the trail head, my car was no longer in the shade. It had gone. But the car next to me was. I should have chosen one spot in!

I wanted to know how close I was. Was this trail 2.3 or 4.8? So I took Rt 611 to the park. Exactly 2.3. Rte. 78 was at exactly the 2 mile mark. I should have gone further. I was so close. Damn it.

people have bad taste in tattoos.

 Today I had scheduled a walk to Walking Purchase park. As has been the case the last 6 weeks or so. Nobody came. Shocking, huh? Since the meeting place was my house, I at least didn't have to drive to walk alone. Actually, I just walked in the hood.

This afternoon I went to Slide The City. It was a giant slip and slide down the Ott street hill. It turns out Lydia was registered also.

They gave us an inner tube. I couldn't blow it up. I thought maybe I had weak lungs, but few people were having success. Thank goodness there was someone with an air pump. The line was only about 12 people, but it took a good half hour. Each person had multiple tubes.

The lines everywhere were long. The slide was at the top of the hill. The line went all the way up the hill, and the part way down. The up was a good half hour, the down maybe 10 minutes. The actual ride, maybe a minute.

I had a three ride pass (it was free) but it wasn't worth the wait to go again. The sun was hot and there was no shade anywhere. I remember why I don't go to water or amusement parks. That fun to wait ratio is way out of whack.

I had a good time. If it was a 15 minute line I would have done it the last two time. Lyd is recovering from a migrane, and had a panic attack at the top. She did not have fun.

Standing in line that long gives you a lot of time to people watch. (And be judgmental and snarky.) Especially somewhere where people are mostly naked. I saw a lot of really bad tattoos today. The worse were the collections that didn't even go together. Body art can be beautiful. But for the most part, this wasn't.

There is also a point where the bikini needs to be replaced by a two-piece. Just saying. If your muffin top is hanging over the bikini bottom, you need more fabric. You'll look sexier too. That's important standing almost naked out on Ott street.

Me, I wore that "stained glass" top I got for the Biggest Loser Half, and the shorts I bought for my nieces pole dancing studio workshop. As covered as possible.

I also wore my new pink water shoes I got at 5 Below. With all the walking I did I understand why I spent much more on my old ones that died last year. They were about 10. These had not even a hint of support. And when I pulled my feet out the innersole came with it. Clearly a case of you get what you  pay for.  But I need them once, twice a year. They'll be fine.

Tomorrow I'm walking form the Forks of the Delaware to Wy Hit Tuk Park and back. Lydia might come. But I won't let myself count on it.

walks this week

After over achieving Sunday, I didn't walk much this week. I walked back and forth to work, mostly. Taking a scenic route each time. Especially Wednesday.

I think I got out of my chair once on Wednesday. At the end of the day I couldn't move. It was 5:45. I leave at 4:30. I walked down the stairs like an 80-year-old.  I went to turn to go thru campus and up the hills and said "no. Who are you kidding? You need to stretch it out." My 15 minute walk took 45. And my body no longer felt dead.

Thursday, Bonnie and I walked to the South Bethlehem Farmers Market. We cut thru Lehigh so I could show her my windows at the Art Center. They need to be redone because they were installed incorrectly. I think she liked them.

When they are corrected I'll take a nice pix for my portfolio. This was taken with my broken vintage iPod.

Then we headed out Fifth street deeper into the south side. We came out by Jolly Joe's (RIP Joe) and came back Fourth street. Then headed up Adams to the Market.

After shopping I had two heavy bags of groceries. (Will I ever learn?) but resisted the watermelon. We walked up the hills home.

I found the bees doing their thing on the sunflower right by the house.

A few weeks ago my garage door buckled. It was 35+. There were no part, nor did it meet any safety standard in the last 25 years. It had to go.

They called Wednesday and said they would be here Friday between 10-12. The garage had to be clear back to wear the rails ended. I don't know about your garage, but mine it a catch all for everything. I needed help.

Thursday afternoon I went and retrieved teen-labor‚ Eryn's kids. We had to clean out EVERYTHING to the end of the rails. Floor, walls, whatever. It took two hours. We all looked like Pig Pen when we were done. We threw stuff out. And repacked stuff. And recycled a lot. We put stuff out with a "free" sign. Thankfully today is recycle day. The garbage man will be shocked when he see I have trash out two weeks in a row.

I had a lot of yard waste in the garage, so I took part of it before I got the kids. One bucket had started to decompose so there was compost tea in the bottom. Ick. It got all over the truck of my car. Never have I been happier that I bought those Weather Trek liners for Oliva.

Kool-J way happier than a pig in mud when I let him get out the hose and clean all the car mats. He was going to wash the garage floor too, but we couldn't get the nozzle off the hose to connect a second section. He was dissapointed.

After finishing, we loaded the car with the recycling and the rest of the compost and delivered it to the proper locations. Then it was off for FroYo and home for VBS. Bug declared in the car that she was taking a shower the minute she got home. She couldn't go to VBS like Pig Pen.

The garage door went in today. He said it would take 2 hours or so. He was done in an hour fifteen. A lot of that was because we took them at their word. We had the area 100% cleaned out.

I also took the car to be vacuumed and washed.

I forgot to take Before pix. Here are the after:

The back wall of the garage. All the gardening stuff. Bug asked when I had a cat. I never did. I have friends with cats who get over run with plastic cat liter boxes. Personally, for storage they are they Best. Thing. Ever.

The right front by the door. This is storage, unique recycle (like metal and lightbulbs), and winter stuff. The stack of cans is for compost. They don't stay stacked long. That white microwave is looking for a home. Should have put it out with the free stuff.

That blue barrel is a rain barrel I made. It's nice. But alas, I cannot use it. It is looking for a good garden home. More gardening stuff and the pesky hose. Where the orange carpet is is where I store the awnings. They fit perfectly on that set of orange hooks.

 

The door. I left the roomie pick the style. Otherwise I would have picked flat plain panels. Now I want to replace the perfectly good, yet ugly, rain spout on the right. I know, I know, it's an alley. Aesthetics aren't important. But look how nice the repaired section is on the left.

three walks, one day

If you've read my monthly Fitness Friday email, you'd know that it was IRT day. I left the house about five minutes late. Then blew right past the McArthur Road exit.  So I ended off getting off on 15th street and taking Mauch Chunk to Shantz road, and then back to McArthur. I was only about 6 minutes late.

For a moment, when I arrived I was excited. Bonnie's car was there. Someone came! Hurray. But alas, it was the same color, year and model, but no Tinkerbell sticker in sight. No car seat either. Yep, I was going it alone again.

I took the loop toward the spur. Once I went past the spur, the trail took quite a hit during the June 30 storm. It looked liked it was bombed. Broken tree's everywhere. Tree's over the creek. Piles of wood everywhere. The shade is gone. On this section of the trail there was signs thanking the August 1 volunteers for the cleanup. More, apparently are scheduled.

I walked for about a half hour. Then turned around and came back. It was uphill, especially at the end.

 I thought this looked like a interesting walk. It was posted on the trail.

 Lydia had called last night and said she was going to the shore today, could I drop in on Adonis. I dog -napped him instead. I am not running back and forth to Northampton! Beside I get Brownie points with the roomie. Her puppy came to visit her.

As I was headed to Lydia's I saw a sign that said Kreidersville Park. Never saw it before. Once I had puppy in tow, we went back. It was just a basketball court and really nice playground.  Leashed dogs are allowed. It also says on the website that they are working on a walking trail and dog park on Savage road. Maybe it will connect the Howertown Park with the Nor-bath Trail. A girl can dream.

That park being a bust, we went to the Wayne Grube Memorial Park, on Bulleye Road. It's a nice park. But sunny. The trail is U shaped, and connects to the Nor-Bath. It also has a connecting path to the ritzy subdivision. I knew that there had to be another comfort station on the Nor-Bath trail. And this is it! Though it is about a 1/4 mile on the park trail to the comfort station. And it's worth the walk. I'd give it an I-5. Yeah, it's that good. Running HOT water, soap, a two level water fountain, and you can eat off the floor clean, stalls. (But don't.)

Next we'll be walking the hood. Gonna wait till about 3. Don't want to have to take him on  a fourth walk.

fitness friday — august walks

 The email went out late. So late that I didn't even include tomorrow.

Welcome to August. I've been going out before work at 6:30 am and it's still hot! Thankfully it has cooled off a bit, for now. But it's Musikfest week so you all know what that means—HHH—hazy hot and humid.

This schedule is a little more varied than previous ones. Hopefully there is something for everyone. All should be stroller friendly.

Let me know if you like earlier or later times. I picked 9 am because it seems to work with most people.

August 9 -- 9 am. We gotta get away from Musikfest. I suggest the Ironton Rail Trail. Close, and out of traffic. We can go on the spur or the loop. The spur is about 2.5 miles. The loop is a 5 mile circle. We can do all or part. It's paved and nice. The spur is gravel. The newer sections might be paved.

August 15 --  Still avoiding MF. We'll meet at my house in South Bethlehem (ask for directions) at 9, and walk to Walking Purchase Park in Salisbury. There is a long steep hill coming back. If you hate hills this is not the walk for you.

August 16 -- 9 am. Forks of the Delaware park (Rt. 611), Easton. We'll walk toward Wh-Hit-Tuck County Park. It's about 2.25 miles, so we'll go round trip.

August 22 -- the Country Run 5K race at Lehigh. It was free. Always a good price. It's been a long time since I've done a 5K. Hopefully I don't finish last.
( http://tinyurl.com/q2mlovj)
     Also, My 11-year old friend is doing her GS Bronze project at the Mary Meuser Library in Wilson. 9-Noon. Me, I'll be helping Friday.

August 23 --9 a.m. West Bethlehem. About a 4 mile loop. There will be hills. It's Bethlehem. Meet under the Hill to Hill bridge on Lehigh Street (Festplatz).

August 29-- Lake Nockamixon. This is a Volkssport walk and registration begins at 9:30. There is a pot luck picnic at 12:30. A great introduction to volkssport walking. Well, the 10k is more of a hike. Two routes to pick from. A 5K on a bicycle trail, paved, or a 10K through the woods on rough terrain. I'm not sure which I'm doing. Registration is at the pavilion at Paking Lot 1. I can send you the brochure if you need it.

August 30 -- Scavanger hunt. If we have enough people we'll break into two teams. Meet in front of the Hotel Bethlehem at 9 am.

Sept. 5-- Volkssport walk, south Bethlehem, 10 am. Another great introduction to volkssport walking. Plus, you get to see, and maybe even explore, the new Hoover Mason Trestle elevated park.

Stay cool. Stay hydrated. Keep walking.

Gayle

a new place!

Lydia would love it. She always wants to go someplace new. Megan would hate it because it is not stroller friendly.

This morning I got up and was ready to walk. I had called Bonnie yesterday to see if we were going together, but sh didn't get a chance to call back. I was putting on my sneakers and whining about how I was tired of the 'hood. The roomie said, then get in the car and go somewhere.

Not a bad idea.

I emailed Angel and asked whether or not she was working today. I was thinking we could go as far as an hour and a half from home. I had work to get done later in the day. She called 5 minutes later. She had to be to work at noon. So we planned on the Palmer Rail Trail.

By the time I arrived at her house there was two choices: Jacobsburg or Merrill Creek Reservoir in Washington, NJ. Both would take 15-20 minutes to get to from her house. I picked Merrill Creek because I hadn't been there before. Neither had she.

Merrill Creek is a 290-acre environmental preserve. Most of the trails are under 2 miles. The black trail is 5.5

It became quickly apparent that this was a hike, not a walk. The trails are natural—narrow and dirt, with roots and rocks. We started on the green and somehow ended

up on the yellow, and that started taking us away from the start points, so we doubled back on the red. Thank goodness for map my walk. We would have just kept walking.

The environmental ed center was beautiful. It was filled with stuffed wildlife, including a snowy owl. Clearly, Harry Potter is without his owl!  I didn't use the restrooms and forgot to ask Angel for a rating. I bet they were nice. Best part was the water fountain had a bottle fill attachment.  Did you ever try and fill a bottle from a fountain? It's tough.

Need to check out more trails in our section of Jersey.

Great day. Feel recharged. Now back to the same old, same old.

Probably will be walking alone. The Ackerman/Parry's are going on an adventure. Bonnie, Megan and Lydia have other plans. Need to send out the walk email now.

water review

My friend Angel and her daughter went to the Barnegate Lighthouse on Monday to do a Volkssport walk. While there, they needed to buy more water at a little convenience store.

I received an email from her. "Subject: made me think of you."

I've seen this on design blogs. I always thought it was a concept product. Clearly it isn't. She saved me the box. Am I a geek or what?

It's purified water, so maybe it's tap. The "source" isn't listed. It was a little under $2 for 10 oz.  And when you opened it to drink from the carton it "smelled funny". However, when they poured it into their water bottles it didn't smell.

It tasted wet. Nothing special. It did it's job.

thus far

It's still hot, but not nearly as humid. But Bonnie and I are still going out at the crack of dawn to beat the heat. One of the benefits is pretty sunrises while you are getting ready.

Monday we walked in three towns—Salisbury, Fountain Hill and south Bethlehem. What can I say, we are over achievers.

Salisbury wasn't on the original plan. As we went to turn up Graham we encountered the recycle truck going the same way. I was not in the mood to play cat and mouse with the recycle truck. So we went out Jeter instead. That's how we ended up in Salisbury

As we came down Dotson and went to cross Broadway, Bonnie saw Lechauweki and said, no more hills. So we backed up to the pool and went out Smiley/Stanley and ended up on Delaware.

Ultimately we ended up on Wyandotte and worked our way back to my house.

I drove to work because I had a dentist appointment. Secretly I was happy. It's hot by 10 am.

Tuesay we walked in Bonnie's neighborhood.  We did a combo of what she calls the east and west loops. It was a little different. And not horribly hilly.

Then Tuesday night I walked with Angel on the NCC walking path, then we headed out Green Pond to Moravian Academy and back. It only added another three miles, but it's better than nothing.

Today I got up to go out at 6:30, and then I realized Bonnie would not be on my doorstep. Wednesday is walking with Wally day. I'll just settle for walking to work and taking the scenic route home. Do I do short and hard, or long and easy? We'll see.

a walk near dawn, and a family outing.

Bonnie, Megan and I walked in Salisbury Township at 6:30 this morning. Close enough to dawn for me.

We walked together for a bit and then Megan went off on her own.

At the end, we met up with each other and finished the walk together. We even manged to get a selfie right by Bonnie's house.

Then this afternoon we went to Kutztown to ride the steam train.  I spend a lot of time with Frances doing girl stuff, and girl scout stuff. It's hard to find boy-interesting stuff to that also appeals to aunt Gayle.  I saw this in the paper a week or two ago and thought it would be great.

Kool-J thought it was a terrific idea and knew his brother would like it. I told him stories of how his grandfather, uncle, great grandfather, plus the rest of the family, would chase trains on weekends when we were growing up. My dad even has a train on his tombstone.

His twin, my niece said, can I come? Okay. I'm a push-over.

Then my brother (the uncle) discovered this train and posted pictures on FB. Lydia is obsessed with trains and wanted to go. Then my sister Pat wanted to go. She rarely leaves the house.

The kids would be with their grandmother today so I had to ask her, not their mom. Sure, she said. Can I come? At this point we needed two cars. The last person to join the party was my sister Sharon.

 Kool J,  Bug, me, Dawn, Sharon

A total off eight people went. Eating out was not an option. I channeled my inner-Frances and decided to pack a picnic. It would save me a ton of money. Not knowing what the kids would eat I told Dawn to bring kid food. Then I bought ham and cheese, rye, chips, pretzels, cherry tomatoes, and grapes. Plus water and tiny cans of soda. Lydia brought paper products and red solo cups. (Well, generic ones.) The children knew the chorus of the song! We had a sing along. Thankfully 13 is not to old to sing with relatives.

Dawn brought Lunchables and Yoo Hoo. And other snacks and beverages. But the best was that pre-made bright yellow really salty popcorn. Let's just say I'm not taking my BP tomorrow. But it was worth it.

It was nice to see we were not the only ones picnicking. It took three blankets to fit us and the food. We had a lot.

Bubba ate and then started running around, stuffing acorns everywhere. At one point he said "Mimi, help me get the nuts out of my pants." It was nearly impossible not to laugh. Even the 13-year-olds got the double meaning. And he kept saying it.

He wanted to ride in the rusty caboose so Aunt Pat rode with him. It took three grown men to get her out.  We opted for the open air car. It was cooler than inside the cars, but we got hit with ash and smoke. And the sun. I took off my hat and held it at the back of my neck. (Yes, I had sunscreen on.) We all decided that railroad workers must have all died of lung disease.

I was stressed about today. All those people. All those personalities clashing. But it actually worked out okay. I remembered why I liked family activities.

It was such a good day that both boys fell asleep in the car coming home. And they were in different cars.