geocaching — strike 2

 Holy Ghost cemetery

I'm beginning to think geocaching is not for me. Though I must admit that it made the same-old-same-old walk new and interesting and ... frustrating as heck.

It looked like it was going to pour this morning so I headed out at 6:30 while it was just a drizzle. Eventually it stopped, and now the sun is out. But it's still humid as heck.

Since I didn't want to use too much data on my phone, I sat at the computer last night and found 5 caches on my walk. That way I could just use the phone when I got relatively close to them.

The first on was at Warren and Moravia. The clue was read the signs. I looked at the signs and saw nothing. Well, I saw the blue reflector but I thought it was part of the sign. I looked on the ground. I turned on the GPS and though I can't figure out quite how it works, it pointed me right to the stop sign. The geocache is under the blue reflector.

Even though it took what felt like an hour, I was excited.  I logged it in. The next one was at Bottom Dollar. Couldn't find it. Turns out it's part of a series that's like a giant game of clue. Without the other clues, what I was looking at there made no sense.

Next one was at the triangle by the pool where they have the flag and memorial. I knew that one probably wouldn't be there because others mentioned that they could no longer find it. I bet when the borough cleaned up the triangle to set up for spring they took it away by accident. Or on purpose.

I'm 1 for 3. This is not good. I headed to St. Luke's upper parking lots. The next one was there. This should have been dummy proof. Someone posted a picture of the location. But the location was all dug up and muddy and I couldn't find that one either. I looked on the guard rail and also the fence.

One more left. This one was at the Art Establishment. The GPS had you go to the alley. I looked around the base the first time, and up the second. I looked in cinder blocks and dead trees, and under the stairs. I checked above the doors and windows. Another failure. When I got home I checked the geocache site on my computer and it said it was a "stretch". So I needed to look above my head.
Since it's only 3 blocks away, I might go look again today.

even jack couldn't play golf here!

Today I went to another "new to me" nature preserve. It is the sight of the former Woodland Hills Golf Club. It is easy to find, but not used much. The paths are grass or old  golf cart roads. The clubhouse and water features remain. But everything else had returned to nature. I couldn't find a single sand pit.

There is a very small parking lot of a gravel road. It is clear that this entrance is not the same as it was for the golf club.

This park was pretty much created by letting everything go fallow. You can't tell the rough from the fairway or the turf. Heck, you'd be hard pressed to find the hole. But some old signs remain. There are a few trees on the one route, but not many. 

There are two paths—blue at 1.1 miles, and green at 2.4 miles. So together one can do a 5K. The trail blazes are just natural green plastic ties. They are kind-of hard to see. Blazing this trail is a scout award project waiting to happen. All that's really needed is a 2x4, 4 feet or so high, with a stake bottom. Then paint the the top 6 inches of the green ones lime green and the blue ones that nasty neon blue and hammer them into the ground. Mile markers or some sort of indicators would be nice too. I felt isolated and helpless as I walked—I guess I shouldn't have gone alone. I had no idea where I was or how far I had gone. I had wished I didn't delete that mapmywalk app. I guess it's time to reinstall.

I took the longer perimeter route. It was very hot and sunny. I should have taken a larger water bottle.

The port-o-potty in the parking lot was clean. Really clean. You could tell few people use this park. I'd give it a P-4.5.

After walking I went to the Saucon Farmer's Market in the Water Street Park.  The park has been totally renovated, with the parking lots on the side where the market was. The market now runs between the rail trail and the playground. It looked a lot bigger, with lots of vendors. I only bought pickles.

geocaching ... strike 1

Updated 5/30 with photos from GetoutLV's facebook page.

Today was the Treasure Hunt Walk with Get Out Lehigh Valley. The hook? Geocaching.

I've always wanted to learn this game, so I downloaded the free version of the app for my phone. (Yes, I know,it's a miracle I downloaded an app. My smart phone is nearly as dumb as my dumb phone was.)

It was at the Jordan Creek Greenway. A county park and a place I never heard about. This is the first 2 mile section. Only 51.3 miles to go to reach the AT, and then off to Maine. If you dare. More importantly it will connect with the trail system at Trexler Nature Preserve (aka Game Preserve. Game, I guess, is politically incorrect.). Exciting. Probably 50 people came to this event.

Since it was near Lydia's, I picked her up and drug her along.

At this event they always take a group photo and it becomes the facebook cover image. If you look to the left, I am the third yellow shirt in the row.

Because it was a large group, they broke us in two. Three, actually. One group just hiked.  The second group didn't have the app on their phone and they were lent GPS units. I should have went with that group. The GPS units were great. They seemed to work well.

Our group, the third group,  did have phones, but it did us little good. The "caches" on this trail were in the paid-for version. We could only do the ones the Wildland's conservatory "planted" for the day.

This is number 2. The first one was really obvious. They call this sport Tupperware Hide And Seek because everyone uses airtight and water resistant plastic containers. They need to be labeled so people don't think they are trash. Inside could be a clue. Generally a log book. Or could be some trinket to trade. These had clues to take you to the next spot.

The next spot was under some stairs. Another was in a faux log. (That's called a camo cache.) Inside was a test tube with a screw lid, and inside that, another clue.

The last one was bright pink and in a rotting tree stump. I turned around and there it was. So I went to collect it. Are my knees really this ugly?

When it was opened it had patches and stickers and things, as well as the log book. Had I known someone was taking pics I would not have used my gut for a table.

Walking back we found this bird's nest inside the handrail of a bridge over the creek. Mama wasn't home so we could take a pix.

There was a single uni-sex stall bathroom at the park. It was old, but clean. And there was running water and soap. I'd give it an I-3.5

We decided to find one on our own, near this historic grist mill. Even with the aid of the volunteer who knew where it was, we couldn't find it.

So the day was pretty much a bust. But I  am still tempted. The tween is going to get a work out this summer looking for caches in Wilson with me. After we try a couple more times, I'll decide if I want to upgrade or delete the app.

jeremiah

Today was was a mini walk, only a mile and a half, and flat, but that's all Bonnie's allowed to do. And it was fun not being in my hood AND having someone to talk to.

Her timer went off at Laubach Park and as we went to turn around we heard a bullfrog. Of course we had to explore and find him. His name is Jeremiah, of course. As we were cutting thru the grass to the pond I kept thinking Bonnie, don't fall. She didn't bring the cane.

 When we got back out to the lot, we took a selfie. It's been a long time since I've done that on a walk.

Walking back we found another large frog in someone's yard. She is adorable. The lips are what caught my attention first. Hopefully the homeowners drilled holes in the bottom of all the tires to leave the water out.

Last night I signed up for two more GET OUT Lehigh Valley walks. Tomorrow's is called a Treasure Hunt walk and it's all about geocaching. I have never walked at Jordan Creek Parkway in Whitehall, so this will be a NEW trail. Happy dance.

I also signed up for the Woodland Hills Preserve walk in July. It's sort-of in Hellertown, and it's a old golf course than has gone back to nature.

I'm also considering signing up for the Thomas Darling Preserve Laural walk in Blakeslee. That's where Mosey Wood is. Not sure if I want to drive an hour to walk an hour and then drive home. Now if we were picking the tween up at camp, it would be a different story. But alas, she's going to horsey camp at Wood Haven this year.

time for new sneakers

I've needed new sneakers since late fall. I decided to wait until after winter because they would just get ruined in winter. Smart, right? Winter turned into Spring and now it's the end of May, and I still hadn't done it yet. I will procrastinate until water seeped into the bottom. Why? Because they are expensive. (They are now up to $165 American).

Today was the day. I threw the roomie into the car and off we went to the New Balance store. I wanted something different. And hopefully cheaper. And still made in America. (Yeah, I'm a hard-ass like that.) I tried on every other style in the store and they were the only ones that fit my stupid feet. I have fat fronts and skinny heels. I need a heel cup. Not many walking shoes have them. And side support because I walk over on the sides of my shoes. Not as bad as in childhood, but I still do it. I ended up buying only one pair.

He also measure my feet. Mostly because he couldn't read the label inside. I have also gotten fat enough that my feet have grown to a 10.5. Though not quite into the wide area.

Now that I have the correct size again, I can look online for a cheaper pair. Maybe. I really need two. These will be shot by fall. Heck, they might be shot by the end of vacation with all the walks/hikes we have planned.

At the New Balance store they now have a box to donate your "gently used" shoes. Clearly mine don't qualify.  I'll save them for the LBW picnic when they collect for the Nike shoe re-purposing program.

I had a choice between black, grey, and black and white (think Chuck Taylors). The pink version doesn't come out until 3rd quarter. For obvious reasons, they are a"fall" color. But he did give me pink shoelaces.

i forgot it was thursday.

Thursday is farmer's market day in south Bethlehem, and I forgot. I'm so pissed. The roomie reminded me after I came in from a regular (aka boring) neighborhood walk.  Technically, walking to the farmer's market is one of the regular boring walks, but there is food at the end. And music. And lovely farmers. And peanut butter and popcorn samples.

I drove down later.

Yesterday I did a Fountain Hill walk. Just type Fountain Hill into the Blogger search engine and you'll find dozens of posts about that walk. There were prepping the park for summer, dumping truckloads of mulch.

Monday and Tuesday I was at a conference at Kean University in Union, NJ. Monday I walked around the campus during lunchtime. We had an hour an a half. The sun was out and beautiful. It poured all the way home.

Tuesday I didn't get a chance to walk, there was a speaker at lunchtime. However, I got a lot of stairs in. Breakfast was on the 6th floor. And workshops on the 6th and 4th floors. So it was up an down constantly. Starting with these outside.

 Photo by Laurie, CAI

 

Sunday the teen, Barb, Dave and I packed meals for Generosity Gives.  The teen and I signed up under his employers CAI Cares program. This is our team before we began.

  Photo by Laurie, CAI

This is us working. Note our great fashion accessories—Purple gloves and hairnets.

This is what a meal looks like. Just add water. It was quite the arm, wrist, hand workout. I felt like I needed to use my other arm to even things out. Barb I think was opening bags, I was adding dried veggies the first half, and moving bags the second. The tween and I switched activities. Dave was manning the seal-a-meal. 

The 11,300 meals (in 90 minutes) will go to children in the Allentown School District.

I'd do this again in a heartbeat.

trexler park

Today was Girl Scout bridging day, so I took my niece out to the meeting by 309 in Whitehall. It was also Bridging Day -- into Seniors -- so her mom came along. The big issue was she needed to be there at 9. We needed to be there at 11. That left two hours to kill. And it was raining. Again.

I had a few things to put in the recycle bins at Target so that was my first stop. As we entered we were greeted by this soda sculpture of a flag. I'm weird. I really like these. There's part of me that wants to play a very messy game of Jinga with them.

The recycle bins are right in the front of the store, so we took two laps of the store.

I didn't know what this one was when we encountered it at the second entrance. Eryn did. It's a man saluting. Not that I want to diss the artist, but his arm has serious issues.

After leaving the store, we headed to Trexler Park where they covered the cook old stone sign, with this new one? What do you think? I like the old one better. I wonder if they are putting up signs at all the parks? I also wonder why they are spending money on signs, rather than fixing the parks themselves.

We did the upper loop, and the little extension loop. We visited Harry on his horse. His butt must be really sore. He's been sitting here for decades. Then back down the hill and to the parking lot.

The restrooms were clean as always, but no TP so they get an I.3. Too bad, they could have gotten a 4.

Then it was off to Wegmans for breakfast, and then on to Bridging.

Yesterday I did a modified Bethlehem South Volkssport walk. Otherwise, because of the constant rain the last few weeks,  I've stay close and in the neighborhood.

easton volkssport walk

After all that work, the day finally arrived. It was Easton Volkssport walk day! Megan is actually the only one of us who got to do the whole 10K. We we all working the event/

Angel walked down to the river from her house so she got at least two miles in. And she was at the start table because she was the point of contact.

Bonnie worked the finish line table stamping books. It's amazing how far she has come in only 3 weeks. She was only using the cane because she was outside. AND she's now allowed to walk outside for exercise. But less than a mile and totally flat. But still, better than nothing. I remember mom being in bed for at least a week.

I stayed on the free bridge and took pictures of AVA walkers and others. Residents seemed to be thrilled that there was a PA | NJ sign up. For exercise I paced on the bridge. The guards at either end were very suspicious of me. I also did most of the 5K on the way back to the start point. Angel took a break and came to visit for a bit need the end of my shift.

Megan Darrell, and the tween walked the 10K route. The tween had done the whole 10 before. Darrell only the 5, and Megan not at all. So it was a good test of the route.  Why the 10? The tween was promised a trip to Full of Crepe if she did the 10. That is one of her favorite places to eat.

We only had 38 walkers, and 12 bikers. It was disappointing, but not bad for graduation/confirmation/communion season. And one was from Colorado.

The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and the club is thinking about making it a year round walk.


Next task. Dig out the directions for the old Hellertown walk and walk it. Then redo them to include the rail trail. It will be a walk/bike event just like this one.

ingenius

This article came up in my news feed today on Facebook. It is an ingenius solution to crosswalks. Of course, once people figure it out, the gig is up.

Now if they could just do something to make people actually stop before turning right on red. ...

pretty poppies

I've walked every day this week in the hood. Nothing new to take pictures of except these poppies.

orange day

This morning I got up and worked outside on the weeds for about an hour or so. I didn't even make a dent. Then I came in made breakfast and watched CBS Sunday Morning. My favorite news magazine.

Then it was time to walk. The sun came out, so it gave me the idea for orange day.

I texted Lydia to see if she wanted to go to Wayne Grube Park and then the Nor-Bath. We could even take Big A. She was in allergy hell and decided against it. I'm more the power thru it type. Oh well.

On to plan B. I needed to get flowers for the cemetery for my mom, so I decided to  go to Wegmans, park, walk around the block, shop, and then stop at the grave.

The first orange I found were these pansy's at the auto dealers. But then there was nothing.

Then I saw the speed sign and the light bulbs are ... drum roll please ... orange! And look I can walk 41 miles an hour. That means I should finish a marathon in about 30 minutes, right?

At Jacksonville Road I headed toward Advent church and the school. But there was so much activity in the park I decided to go that way instead. It was packed with people tired of being in the house. I think there was a flag football tourney going on also.

Near the football was a new dog park. I hadn't seen that before.

After figuring out the gate, I went in to take pixs of the benches and trash cans. So cute! There is a small dog and large dog area, so the tiny chihuahuas don't get trampled by the great danes.

At the rear parking lot, I picked up the bike trail and headed back to Wegman's. No more orange anywhere.

Orange day was a bust. But it was fun. Did I mention that the sun finally came out?

got wet on purple day

Today I went out as soon as I got up. I could have sworn the sun was coming out. I was wrong.

I headed up the hill and out Seneca where it was purple flower day. I found some wisteria first.

 And then these snow balls. I don't know what the name is. And yes, they are not purple. But they remind me of childhood.

 Then this ground cover. I don't what it's called either. But it's all over right now. I wish I had a spade sometimes to dig up pieces and put it in my yeard. You don't have to mow it!

 And then some lavender columbine.

Today I crossed the river, and was going to walk a little deeper into the north side. They were setting up for the sidewalk art show on Main Street. It started to drizzle while I was on the 2nd Avenue ramp. It began to pour when I reached Market. I ducked into the bagel shop on Main Street. Thankfully I had money and could wait out the downpour.

It was still raining when I turned around and headed home. That's when I noticed this graffiti on the bridge. Sadly I am so old I don't understand the message.

In Today's email I also received this message.

Goodness Gracious!

You've earned the Russian Railway badge

This badge represents a lifetime distance (3 years) of 5,772 miles—the same length as the Trans-Siberian Railway in Russia! With an achievement this big, it looks like you're en route to destination fitness.

Clearly they don't understand what a slacker I've been the
last few months.

despite the rain

I did get out a couple times this week, despite the rain. Not everyday, like my plan, but better than lately. Trying hard to return to old habits now that school is winding down.

Here are some pictures, from Thursday, I think. I never really left the neighborhood.

Hope they got a shot of my giant butt taking a picture of the stupidest signs ever. I need to borrow a dog and take a crap there.

 I'm not certain, but I think it's okay.

Art in the Wells Fargo parking deck.

i know we need the rain, but ...

I know we need the rain, but really, it's been 5 or 6 days. It's starting to cramp my style. So much for walking every day in May.

 Monday I walked in Fountain Hill. A variation on the same old, same old. The trees were flowering so that's what I took pixs of. Monday's walk was brought to you by the color pink. Even if it's a carpet of pink cherry blossoms on the sidewalk.

Or a little purple. They smelled great. Nothing like "lilac" in the drug store.

And at one time, in one of my Martha Stewart moods. I would have done this to my stairs.

I did re-sign up on the first for the Tail on the Trail Challenge. My total is 0. It used to be in the thousands. Kind of stung a little.