may days #28 -- outdoor adventure: forest bathing

A couple of days ago I received an email from Angel -- she's off all week on vacation -- asking if I wanted to do something socially distanced this week. Of course. I was in charge of picking the adventure. Poop. I have a running list of places and things I'd like to try but most aren't open and can't be done socially distanced.

By Tuesday I was actively searching google and other places trying to get ideas. Some of my searches included fun outside activities during self isolation. Most of the usual subjects appeared. Then one mentioned forest bathing. I am not getting naked and bathing in the forest.

Later that day, I was looking at the agenda for a conference I have Friday (via Zoom) and one of the workshops was forest bathing. Okay. Now I am interested. What the hell is forest bathing?  "Forest bathing, or shinrin-yoku, is simply spending time outdoors under the canopy of trees. In Japanese, “shinrin” means forest and “yoku” means bath, or immersing oneself in the forest and soaking in the atmosphere through the senses.  

Basically its meditation in the forest. You find a spot and then turn off the phone, and your brain, and listen to the wind and the rain and the animals and the whatever else is there. If you decide to keep moving, you walk very slow. You notice everything.  You pretty much leave the forest take over. Some of the articles I read said you should practice regularly, and work up to a full two hours. Wowzers. I can't be still for five minutes.

Angel and the teen came to my house after lunch and we went up to Dodson Park in Fountain Hill. The trails are part of Lehigh Counties Walking Purchase Park and are mostly used for mountain biking. I decided to take the yellow "Dodson" trail, and then the red "Beeches" trail. But when we found the red trail it was the "Lenni" trail. We thought they just changed the name, the map was from 2009. 

The Lenni trail was above the red "Beeches" trail, so when we reached the Powerline trail they didn't see the giant rock formation. They also didn't see the one on the trail. The teen loves rocks and I really wanted to show her the formations. Anyone who knows Mosey Wood think Jacob's Ladder.

On this trail fallen trees were turned into bike obstacles.  The teen did them all. I got all full of myself and tried but the decline at the end of one was steep and I took a flyer off the tree. Landed flat on my stomach. At least it wasn't my knee. I had lots of padding. But that fall didn't stop me from doing the second one. Though this time the teen was close by with a hand, just in case.

It was here that we chose our spots for forest bathing. This is Angel's spot.

This is the teen's spot. I kept walking very slowly. But before I silenced my phone I set the timer for 15 minutes. It was a long 15 minutes. I can't quiet my mind. The stiller my mind became the more I noticed invasive plants and the sheer quantity of them. I also saw litter. But on the upside I could probably hear 20 different birds instead of the usual four or five.

The others could have probably spent an hour.

It was very humid for May and it showered several times. We really didn't get wet because the canopy was so thick. When we returned to the power line, the teen voted to go up. It's a hard hill to walk up, but at least now it's covered with dirt. It's not the huge rocks when Isha and her friends went with me. 

After finishing the walk I drove them to the other end of the park so they could see the steep hill and the turnaround point. Someday I'll walk that side of the trail.

 

Miles/Steps:    2.5

Bathrooms:      removed for C19
Wildlife:           Heard 4 different woodpeckers. Chipmunks. two frogs. Lots of different bird calls
Weather:          70, overcast, showers

Extra:               The May flowers are still not blooming. The wine berries are budding.

Extra 2:            I have done my sister's rehab chair exercises every day since she finally started doing them. 

may days #25

It's Memorial Day and I needed to walk someplace close and not crowded. Where to go?

I thought about a couple of places and then decided to Google to see if something popped up. Jacobsburg, D&L, IRT, Saucon, Nor Bath ...  all popped up. Exactly the places I wanted to avoid. Then I saw an interesting entry "The Phil and Muriel Berman Sculpture Park". Say what? How did I not know about this. There is a large gallery and out door exhibit of his collection at Ursinus College, and much of it is scattered about local college campus. It was a Trip Advisor Post and the address listed was on Cedar Crest Blvd, right across the street from the hospital. Ithad one great review and four poor reviews. The last being that they couldn't find it.n Why? That area is all medical buildings. Even I was confused.

So I kept digging and found a Morning Call article from 1989 about the dedication of the sculpture Park at Ott and Parkway Blvd. Wait isn't that Cedar Beach?

So I had a walk and a puzzle to figure out. First I went to the Trip Advisor address and it was all medical buildings. Maybe it started out here, and as the hospital and its support buildings grew so it was moved?

I left and drove over to the hospital and found four or five pieces along the main road. But it was just that. A road. My next stop, Cedar Beach. I knew that Phil parked part of his collection there.

And that's where it was -- the Rose Garden half of Cedar Beach Park. And to make matters even more confusing, it's not listed on the Allentown website as even existing. Now don't get me wrong I've been to that park dozens of times since 1989 and I just never knew it was a sculpture park.

But here it is. Evidence on a sculpture that I've seen and have taken pictures on. It's this dual stone bench thing at the corner of Ott and Parkway Blvd. The cornerstone says "The Phillip and Muriel Berman Sculpture Park Dedicated by the city on July something, 1989", and ends with a quote.

Mystery solved. But was it really a mystery or just poor internet cataloging?

Miles/Steps:            2.5 mile

Weather:                 69, sunny

PPE found:              one mask, one glove and this is a big bucks neighborhood 

may days #24 -- lazy days

I told you I was better with people along. It is true.

Yesterday it rained a little, and a lot, but there was no reason on God's green earth that I could walk for a while. But I didn't. Unless you count the walk I took at a snails pace with my sister who is recovering from a mystery illness. We walked to the alley, then out the alley to the next alley and back. Later we did her five seated leg exercises, 10 times each for three sets. Workout time, 20 minutes. Tops.

Today we took another walk. This time up the hill to Sioux and back down. We stopped four times going up. Only twice coming down. She didn't want to go farther. We haven't done her leg exercises ... yet. I will do them even if she doesn't. They are helping my knee. I think. I don't know about her but I break a sweat doing them.

Later in the afternoon I had to escape. I just meandered around the neighborhood for 30 minutes. Not great, but better than nothing.

Tomorrow I need to get a good walk in. Tuesday I'll be cooking for the less advantaged, and Wednesday I'll be dragging Sharon to doctor's appointments AND the supermarket, and not during old lady hours. It will be fun. Friday I take my sister to the neurologist. I haven't a clue why they want a followup. The MRI showed nothing. Covering their butts I guess.

Miles/Steps:            1 mile

Weather:                 72, sunny

PPE found:              three gloves

Bathrooms:             always open at my house.

may days #22 -- i really am more consistent with people along

I just realized that this photo is not socially distant. Oopsie.

Lydia is a social workers at a nursing home. She works crazy hours with the C19 virus in the home. In fact, the C19 unit is right next to her office. She texted yesterday that she had off Friday and could we walk. Of course I said yes.

This morning I had to take some food to my sister at the high rise, so I picked Lydia's happy spot Monocacy Park. I told her to bring the dog and I'd pick her up at the regular corner. She now has a backpack for him. It looks like a Baby Bjorn for a dog.

I was surprised when I saw him. He has almost doubled in size. He almost 5 pounds now. He started out under three. He's also a wiggle worm and wanted no part of the car or the backpack. It was like he was saying "you said a walk, not a car ride." We arrived at Sharon's building and she wasn't out yet. One of the buildings other residents fussed over him. Sharon was working so both her and her client came out. They smothered him with attention. He loves being the center of everyone's universe. Can you spell spoiled?

Then it was off to the park where he discovered a tasty new delicacy -- goose poop. Lydia had her hands full keeping him out of it. At one point he actually laid down to protect his precious poop. He did fairly well. He walked the whole park loop, except the stairs. 

This park is used a lot, and it was built during the Great Depression. It needs some love, attention and a stone mason. The WPA-built parks in our region are all suffering from neglect. I know it's too much to ask the city to fix them, but they should. Take it out of the health department's budget. If you fix the parks, the people will use them. The will run and bike and play and walk their dogs. They will become active and healthy. It's clearly a health issue not a recreation issue.

When we arrived at my house Lyd kept her mask on and brought the dog in to visit Pat. Then she headed upstairs to take three boxes of her crap home. Hurray! Only about 20 boxes left to go.

Yesterday my sister and I walked to the corner. Today it was raining by the time I got home. Instead we did her chair leg exercises. We did three sets of ten each of knee lifts, leg lifts, pushing your legs back, pushing your legs to the side and toe heel lifts. I gave it 100%. It probably only took 10 minutes. But I can feel it.  Not sure about her. I don't think she was giving 100%. I know what that looks like. Guilty as charged.

Miles/Steps:            1/2 mile with dog. Okay, this doesn't count as exercise. It's a stroll

Weather:                  High 50's to start, sunny turning to drizzle

Wildlife:                   lots of geese, 1 male mallard
PPE found:               none

Bathrooms:              closed for C19

may days #21 -- i've been kicked out of better places.

Today three of my fellow volkssport walkers did the Bethlehem South walk.  We are renegades!

I had a really hard time walking up the hill to Lehigh. My legs felt like they were going to fall off. And the mask obstructs my air intake. I'm a mouth breather. We walked thru campus and stopped to take a picture of the student holding the book. I think it's been repainted. And somewhere along the way her acquired a mask.

At Zollner we turned around and headed out Packer to Vine, the out Morton to New. I noticed that the Farmer's Market was open. I found out online that it won't open till JULY! How are the farmers supposed to make money?

Then it was down New and out the Greenway. It was odd to not see the Asian casino bus riders on the Greenway  or around the casino. When we crossed the street to the casino the road was blocked off. We figured that was because the casino isn't open. It never occurred to me that the streets and sidewalks around the casino buildings are "private property". But when we reached the outlet mall we were stopped buy a rent-a-cop and not allowed to proceed. We had to climb the hill to Third street.

Founder's Way appeared open and it was fun -- well, not the hill -- because the walkers from out of town got to see a different side of the Steel. We turned onto Second Avenue and headed west toward the Banana Factory and back to the hotel.

Miles/Steps:             6K 

Weather:                  High 40's to start, sunny, windy 

Wildlife:                    fawn with broken leg
PPE found:                1 blue glove

Bathrooms:               all were closed for C19

Money found:            penny

My sister is out of rehab and home. Today was her first walk. She used the walker and walked up to Sioux Street and back down and walked up the stairs to the porch. Then porch sat for an hour. Before she went to bed she agreed to do her exercises tomorrow. We'll see.

may days #20 - thank you for wearing a mask

Today's adventure on the D&L took us from the Rt. 33 Boat Ramp to Riverview Park to Hugh Moore Park. This path is almost all macadam. And a good portion of it is straight. It's also kind-of boring. There isn't anything visually stimulating.

We spent a good portion of time figuring out a mystery. Every once in a while there were sign posts without signs. They were about 6 feet tall. It took us a good mile to confirm that they were marking the manholes.

The trail was fairly busy today and most weren't wearing a mask. On woman on a bike flew past us twice. The second time she was headed for her car. As she got off her bike she said "thank you for wearing a mask".

These adventures on the D&L will go on hiatus until June first. Pam is going cross country to bring her daughters stuff home from college.

Miles/Steps:             3 

Weather:                  58, sunny, windy 

Wildlife:                    3 doe, scarlet tanager, red wing hawk
PPE found:                none

Bathrooms:               Closed for the season

may days #19 -- two walks

Today's first walk was a short one ... up to the eye doctor. The results were the same as they have been except for one. I don't have to go back for SIX MONTHS. Whooo hooo. Of course they made the appointment for November. I might change it. I don't think Medicare kicks in until December (I need to start working on that) and I really don't want to have to pay again. I need another job to pay for my eye care. $130 each visit, and $400 a month for eye drops. (They are each $200.) He wants to do a bunch of tests but is waiting for Medicare. They must be expensive.

The office was weird. People waiting in their cars and calling that they arrived. Only every third chair in the waiting room was open. No TV (not like it was ever on) or magazine or even brochures. I guess this is the new reality. Then when someone would leave they'd scurry around an clean stuff before the next person came in.

Speaking of medical things, my sister came home yesterday afternoon. By tomorrow she'll be driving me nuts. She doesn't want to do her exercises even though I said I'd do them with her. Everything is better with a buddy.

She also doesn't want their soft #3 diet -- ground meats and "thickened" liquids, which I agree are gross. They gave me samples. Have you ever seen water that is the consistency of gravy? And it's opaque. The ice tea looks like something from the toilet. According to her it tastes like it too. And don't get her started on the cranberry juice. The only thing she likes is the water. 

Between C19 and her I don't think I'll survive 2020.

Miles/Steps:             1 

Weather:                  60, sunny, windy 

Wildlife:                    None
PPE found:                1 mask, 1 glove 

The second walk was to CVS to get her prescriptions. She came home with a dozen. I bought one. Many were bullshit. There were two different creams for the privates, and another for under her boobs. Clearly they've never heard of cornstarch for bobby rash. I didn't ask about the others. Diaper rash from her hospital stay made? Then there was one for D which she buys in bulk at BJ's. One for each of the RX she takes for hypertension, a new one for the AFib and one for high cholesterol. Her cholesterols has always been low. That one is a puzzler. She doesn't want to take it until a "real" doctor tells her too. AKA one of her doctors. I don't think she liked/trusted a single doctor at the hospital or rehab. (Sounds like me!)

I had to wait 20 minutes for the RX, so I walked around. I found a quart of the thickened water and bought that as well. They gave me the powder to make it but if it's temporary I'd rather buy it. When I called to see if she wanted anything else she told me a Hershey Bar. I couldn't argue with her ... it's soft and thick.

Today I noticed more people on the street and the traffic was heavier. I think the Lehigh Valley is tired of staying home.

Miles/Steps:             2 

Weather:                  68, sunny, windy 

Wildlife:                    None
PPE found:                8 masks, 9 single gloves in assorted colors. They weren't ever together. 

may days #18 -- completed the first elbow.

Another day, another three miles on the D&L.

If you look at the top of the trail, near Wilkes Barre, it takes a drunkards path south. Then it elbows and goes east, and elbows again and goes south. We have completed that first elbow. We gone just a little north of Northampton, turned the corner in Allentown and finished at Rt. 33. We have two more sections in Easton before we can take another turn and head south. Or head farther north.

It's slow going. Of course we wasted precious time doing out and backs. We aren't doing that anymore. That will complicate things as we head south.

Today we started on Sand Island and walked to Freemansburg. That was the only section we were missing in the elbow. We didn't take a trailhead picture because the sign is out on Lehigh Street. I guess they want non locals to find it.

We were barely past the Fahy Bridge when I had a serious allergy attack. I will need to remember to take meds in the morning and bring water. I haven't been doing that. Well, spring has finally sprung.

This section of trail is boring. The power company has mutilated the trees and the canal is either dry, polluted, or stagnant. At places you can see the river which is lovely. And the Steel. Once you go under the Minsi Trail Bridge you'll come to a lock. It is almost unnoticeable. Which is a shame because the locks and other relics are what make this trail interesting. But I shouldn't complain. When we make the bend to the Delaware there is a long stretch that's exposed to the sun and there is no tree canopy.

Miles/Steps:              3 

Weather:                   high 50's at start, low 60s at end, sunny, breezy 

Wildlife:                    Entering the Freemansburg trailhead a vulture was eating a racoon. Near the entrance to the Sand Island trailhead, a fox. On the trail two doe.
PPE found:                None  

Bathrooms:               The comfort station on Sand Island is closed for C19.
Extra:                        In an hour I pick up my sister at Rehab. She's coming home.

Extra 2:                     My visit to New Tripoli resulted in bug bites. Speing has sprung. Time to get out the bug spray. I'm an itchy girl.

may days #16 -- new tripoli

Wednesday Pam and I were talking about needing hand sanitizer. I did not buy any two months ago when the pandemic began, I used up samples from 5K races.They were old, but I figured they were still good. We decided, instead of supporting corporate America we'd buy local. All the distilleries are  making it.

First I tried the Social Still across from the Steel. I knew they were making it, but apparently not for the generally public. It was not on their list of pick up items. So then I tried the Kilimanjaro distillery near Boy Scout council. They listed it on their website, but no price. Who does that? My next stop was 8 Oaks in New Tripoli. They had it and it was $15/gallon. Plenty to share. They have an outlet at the Allentown Farmers Market, but I decided to drive to New Tripoli. I just wanted to take a drive and get away from the Lehigh Valley.

I googled trails in New Tripoli and I got a lot of hits for trail heads of the AT. Hills and boulders are not my thing. Then there was a one-mile loop in Ontelaunee Park and a Lehigh County Park named Leaser Lake. I picked them. They were both 10 minutes from the distillery. Perfect.

Ontelaunee was right off of Route 309 on Route 143.

The thing I noticed first was this park was the depository for all the historic relics of the era. The train station wasnthe first thing you could see.

 There is also a Mail Pouch Tobacco Barn. This is a pretty decent restoration, but  like the ghost versions better.

I noticed a lot of log cabins in the area driving in Route 143.  This one is a recreation of Fort Everett. It was erected in 1756 near Lynnport and was place of refuge and defense during the French & Indian Wars. Troops guard the area south of Blue Mountain between the Schuylkill and Lehigh Rivers.

 Across the way is the George Zeisloff Log House.  This is also a reproduction of a house built by George Zeisloff and his brothers Balthazer and Nicholas, when they arrived in America from Germany on 1736. In 1756, most of the Zeisloff family was massacred by Native Americans during the French and Indian War. Only two sons survived. (Who knew Lehigh County had a log cabin trail?)

There are also ball fields, pavillions, a disk golf course, and a pond for fishing.

Near the entrance to the park was this huge monolith with engraved images. I thought it was a war memorial but it actually outlines the history of the area. The first is the Lenape Chief, the next a log church, a wooden plow, the Liberty Bell relocation, a Public House, the mill, the train station, slate quarry, saw mill, potato field and bank.

Overall it is a really nice park for locals. There were a few people there, but it was mostly empty.

Miles/Steps:              1 

Weather:                   low 60s, sunny, breezy 

Wildlife:                    a goose, two frogs, three turtles
PPE found:                None  

Bathrooms:               the comfort station was closed but it looked like the port-o-potty might have been open.

Then I headed to Leaser Lake.  That was another story entirely. It was packed. The lake was filled with people fishing, boating, on stand-up paddle boards and those pedal boats. The lot was early full. I remembered seeing on the news that if you pick a park and the lot is full to go to another one. But I still had an hour and forty five minutes until I was supposed to be at the distillery. There were three spots left, and I wasn't going near the water. I decided to park and stay. I would head into the woods instead of using the trail that ran next to the lake.

I found the trail immediately. It was right by the comfort station. Everyone came off the trail and headed there. Of course it was closed. It got me thinking that you really need to plan bathroom stops. It's not like you can leave the park and head to McDonald's to pee. Nobody is open. I wonder if gas station bathrooms are open?

The trails were marked with Liberty Bells. I had wondered why totally forgetting about the "relocating the bell" on the memorial in the park. It turns out that Federick Leaser lived about a mile away from the park. In September of 1777 he used his farm team to haul the Liberty Bell from Philly to Allentown where it was hidden in Zion church. I've done the Zion church tour but the name didn't click.

The lake is not round or oval. It's actually like a bunch of fingers coming off of a central  post. Here is a drone video showing you the shape. The area of the trail I was on didn't really give me any good views. This picture shows a small dark bird with a white breast and neck. Maybe a chickadee?

When I got back down to the lake I thought I'd have time to walk to the dam, but I really didn't. But I did see this sign. What's the point of fishing if you're going to throw them back? Doesn't that induce some sort of trauma in the fish? Don't get me wrong, I am not an animal rights activist. I believe in the food chain. I also believe that if you catch it or kill it you better eat it. Next they'll have people deer hunting with rubber bullets. Or maybe those paint guns.

I saw more people on that section of trail than I have in the two months of the pandemic. And I was the only one with a mask. When I returned to the lot it was overflowing and illegal parking was beginning. People were still attempting social distancing but I only saw two families with masks. All those people can't have respiratory or autism issues.

It was 12:30 when I got in the car. Time to head to the distillery. I'd like to come here again, after the pandemic, and on a weekday.

Miles/Steps:              2 

Weather:                   low 70s, sunny, breezy 

Wildlife:                    redwing black birds, Oriole, chickadee's maybe, goose, 
PPE found:                None  

Bathrooms:               the comfort station was closed.

may days #13 — back on the d&l

Today Pam and I walked on the D&L from Rt. 33 to Freemansburg. It was the first time we did one car at the finish, and the other at the start. Starting at Rt. 33, it was 2.2 miles to Farmersville road and 1.8 to Freemansburg. So why does my Fit Bit say we went five miles?

We parked and headed to the walking ramp to the boat dock. The first thing I noticed was the port-o-potties were removed. Generally they are just taped shut. They were gone. I wonder if they will come back when C19 is over.

The first section of the trail is rustic so I took my stick with me. Although I don't think I really needed it. We walked single file and kept our masks on. We met a few bikers that went whizzing past. One of the first things we went past was a complex system of ladders and ropes. This is the swimming whole. I don't know if you can tell, but the tree on the left has rungs to the very top. I'd be scared shitless to swing or dive from that. We also had to duck under a huge tree that fell. It got caught on another fallen tree. If the two of them fall, the river will back up.

When we reached the boat club we moved to the regular trail which is a bit wider. This section has a lock, and the ruins of a pulley system.

The wildlife was abundant, especially birds. In fact there was so many different birds that we stopped frequently.

Especially blue birds. They were always a step ahead of us. Like they were easing us down the trail. I bet we stopped 10 times to watch them.

Of course there were interesting trees in the water and on land. We went past the Farmersville Road trailhead and the Nagy's boat launch. These two trailheads are about a half mile apart.

Finally we reached Freemansburg with it's mule barn, lock tender's house, and ruins of a vibrant canal town. Every time I walk here I'm surprised by how much they've unearthed. But it was still another half-mile or so to the pedestrian bridge and the trail head.

Yesterday I just walked in the neighborhood.

Miles/Steps:              5

Weather:                   started at 41 and ended at about 63, sunny, breezy

Wildlife:                    A lot. Lets start with the obvious geese. Lots of geese, some with goslings. Lots of geese shit. One gosling all alone we wondered if he was an orphan. Oriole or two, at least 4 blue bunting, probably more; blue jay, cardinal, scarlet tanager, heard at least 4 woodpeckers, probably more. A bird with white wings. Yellow swallowtails. The canal was loaded with rainbow trout.
PPE found:                None 

Bathrooms:              removed

Photos:                    Pam Lott

may days #11 - drop and roll on the d&l

Today Pam and I planned to walk the D&L from Allentown toward Bethlehem. We needed to finish that one section before we moved further north or further south.  I was getting ready to leave and the text beeped. It was Pam. "It's pouring out. Tomorrow?" "Is it pouring in Bethlehem?". We decided to cancel and go tomorrow. A few minutes later the text beeps again. It's Pam again. "Oh my. It looks nice out now. How about there?" "I really want to get out." I told her it was clear here and I'd see her in 20 minutes.

This section of the D&L is flat and there is water on both sides of you. Near the begining of this section is the boat house. And up on the hill a comfort station and pavilion. We were approaching the boat house and I stepped in a gully and started to fall. I did not hit my poor knee, thank goodness. I dropped a rolled. Everything fell out of my pockets and my hat came off. I'm just so graceful. I pulled myself up and we were off.

There are railroad tracks next to the canal and the river. It's kind of noisy for what should be a quiet place. And I think someone might have cut the trees. The visibility was amazing. And I don't think that it was just because the trees aren't fully leafed. We could see old stone foundations way back on the hills. And to make things really interesting a low flying jet flew over our heads ... twice.

We had a whole range of weather while walking. It was hot and cold and windy and still and there was even hail.

There is abundant wildlife in this section of the trail. We even saw evidence of beavers, which I've never seen on the Lehigh before. There must be fish, though we didn't see any people fishing. I take that back, there was one on the bridge when we turned around.

According to the trail map, we've only done 12 miles of the 167 ... twice, since we do out and back. That seems low since we do about 5 miles each time. Plus we did the Northampton section that runs along the canal, but is no longer the D&L. Wednesday we planned to start on Sand Island and head toward Freemansburg. But the trail map says that section will be closed for the PPL to "trim" (aka mutilate) the trees. So we'll go Freemansburg to Bethlehem Township.

But if we are ever going to finish this, from here on in we are taking two cars and leaving one at one trailhead, and one at another.

Miles/Steps:              5

Weather:                   Low-50s, cloudy, drizzle, wind, hail

Wildlife:                    Three families of geese, mallard, three red-winged blackbirds, at least 30 turtles, and beaver damage.
PPE found:                None 

Extra:                        At one point Pam asked, "what is this?" I said it looks like an electric box, but there were no wires, nor were there lights. We figured out that it was a camera of some kind. Are they watching the people on the trail? It's pretty low if they are. I think they are recording wildlife.