i forgot to post tuesday's walk

 

(File photo. We took none!)

We did walk on Tuesday, but not on the D&L. Instead we walked on the Greenway from the skate park to Hellertown. 

This path is flat, and follows Fourth street to Emory, around the corner where it ultimately becomes Hellertown Road. At this point the trail is between Hellertown Road and Saucon Park. Then it just ends at the cement recycle facility. We did continue walking on a well worn path, but since we were trespassing, we ultimately turned around and went back.

It's been raining pretty much since. It looks like the sun might be wanting to come out now. Finally.

Monday we'll be doing the Virginia Forrest to Tinicum section of the D&L.

Miles/Steps:  just shy of 3 miles
Weather:        start low 60s, partly cloudy
PPE found:     1 masks

south bethlehem volkssport walk

 

Today I didn't work. I switched out till tomorrow. It was the Bethlehem South Volkssport walk and I was the walk leader. I had to show up.

We met at the Comfort Suites on Third Street and headed out. There was only seven of us. Going up the hill to Lehigh I was the last one to the top. Going thru Lehigh was uneventful. We only met one person. When we crossed Taylor and headed thru the old stadium they were setting up tents for something, and some young men were working out. We followed the caution tape to Zoellner and headed to Packer Avenue, down vine, Morton, and New. Eventually we found ourselves at the Greenway.

When we reached the Greenway there were sign boards with photos on them. It's part of an exhibit called "Doing Democracy"; photos from the collection of news anchor George Stephanopolus. "The exhibition explores the unfolding process of American democracy through an array of photographs that shine a light on significant events of the 20th century and the present—featuring world leaders, the media,  politicians, civil rights movements, and everyday Americans." If you are only walking one way on the Greenway, you need to look at the front and the back of the signs.

 The "Blue Herons" sculpture by Virginia Abbot and Broughal middle school students has been around since 2011. Someone gave it a garish makeover. Now the garish colors are Broughal colors. Is this a coincidence? It used to be beautiful.

At the outlet mall, fall flowers were abundant. 

The HMT was still closed and the signs all said that First Avenue was closed. There were other people walking, so we walked too. I think we also walked thru Christkindlmarkt. It wasn't open yet.

Then it was out 2nd Avenue and I headed back to the Banana Factory, and the Comfort Suites. The others continued for the 10K.

Miles/Steps:  6K plus walk with Pat
Weather:        start low 60s, drizzle. End 79, sunny
SLF killed:      Bill and I killed about a dozen. Plus one when I was walking with Pat.
PPE found:     7 masks, 2 single gloves

water review -- canned water

I went to the DiVinci Center Sunday to see the "brick" ocean sculpture exhibit. You had to make a reservation and it was all outside. As is typical in today's world the exhibit was a one-way deal. You go in one entrances, follow the maze, and exit the second entrance.

I was checking in and noticed a sign for bottled water for sale. I mostly ignored it. Then while I was in que waiting, I looked again. The water was in a can. That got my interest and I bought one, put it in my pocket, and saved it for a walk.

I ended up taking it with me Monday. It didn't taste good or bad. And warm. I think it might have been highly filtered, though the can doesn't say that. You should be able to use this bottle a zillion times, but I'm thinking it will last as long as the lid lasts. It's not very sturdy. And in my house you have to protect it from the recycle bin.

 

anthracite section completed

Today we drove to the top of the D&L -- the Black Diamond Trailhead -- and walked nearly 10 miles down to the White Haven Trailhead. 

The description said "The D&L Trail is open and passable, but some sections are single track or rocky." Later on it said the "Black Diamond Section, named after Anthracite coal’s nickname – “black diamonds”, ...  passes ponds, bogs and towering trees providing a good wildlife viewing section. ... The final distance into White Haven is a little more rough surface ... we suggest wearing orange during hunting seasons due to State Game Lands adjacent to the trail through this section. 

I prepared for the worse. I wore an orange vest and thought about taking bear spray. I had planned on taking my hiking stick and forgot it, but Pam lent me hers. I thought it would be a grueling walk.

It wasn't.

The only thing I really noticed was that it was narrower than most of the trail. The last mile or so was dirt. There was a few roots and more rocks, but I didn't need the hiking stick. 

But it sure was pretty. And empty. A few bikes, and less walkers.

We only saw one hunter. He was on a bike. I couldn't help but wonder how he was going to carry a deer out on a bike. however we did hear gunfire once.

The trail was mostly straight and very slightly downhill. There were some railroad ruins and a lot of bogs, as well as a large man-made pond. The trees were tall, but young. And the wildlife was not abundant. It was almost non-existent. 

There where  picnic tables were about a half-mile point. And mile markers every mile. I will miss them when we are only walking on the Delaware.

Speaking of rivers, we really only had infrequent glimpses of the Lehigh. We were clearly on an old railroad bed, not the original canal path.

We had a great view of the railroad tracks from a bridge. There was so much fencing up around the bridge. We had speculated that they might have had some trouble with jumpers. We were pretty high.

Shortly after crossing the bridge the trail stopped and a path led us left and up over more railroad tracks. Then we crossed a busy street and returned to the trail. it followed the railroad tracks for awhile. Then the tracks became higher and higher and we began to notice these little grottos under the tracks. This one continued on the other side of the trail and went down a cliff like a waterfall.

In case you are keeping track, we started this adventure March 30. We didn't realize it would become an adventure until May 3. Now we are three sections away from being done.

Miles/Steps:   almost 3
Weather:        mid-fifties at start, mid-sixties at end, drizzle
Wildlife:         1 doe. 1 snake. Pam jumped and screamed like a girl. It was hysterical.
PPE found:     2 mask

walking in the rain

 

Yesterday Pam sent a text asking if we were walking today. I said sure. She chose the old golf course by the Promenade Shoppes. I didn't realize you could walk there.

It was a drizzle when I left and it rained a little harder, but nothing too crazy. We met at LL Beam and walked down the sidewalk to Center Valley Road, crossed twice, and went to the hotel. We followed the path a bit and then it stopped. Huge piles of dirt and debris closed off the paths. We turned around and headed the other direction. This time we were met by the purple "No Trespassing" rectangles. They were serious. They even had purple ribbons hanging in the trees. 

We continued straight next to the corn field. And not surprisingly we were met by the purple rectangles.  We give up. Pam used to walk here all the time, but apparently since the property has gone farrow, they are more strict. Wildlife and hunters moved in. 

So we returned to the hotel and crossed the street. The Promenade Shoppes  apparently have a curvy sidewalk on three sides. Who knew? We headed out the street toward the movie theatre pretty much invisible to the cars on the street. Then we turned left and reentered the property. When we reached the rear of the property the sidewalk ended. 

We walked facing traffic until we reached this little garden area where the retention pond is. We walked down to the pond and it had at least 4 giant coy. They were over a foot long. They kept hanging near the edge. I'm pretty sure they thought it was dinner time. Pam thought they'd go for about $100 each in the store for the plain ones. The marked ones could bring more.

When we returned to Beam we made a left into the property and walked thru the middle and came back. Soaked, we said goodbye and came home. My raincoat might be too wet for tonight. The walk/weaving has not been cancelled due to rain.

Miles/Steps:   almost 3
Weather:        mid-sixties, steady light rain
Wildlife:         4 koi. But they weren't wild.
PPE found:     1 mask

maize maze walking

Monday, Pam and I didn't walk, it poured. I've spent the better part of the week chained to my computer on Zoom, making videos, and doing the dreaded grading.  And walking around the block with my sister, of course.

I needed to get the hell out of the house. 

I knew Lydia was off, so I contacted her about walking. She said maybe a short one. Then I suggested a corn maze and she said yes. I researched. Seiple's wasn't open during the week. We could go to Raub's or to Klein's. Klien's is small and part of the dairy. It's also free. However, getting homemade ice cream doesn't appeal to her. She chose Raub's. We've taken the international girls there several times. 

Lydia dressed for Halloween —trick or treat tights, a Jack o'lantern shirt, and a Hocus Pocus mask. I didn't.

Raub's is not a traditional maze where you go in one end and come out the other. Here they have you hunt for things.The yellow one takes you thru the whole 5 miles of trails. You punch each time you find a locator. If you find a locator. We only found seven and didn't do the whole thing.

Then there's the Farm Market Monster mystery. You find signs with the monster and the crime. They aren't marked on the map. You're clueless where you are. Two sign posts didn't have signs.

The final one they've been using as long as I've been going there -- The Farm Market Mystery. Basically it's "Clue" But this time you have to figure out that the pig did it in the barn with a rope. Same signs every year. It's process of elimination so they just eliminate a different sign. I think last year the rat did it

After about an hour of wandering, we headed toward the barn. Bought some produce and yet another mask from the Easton High band. I need another mask like I need a hole in my head. It's a good cause.

Miles/Steps:   2.5
Weather:        mid-sixties
Wildlife:          none
PPE found:     3 masks. In a corn maze!

volkssport walk on the d&l

 

I've spent a lot of time on the D&L this year, so it makes sense that I would host the volkssport walk in Easton yesterday. We headed west along the Lehigh to Hugh Moore Park.

The walk began at 10 am. We have a meet time of 9:45. I arrived at 9:30 and six people were already there. The last people arrived at 10. In total we had 14 walkers.  As the last walkers were arriving half the group started out. They were tired of waiting. The second group started five minutes later.

They were all about walking. No stoping to smell the rose or look at ruins. In fact we had to call some of the 5K-ers to tell them when to turn around.

The bulk of the group met up at Hugh Moore Park near the restrooms. Two went as far as the Museum and insisted the others didn't finish until they went all the way to the museum. 

The return trip we split into two again and headed back to the fork of the Delaware.

Miles/Steps:   6
Weather:        62 at start
Bathrooms:     open at park, removed from start point
Wildlife:          none
PPE found:    1 masks

SLF killed:     4

preparations for old lady day

This year I turn 65. How that happened I don't know.

Saturday I applied for Medicare. Wednesday I found out that it will begin November 1st.

Today I changed doctors and other appoints to after November 1st.

Fifty two days until old lady day.

only one more trail to go in the anthracite section

Today Pam and I did three trail heads on the northern section of the trail. How north were we? We walked under Route 80. I find it hard to believe that we walked all the way to Route 80.

Today we met in Rockport, and I shuttled us over to White Haven. There are two trailheads in White Haven, named after industrialist Josiah White. During the War of 1812 he directed the effort to find a way to ignite and burn effectively Anthracite coal, and succeeded. The he created a little company called the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company. The D&L was his baby.

We parked at the first trailhead, and then walked thru town to the second. (My friend Debbie says they have the largest burgers ever at the White Haven Diner.) This section of town clearly supports the trail traffic. Sandwich shops, general stores, bike repairs, etc. After looping around the shopping center, we reentered the trail. The first thing we see is a bike rental/river sports place. There's lots of places to park, and the trail is still road. After passing under Route 80 and a railroad bridge, we were finally on the trail. We saw a sign that said Lock 28 with an arrow. I said to Pam, if we started taking every detour, we'll never get done.

 

So we soldiered on. There were tons of ruins in this section. There were a lot of huge locks. Pam saw another one of the lock arrow signs and this time we went. We went straight and ended up at the waters edge. As we were coming back up Pam found the ruins. Bigger locks than I've ever seen before. They had to be three stories tall, stones, and make all the other locks we've seen before look like children's  toys. Don't forget, these were dug and built by hand by immigrants (Scottish, German, Irish). No machines.

 

We stopped a lot so the walk journey took nearly 5 hours. It ended with a lovely waterfall -- Buttermilk Falls.

 

After picking up the car, we drove back to White Haven and all those parking lots. We took the car as far as possible, and then went down to look at Lock 28. The one we had skipped at the start.

Miles/Steps:   12.5.
Weather:        mid-50s, overcast
Bathrooms:     At Rockport. I-2.5 with composting toilets. One stall was trashed.
Wildlife:          heard lots of birds, but saw no wildlife other than a swallowtail and a millipede
PPE found:     4 masks

athletic adventure -- downward hog

 

Earlier this week I was in the car and heard the DJ giving away tickets for Pig Yoga at Coca Cola Park. WTF? I have always been interested in the idea of animal yoga. But goats, kittens and puppies are out. I wouldn't be able to breath. But pigs. Pigs don't have fur. When I got home I looked on the website and it was schedule for Saturday. There was one class at 9. The next at 10. I start work at 10. She said I could be late. I was.

I arrived at the ballpark about 8:45. I'm never early. Ask anyone. I found a spot in the back and put down my mat. You had to wear a mask and groups had to be 6 feet apart. No mats could be next to a stranger. There were maybe four Iron Pigs people there watching the chaos.

As I stood there waiting for it to start, I wondered why no pigs were coming at me. I found out shortly. The pig wrangler handed me a red Solo cup of generic Fruit Loops. (I called them Trix all day.) Then she shook her cup. Remember that old song "my milkshake brings all the boys to the yard"? Shake that cup and you get pigs. And don't leave it sit full on your mat. They'll get their snout into it.

The pigs didn't care that we were doing yoga. They cared about Fruit Loops and love. There was a fair share of tweens/teens there to guarantee those pigs were well fed and loved. The pigs were from Fairy Tail Acres Pig Rescue. They kind-of feel like a hairbrush.

You all know me. I can barely do yoga on a good day. Add pigs to the mix, and I'm useless. A few people could get in the zone and concentrate. Including the instructor. But, most kept getting interrupted, including me. If they have it next year I'm taking my chair.

 

The pigs came in all sizes and varieties. The smallest were the mini pigs that were abandoned when they reached their full size of 80 pounds. Others were the piglets of pigs that were rescued from dog fighting rings (train the dogs with piglets) and target practice (with piglets). Gross. I know. (One of the pigs gave birth the night before. All the pigs are ultimately spayed/neutered.)

The largest was this guy. S/he was massive and decided that s/he needed a nap on on this girls towel. It was time to go and she didn't want to get up. In order not to hurt the legs, it had to be pulled from the back.

Not the best workout, but so. much. fun.

over one bridge, back the other

 

It's October first. The first day of the new Volkssport quart. That means it is time to collect the numbers from last quarter.

I headed out for the Hotel Bethlehem at about 9:30. I headed out the alleys, down Itaska and Broadway, and up Wyandotte and over the Hill to Hill Bridge. I collected the numbers at the hotel and headed back out. On the return I headed down Main and thru the "pee tunnel". It was my first indication that it was a festival-less season this year.  When I reached the festival area it became more apparent. The grass was cut but there were perimeter weeds and garden areas were overgrown.

When I reached Sand Island I saw new signage. Note, none of it says "new mural this way".

The new mural is on the side of a shipping container that the Wildland's Conservancy uses to store bike and boats for their programs.

I got on the D&L and returned to the road, but not before seeing this graffiti under the bridge. ALl the previous graffiti was covered with "sin". 

I walked out Lehigh Street and crossed the Fahy Bridge. Then I headed down the stairs and out 2nd Street, cut thru the Banana Factory lot and went to the Comfort Suites to pick up the south side numbers. From the hotel I headed to CVS to pick up Sharon's rx and the store for milk and lunch supplies. 

Then I headed home.

Miles/Steps:   just under 5.
Weather:        high 60s, sunny
Wildlife:          a gaggle of geese, flying in a V, hovered over the canal, coming in for a landing. Pairs of mallards.
PPE found:     10 masks, 9 single gloves