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.