changes and little museums

Today I left late for my walk. I did the laundry, hung it out and then has a call and visit from my sister. She's up for the weekend. It was probably one before I left.

Since this is the summer of little museums, I picked the parkway because I was sure the Museum of Indian Culture would be open. And this summer, I'm doing little museums.  I parked at the Fish Hatchery and headed toward the trail. At first I couldn't find the trail head. I had to ask a runner. I guess I lost it becuase I looked at the fish. The first part of this section of the trail is a really big hill. Then a long downhill. I always go this way because the otherway it would be a long uphill and a short, steep downhill! I headed toward the covered bridge.

Then I crossed the covered bridge and came back the other side. I actually think this side is a little shorter than the other side. The museum is right before the Hatchery. The trail forks and I took the fork to the Musuem.

I couldn't get in. At three places it said "open" by the door was locked. I was about to give up when the door opened and someone left me in. I'm guessing she was college age, but she looked 12. However, she was an excellent docent and has a lot of experience in the subject of indigenious peoples. I had never been there, but I learned a few things which is always great.

 Friday night/Saturday morning a branch fromt the tree fell on a car. It was only dinged, if anything. But they never moved the car. When I arrived home the car was gone — they just pulled out — and left the damage laying in the street. The only saw I have is my Christmas Tree saw, and it didn't work well. It kept seizing. I was trying to cut the big pieces into smaller pieces. I thought I was inept.

Mr. Schuster came home (A neighbor up the hill) and I told Sharon to run up and ask if he had a chain saw. He did, and he had trouble with a chain saw. I suddenly wasn't feeling so bad. Apparently my tree out front is very hard wood.

I have a pile of branches to cut smaller and take to the compost center, but the stree doesn't look too bad. Of course, I have to find someone that has a little knowledge of trees to fix the wound. Right now it's a big, nasy, jaggy, tear

Miles/Steps:  5 ish includes tree cutting adventure because I didn't check my tracker
Bathrooms:   none used
Wildlife:        Doe, fawn, cardinal, birds, squirrels. No geese or ducks. Lots of trout. But they weren't wild. They were captive
Weather:       Sunny, not humid, 80s    

$ found:        none

Extras:          One reason we don't use this section of the trail much is because there was a bad spot under the bridge. It felt like mountian climbing. They rebuilt the bridge and fixed the trail! (Below) Wooo Hoooo.

keystone games

Today was the Keystone Games in Pennsylvania. The Games are the largest annually held multi-sport competitions providing Pennsylvania's amateur athletes an opportunity to compete against athletes from throughout the Commonwealth and beyond in a festival atmosphere that promotes all of the positive aspects of amateur sports.

The York White Rose Wanderers had a volkssport walk as part of the games. Imagine, plain walking as an athletic event.  Tell that to all the professionals who have told me over the years that walking isn't exercise.

Getting to York wasn't an issue. Finding the arena was. I arrived at the fairgrounds. The instructions said the arena was 3/4 of the way around. So I stayed on the street looking for signage at each gate for the arena. there was none. There was no signage on the street side of any building. As a graphic designer, this is an epic fail of environmental graphics. After driving all the way around I entered the grounds at the first gate that was open, and followed the road around. There was tons of signage INSIDE the gates. It was easy to find the arena. 

I signed in for both the walk and the games, picked up the directions, and headed out the door. the instructions said to turn right and follow the pink strings to Pennsylvania Avenue. I never found the pink strings. I came in on Penna. Ave. so I knew where it was. When I left I saw the only sign for the Games on the fence. Just 1 sign. (Bangs head on gate.)

The first 5K was a giant loop, that was fatter at the top. It went thru a couple parks and around a man-made lake called Liberty Lake.

 Inside the park was a lovely veterans memorial

 Filled with art and flowers.

The lake returns to being a creek over this little dam-like item. And then it was time to return to the park.

 I walked down the correct road and went past the Vietnam Memorial and

the fair grandstand. When I returned, I signed in at the check point, filled my water bottle and headed out for the second loop—West York.

Bonnie would have hated this one. I think they measured it out and it was short, so they added these little jogs where you went around the block. Bonnie X's those suckers right out. It also was a loop, of sorts, but when we returned to the arena, we didn't go back in the fence, we walked all the way around the back side. Again, Bonnie would have said hell no.

This was a very residential/business walk. The most interesting thing I saw on the walk was the lettering for this club. It's divine. I'd love to see it lit.

On the way out of the arena I saw a hex sign and went to investigate.  It was another Heritage Quilt Block.  We have two at the fairgrounds in Allentown. Maybe I should look at fairgrounds for them?

It was a nice time. And at the end I got a patch. Not sure what I'll do with it, but I feel very athletic having it.

Miles/Steps: 7
Bathrooms:   I-4.5 in the arena
Wildlife:        A sord of mallards, a gaggle of geese, birds, squirrels, nothing out of the ordinary. I was told the park was filled with egrets and herron. Didn't see one. There was another gaggle of geese on the road.
Weather:       Overcast high 60s at start, low 70s at end. Breezy  

a beautiful couple of days

It's been a beautiful couple of days. The weather report above is from Lydia's phone. Not as hot. Not as humid. So it's been great walking weather. However, I've stuck mostly to the hood, and that just isn't real interesting.

Thursday I was very active. I did a simple traingular walk in the hood, basically out Broadway to St Ursula's, and back.  Then, later I picked up my nephew and weworked in my yard for two hours, and then another hour in Lydia's.

When I returned home the wreath fairy had come to my house and left this beautiful sunflower wreath on my front door. I came in the back so I didn't notice it. Good thing I've been on a cleaning spree lately. Thursday between outdoor activities it was the front hall!

Today I walked in Fountain Hill and I climbed up the hill to St Lukes and went to take the stairs in the parking lot. They were gone!. I guess now that people are using the new sidewalk they didn't need them anymore. I need them. I have serious concerns for this hillside. It's barren and eroding. Especially where the stairs were.

Afterwards, Lydia, Adonis and I took the compost from her house to the compost center. Adonis wasn't welcome. Lyd had to stay outside with him. We had no problems at the recycle center. Later, at my house, I took him to see the dead people. That made him happy.

Tomorrow is the Keystone Games. It's supposed to rain. Oh goodie.

Miles/Steps:  4.5 (with outdoor work) Thrs., 3 Friday
Bathrooms:   none
Wildlife:        birds, squirrels, a single bunny. Nothing out of the ordinary
Weather:       Partly Cloudy high 70s    

$ found:        1¢

irt with allentown hiking club

I joined the Allentown Hiking Club shortly after Good Friday. I had met them on the trail and they were nice. Why not. Plus I want to do some parts of the AT, and they are the people to do it with.

I've been getting newsletters and emails since. A couple times I wanted to go to an event, and something came up. One time I did go, and it was the wrong day. I should really print out the schedule, I'd probably go more often.

We met at the trail head at Levans Road in Ironton. Appropriate, I guess. I've never walked thru the recreation area, but I did walk that section of the trail, once, about a year ago. This is the ultimate finish line for the Spur. There is a signpost to prove it. I drove on Levans Road to go to LCCC. I never saw this lot. Maybe it's new? There's a big IRT sign, you'd have to be blind to miss it.

I believe there were 10 people, and we were led by Barbara, who met her husband hiking the AT. My kind of romance. the group was pretty spread out and Barbara stayed with the last person. We turned around and went back about a half-mile east of the Troxell-Steckle house. There were many people that had never seen it, so they went and poked around, and Barbara told stories of farmers and Moravians and pissed off Native Americans and white people being murdered and scalped and native Americans driven away. Of course none of these tales are on the official website. And I didn't take notes so there is no way I can retell them. They are just a jumbled mess. Dang it.

It was a good walk. I stayed with the middle group. Not too fast. Not too slow.

Today I just did a small walk with Angel, and will be heading to Fitness in the Park soon. I can wait to see what torture lies ahead.

Miles/Steps:  6.5 ish
Bathrooms:   L-4.5
Wildlife:        birds, squirrels. Nothing out of the ordinary
Weather:       Partly Cloudy low 80s    

$ found:        none

Extras:          I can now boost that I've walked the entire IRT. Of course, there's no value there. It's not like it's the PCT or the AT, or hell, even the D&L.

progress

The heat wave has broken. Sort of. the heat has broken. the humidity remains. That, the weather people claim, will be gone by Wednesday.

I had to wait for the rain to end before I could head out. It was cool and breezy. At one point, early on, I thought I might need sleeves. That was short lived. I walked up to Seneca, and then down Cherokee and over the bridge. I wanted to see if the pedestrian bridge was done. Musikfest is two weeks away. I think they will make it.  Hopefully they do a little more landscaping than gravel at the creek bank. That gravel will all just wash into the creek. Even rocks would be better. Plants will latch on and grow between them, and people will still be able to fish.

On Ohio Road, the bridge over the creek is also fixed at the entrance to Johnston park. This bridge was damaged last year during Musikfest. I like how they cleaned the rocks so that you can barely see the repair. Of course the top ledge gives it away.

I headed thru the historic area, and up the stairs by the Water Works. Then it was down Main, and up Lehigh to the Fahy Bridge.

Coming back on the bridge, I noticed they are finally putting up the rails on the staircase to Sand Island. It's about time. The sidewalk has been open since about March.

On the south side, the rails aren't up yet, but they are out. It will be great when this is done. This is such a great shortcut when walking.

Miles/Steps:  4ish
Bathrooms:   None used
Wildlife:        a gaggle of geese, birds
Weather:       Partly Cloudy high 70s    

$ found:        1¢

Extras:          On the way back I wanted to stop and have my glasses fixed. Somehow I got them all befuddled. I can barely see out of them. I walked straight past the opticians.

golv: jacobsburg state park

Today was a Get Out Lehigh Valley event in Jacobsburg State Park. I think about 50 people were there. Nice turn out considering the weather. Lots of families, including tots in backpacks. No dogs.

We did the Henry's Wood trail, detoured to the dam, doubled back and took another trail up the hill. We crossed the road, and made another loop before ending back at the parking lot. We stopped a few times to talk about plants and watch a daddy longleg pick up a worm for dinner.

It's an old growth forest so it was quiet shady. But the humidity was exhausting. I got in the car and cranked up the AC.

Miles/Steps:  3
Bathrooms:   None used
Wildlife:        black bird, daddy longleg, quiet in the forest
Weather:      Sunny, humid, low-90s     

$ found:       none 

heat wave day five

I've had to get creative this week with walking. There is a heat wave going on. Heat I can take. Humidity, not so much. I have finally discovered my sister/roomates heat index. Yesterday she asked me to turn on a fan. It was about 4 in the afternoon and this was the temperature in the house. I ran to flip the light switch. Normally if I put on a fan she wraps herself in her blankie. I already had the fan on in my office room.

One room that is really hot is the kitchen. And if you do anything in it, it's even hotter. It was so hot yesterday that I made pasta with pesto for dinner.  Minimal heat. But I had corn that needed to be cooked. I put it on the stove, and headed to my office room to work. I forgot about it. Later, when the storm hit I heard a pop pop pop in the kitchen. Oops. Burnt the pan and the corn. I stuck it outside in the rain.

Exercise has been challenging in the heat. I didn't do much Wednesday because I was helping my teen friend purge her closet and her room. Then I joined her and her mom at the exercise in the park. It was abs and butts. My knees were crying uncle.

Yesterday, I was reduced to mall walking. Instead of going for a walk, I spent the morning washing blankets and quilts and things. Then hanging them all out on the line. Then I drove to the Farmers Market because I didn't want rotten food when I got home. Pat went along and sat in the car. In the heat. I did the best I could, I parked under a tree and opened the windows. My mother I would leave the AC on and burn gas. Not her. A cop came walking up the street and checked on her. She pretty much told him to mind his beeswax.

So mall walking it was. Everyone knows how much I love a mall, but it was fairly empty and a lot warmer than I thought it would be. There were areas that were fridgid, and areas that were warm. Those were accompanied by a skylight. My guess it was greenhousing. I walked both floors at a brisk pace and tried not to window shop. I started at Macy's, made a loop around the left side and walked toward Penny's, doing the concourse also. Then a loop around Penny's and headed backMacy's, again doing the concourses and a loop thru Boscov's. Then it was down the stairs to do it all over again.

Then I walked back to Teavana to look at tea. My "gong" for today is to enjoy the ritual of brewing and drinking tea, and appreciate the time it takes for the ritual. I hate hot tea.  I pretty much hate hot beverages except for hot choloate, and certainly don't want that in this weather. I realize that there is something about the ritual of brewing and partaking and savoring, but can't the same be said for canning, or cooking in general?

Anyway, they had some wonderful smelling cold brews, but you needed their silly pot. That is not happening.

Today I got up bright and early and headed out to walk. I was going to finish the planter trip I started Tuesday. I realized that I don't like early morning city walks because there is so much traffic all rushing to get to work.

The first planters were at the Comfort Suite, and across the street. Others were at New, and then no more until the area of the Steel

But I found some nice mosaic work in a doorway

 Some sculptural collars in a window.

 A line in the sidewalk.

 And a couple of plaid shirts.

 I also found 2 more bike racks. I should have taken this one separately.

I really like this molten steel one. It is, of course, at the Steel.

I was dripping wet when I walked in the house.

Miles/Steps:  Weds. not quite 3, Thrs. about 4, Today about 4
Bathrooms:   None used
Wildlife:        squirrels, birds, one bunny. It's too hot for wildlife.
Weather:      Sunny, hot, almost 70% humidity, mid-90s     

$ found:       13¢ over 3-days

the story of the keys

Monday, I came in the house after putting away the car, set down my keys, and haven't seen them since.

For two or three days I've been using the spare set to get in and out of the house, and the spare car key to make the car run. Yesterday I had the car key, but not the other keys. Usually Pat is in the house, and it's no biggie. But she was on the front porch waiting for me. I had to break the window to get in the garage. Then we drove over to Sharon's to get her key to get back in the house.

A trip to Cantelmi's was in order. I walked there this morning. It was a similar route to the one I walked yesterday. So today I took photos of the street art.

Here are the painted planters on Fourth. There are more on Third. That's another day.

This is a rain barrel near Cantelmi's. The street side is the light blue.

Here are a couple of bike racks. The one is meh. The other is made from bent parking meters. So cool. Both are on Fourth. The meters are at New and the logo at Vine.

I was drenched with sweat when I got home.

Later, I walked over to see the fire damage on Bergen street at the old Hertzog building. That was at about noon and it's maybe eight blocks round trip. I was just as sweaty, maybe more so, as my longer walk this morning. 

Miles/Steps:  About 4 with the two walks
Bathrooms:   None used
Wildlife:        squirrels
Weather:      AM walk: Overcast, warm, low-80s, humid. NOON walk: Sunny, high-80s, high humidity.     
Extras:         Dave and Barb showed up today with a bag of fresh kale. Yum.

an inconvenient storm

Tonight Angel, the teen and I were going to Aqua Zumba in P'burg. We were going to meet Beth there.

As it turns out Beth couldn't make it because of a family emergency in Rhode Island. But we were still going.  She also asked me to check in on the dog she was sitting for

Around 2 the clouds rolled in. By four it was drizzling.  I headed to Easton anyway. By the time I picked up the teen at her grandmother's and drove to Easton, the storm had begun in ernest. As I was going around the block to park, the lightning struck RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAR. I thought I was going to poop myself. We sat in the car at least 10 minutes in front of Angel's house before it slowed down enough to go in. The teen wanted to go in during the heavy rain. I said fine. I'm waiting here. She waited with me.

I took fresh tomato sauce and cauliflower for dinner. Angel was providing the pasta.  By the time dinner was over, the sun was out. I called the pool, no answer. Not a great sign. The web said open. So we went anyway. My map sucked. I knew it was near Beth's. The teen got directions from the  GPS on her phone. I thought we were going wrong. We were going right. (Trust me. Trust the phone.) When we arrived the pool was closed.

We headed to Beth's. It was only a few blocks away. The dog was happy to see us. We gave her a treat, put on her leash and headed out for a walk around a large block. The teen wanted to run the street with the dog, and I saw a package on the porch. She went to run the dog, and I grabbed the mail, the package, and headed to the patio. By that time the teen and dog were back and we took everything in the house. I filled the dogs bowl with water and the teen played with the dog. Then it was time to buy cheap gas ($2.17 in NJ) and head back to Angels.

On the way home the teeen asked why Beth's house smelled gross. Beth is a smoker, and I think most of her friends are smokers. All of us over 35 are well aware of the lingering smell of smoke on your clothes when you are out with friends. And in resturants, bars, hotel rooms, and yes, maybe your house. Her Mimi and "Butch" smoke outside. (as did my father, before it was cool!) Her grandfather also smoke but grandmother keeps the windows open. If you look there's probably discrete bowls of vanilla sitting around. Clearly, the smoke free kids movement is working.

Earlier today I walked thru Lehigh's campus and back home Fourth street. It was so humid. But not super hot.

Miles/Steps:  About 4.5 with walk and dog walk
Bathrooms:   None used
Wildlife:        squirrels
Weather:      AM walk: Sunny, hot, upper-80s, humid        
Extras:         Dave and Barb showed up today with a bag of fresh kale. Yum.

a different kind of mall walking.

I want to purchase a copy of the Mid-Atlantic AT Trail Guide. Sure the info is online, but there is no internet surface in the woods. If I was ever in trouble I don't know how they'd find me. No thanks, I want paper.

There is an LLBean at the Promenade Lifestyle Center. I decided that I'd go to LLBean and then walk the perimeter of the mall. It's a mile loop. Maybe do it two or three times. Instead I did the perimeter and half way went into Bean.  No books. Then walked another quarter and went into Barnes and Noble. No trail guides. Guess I have to shop online. Finished my first circle and then I decided to walk out the center Main street and up and down the other streets, one side at a time. I was hot and sweaty when I finished so I went into the spray park with the kids.

 

Thursday I walked around the hood including the Fountain Hill recreation trail. I took it uphill. Yesterday I went to a workshop and didn't walk at all. 

Miles/Steps:  About 3
Bathrooms:   None used
Wildlife:        When I was doing the back side of the outside loop there were a lot of birds.
Weather:      Sunny, hot, upper-80s, not as humid       
Extras:          The security person at the splash park asked which kid was mine. None. 

what's old is new again

In the past decade or two, yoga has made a real comeback. Now "Mindfulness" is making a comeback. I've encountered it several places, including two workshops at the UCDA conference.  I think it ties to how mean the world has become.

Like I mentioned in my post the other day, I am participating in a test panel for the "Art of Stopping Time". It's a series of gongs/tasks to get back wasted time and concentrate on yourself. I'm a skeptic,  not the least bit spiritual, but who knows. Yesterday was the video conference call. I need to watch the beginning because I had no sound. (Okay, I didn't know how to use Facebook live.) The author used to be a monk.

I was immediately brought back to my youth. 

Back in high school and the hippie movement, Transcendental Meditation was hot. Even the Beatles did it. There was a house at Fiot and Itaska that had meetings. There was a picture of Maharishi Mahesh Yogi out front. I used to joke about it.

Today I went to a workshop for "Mindfulness" at a yoga studio in a corporate office building. It was run by Prabha Sinha, the same person who leads as "yoga under the stars". Guess what? It was meditation. It's been 50 years since the "summer of love" and everything is apparently coming full circle. Too bad I'm not as thin and agile that I was back in the day.

I can't clear my mind. Meditation is just out of my tool box. I was quiet for a half-hour. But my brain wasn't. And my feet weren't. I kept moving my hands and my legs. I kind of felt like I was at a Quaker meeting. Silence, for me, is deafening.

Also today I did my first gong for the test panel.

Tonight is exercise in the park. Angel and the teen came. It was nice to have a friendly face there. And they kicked my butt.

Class was odd. Coach Sweat ran it. To this point it's always been the women. I think Coach Sweat is a trainee. He didn't show us the beginner, intermediate, advanced moves that I cherish so much. We went for hard core. And got precious few rest periods.  After the halfway "run", mutiny broke out and some wise-ass said we should design the workout. Coach Tiffany thought that was a fine idea. And we did. It was Hell. My knees won't work tomorrow there were so many squats. And I only do demi - pilets.

The teen wants to come again and again. Next time she won't bring the world's smallest water bottle. She had to refill at the fountain.

Meditation in the morning. Exercise in the park at night. Talk about extremes. And to round it out I also walked on Stefko Blvd area.  Exercise wise, it's a short day.

Miles/Steps:  3 between the hike and the playground
Bathrooms:   None used
Wildlife:        a beautiful huge moth and an imperial butterfly
Weather:      Sunny, hot, upper-80s as I leave for the park, humid        
Extras:          I always thought Coach Sweat's role was to be eye candy. He needs to be in Essence. He kept his shirt on tonight, so Angel didn't get the full experience. 

the things bubba didn't do today.

My almost 9-year-old nephew was supposed to stay with me today. Originally it was because his sister was on a mission trip, and grandma was at work. But Mimi was let go last week, so that wasn't an issue. Could you still take him? I'll get so much more done. Sure, I will plan something.

Bubba, I fear, is one of the kids addicted to screens. He rips the phone out of Mimi's hand so he can play a game. At first it didn't bother her. Now it does. A lot. She never had internet in the house so previously it wasn't an option. But the 15-year-old needs it for school. So after Christmas she had it connected, and subscribed to Netflix. It's been downhill from there.

The child gets up in the middle of the night to watch tv. He won't go to bed. They hide the remote.

Sunday he spent the night with Mom. He came home cranky. I'm guess he spent the whole time in front of the boob tube. That's what they called tv when I was a kid.

I planned to go with Angel and Eva to a park and hike, and then maybe use the playground or wade in the creek. We included Bubba in the plan.

Last night I told Mimi to bring him over between 8-9. They arrived at 9:20. He was testy. He didn't come in the house. He wanted to go home and watch videos and tv. He sat in the hot car. She went out and got him. He went back out. This happened 3xs. Finally I said, I'm leaving in 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1. He didn't budge. Bye.

When he got home there was a no-screen rule for the day. Maybe tomorrow too. It will be a long time (outside of birthday plans already made) before he goes with "aunt, Gayle", again. I'm pissed. Sadly the twins would have been in the car waiting.

What Bubba didn't do today:
• Watch a brand new street sweeper clean the street in front of Angel's house. Even I was impressed. And the borough even cuts the curb weeds. I am jealous.
• Play with cats
• Hike three miles
• Pick wine berries and stuff them in his face leaving none for the wildlife
• Walking around ruins
• Picnicking for lunch
• Hunting for a really big rooster and finding it
• Playing in a public playground that had a zip line and a pirate ship. It was fun.

Miles/Steps:  4.25 between the hike and the playground
Bathrooms:   At the state park L-1.5 according to the teen. "There were cigarette butts on the floor." At HMP I-3.5
Wildlife:       a true gaggle of geese. There must have been 40. Another set near the parking lot included 6 older goslings, and 5 adults. A yellow finch. A red tent. "Does a homeless person live there?" asked the teen. Probably.
Weather:      Sunny, mid-80s, humid 
$ Found:       0
Extras:          Apparently there is a proper way to pet a cat. I didn't know. He seemed to enjoy being petted like a dog.

wandering

This morning Angel and I planned an outing with the teen and my nephew Bubba for tomorrow. We decided on Hugh Moore Park. There's a cool playground now and all kinds of improvements.

Today's plan was to do a bunch of errands and walk. Somewhere. I had to go to Easton to take envelopes for the AVA box. I thought I might go to canal park and walk the canal. Somehow I ended up at Hugh Moore Park. I guess my subconscious was in control.

 I tried to stay away from areas we talked about going with the kids. I parked in the new lot over the bridge (with the cleanest port-o-potty ever) and headed to what was an old lot. The sculpture from Bushkill Drive's iron works is there now.

There is also now a bike park, I think, there. Maybe it's for dogs but there is a bike pump and repair tools so I don't think so. I walked the course. Some of the little bumps were steep. One I had to get a running start.

 I took the trail out to the D&L and walked back toward the canal boat. Then I took the path thru the new playground -- it has a zip line! -- and started taking the road back to the lot and noticed there is now a path running adjancent to the road. It is about time. And their are also barriers so that you can't park along the road, which should no longer be needed with all the new parking.

Miles/Steps:  2.8
Bathrooms:   I-4.5
Wildlife:       Evidence of wildlife. Goose poop galore. And road apples from the mules
Weather:      Sunny, mid-80s
$ Found:       0
Extras:          I took some of Martha's books to the Little Free Library box in Scott Park. It was empty once I removed the Jehovah Witness propaganda. I threw it in the trash.