christmas eve in the christmas city

 

Pam and I haven't walked together in about three weeks.  Despite all the precautions her family was in quarantine. No walking for us. We had to delay our walk to see the gingerbread people in downtown Bethlehem. We had both created one and she wanted to see them displayed in person. Some were missing ... but not ours.

We agreed to meet at the Moravian Bookstore at 9:30. I saw a promo online that you could get free 3-hour parking if you downloaded the phone app. I do not download apps. I don't like to have my information stored in apps.For me it's not worth a free doughnut or coffee. The apps are so easy to hack. But at 12 minutes for a quarter, you need a lot of quarters to park. Do you have 15 quarters or hand? Me either. I downloaded the app at home. Pam had the old mobile park app, so she downloaded it there.

 

We began with the ginger people, and walked down the hill to the historic area. Then thru the historic area and up the stairs to the Main/Spring street, then over to Lehigh Street. We followed Lehigh east and crossed the intersection at the Fahy bridge and went thru the sculpture garden to Church, then thru the plaza to check out the trellis.

The we backtracked on Church and went past the cemetery to Linden. The whole time we've been out we've been looking at Christmas decorations. In this part of town they are classy, not tacky. I like both. But if you go tacky, go over the top tacky. 

It reminded me of an article I didn't read yesterday. It was on the benefits of "awe" walking. I'm too cheap to pay for a subscription to the NYT and I must have been out of free reads so I google it. This is not fitness or competitive walking. An article in Psychology Today online says that "An ‘awe walk’ is a stroll in which you intentionally shift your attention outward instead of inward. So, you’re not thinking about the tight deadline, the unfinished project, the strain in your relationship ... ." We look at everything. But I wouldn't say we strolled. That implies very slow. At least to me.

Then we headed out Market which was disappointing, and up New to Broad, and back down Main to the ginger people. We went past the people again, thru Johnston Park to Union Blvd, then up Main and back to the car. 

I grabbed my purse and then we walked up to the bagel shop, stood in line, and got bagels for brunch. Yum.

On the way home I stopped at Aharts for some last minute groceries and there was a man changing his clothes in the parking lot. In full view of Broadway. Thankfully the door covered him partially, just in case he was pulling a full Monty.

Miles/Steps:  3+I was shocked when I sat down at the computer that it said 4.7 miles
Bathrooms:    P-2.5. The handicapped was a 1.5. They were gross. I had to clean everything up before I could use it.
PPE Found:   4 disposable masks. 1 blue glove.
Extra:            Tuesday I went to the Gyno. My D&C is scheduled for January 27. One health issue taken care of.

bus stop

 

It's been a few days since the snowstorm. I thought it was safe to walk in the neighborhood. It wasn't. Nearly everyone had their curbs shovel shut so you had to climb over snow banks to cross a street. A few people didn't even shovel their walks.

I decided at least to walk around the block. So I decided to go check out the object in front of the bodega that I thought last week was a bus stop. It is! (see story on WFMZ.)

You press the "doorbell" to tell the bus to stop for you.There are schedules and seats.  The seats are metal. That means at this time of the year they are icy cold, and maybe with ice. In summer they will burn the skin right off of your thighs. But the rest of year they should hold an average size person, or child.

 I wonder when more will appear and where. A random corner on the border of Bethlehem and Fountain Hill seems like an odd place to start.

Miles/Steps:  Half? Not much
PPE Found:   3 disposable masks. One 10 steps from my house.

fat girl shoveling

 

We had our first big storm last night. The weather forecasters were predicting totals from a foot to 30 inches, most settling in the 12-20 range. It began around 1:45 in the afternoon and snowed all night. Maybe. Because you can't hear snow and I could hear it hitting the window and the air conditioner units in the neighborhood. I think we had snow and sleet.

This morning I woke up, ran to the window and was so disappointed. Where was the two feet of snow. The event so large that the Weather Channel sent their storm chaser here? I didn't think it was much more than six inches. The local news said nine.

I first had to clean off the porch. Then the steps, and finally the sidewalk. It was deeper than it looked so maybe that nine was correct. The biggest issue was there was no place to put it. The cars packed in tight yesterday. I had to scoop and carry it to the side of the house. Ad it was heavy. I think my theory about sleet was correct. The bottom half inch was actually wet. Many neighbors were out. One had the radio blaring the local Latinx pop radio station. We were showing the newbies how to shovel on the hill. I had forgotten about the neighbors coming out. I guess I should have put a mask on. But for the most part we were way further than six feet apart.

I came in and took a break and then headed out back. When I opened the door I was shocked. The snow had all drifted from the yard onto the patio and against the house. It was much deeper than two feet.

Eventually I cleared a path on the patio and thru the yard. I was tired but I still had to tackle in front of my garage.

The plow had not come yet, of course. And I had a similar problem with the snow drifting against the garage door. Not nearly as badly as the yard. The neighbors were out shoveling there as well.

I was beat, but I really needed to do the part of the alley that the city should plow. Most of the neighbors were doing theirs. It's the only way we get a clean alley. There was a young person with the older people further up the hill. I grabbed a mask and walked up. "Do you want to earn $20 doing my snow? Just like you're doing here." Thankfully the answer was yes. He did a great job. I told him if there was more than four inches he should knock on my door. I'll fine tune it in the morning before work.

Was out working my ass off for about three hours and my FitBit read 1330 steps. Really? I should have put it on my wrist.

disappointing walk to the post office

Yesterday there was a storm brewing. The weather people have been beside themselves with glee. Not only was it the first storm, but it was a big one. Depending on the forecast it was up to 30 inches. They were talking feet of snow. Some famous person from the Weather Channel even came to town. It was going to be a snow event.

Originally the storm was supposed to start early in the day. By Tuesday evening they had moved it to afternoon. By yesterday it was late afternoon.

I decided that since the pony express was finally going to deliver my Christmas postcards I'd walk to the post office before the storm began. Then I could spend the storm addressing cards. Maybe, just maybe, they'd arrive before Christmas. 

I've also been wanting to stop at the Holiday Mart at the Art Establishment on Broadway. It's a craft fair that runs from Thanksgiving to Christmas. But since I have no gifts to buy, it usually means I will end up buying something for me. This would give me an excuse to go.

I left the house and stopped at the car to get gloves, hat and scarf. It was freaking cold. I walked to the post office and there was a line, of course. It was finally my turn at the window and I asked for 30 postcard stamps. They only had SIX. Mailing crap is their only job and they only had six stamps. He even checked in the back. Bewildered, I bought the six and went on my way. I'll have to get more on Friday before work.

The next stop was at the market for bread and cream. No, I wasn't making storm French toast. I needed the cream for dinner — Fettuccine Alfredo. And since I was there I decided to get the bread. Then I went across the street to get Thai food for lunch. But they were take-out only because of Covid and I sure couldn't picnic at MLK park. Worse, I couldn't take it home.

At Fiot Avenue I saw what I think might be a new bus stop apparatus. As I reached in my pocket to grab my phone to take a picture I realized I didn't have it with me. It was a pole with a rectangular windowed box at eye level, I'm thinking for a bus schedule. And a door bell. Not sure what that is for. Maybe it turns on a light? Off the pole were two seats. Basically it was a lower case T. I'll walk down again, when there is no storm.

The final stop was The Art Establishment. I did really well on the first floor.I resisted a lot. But it turns out that my Achilles heel was in the basement. There was a vendor making stuff out of old silverware. She made pens. I am a pen whore. (Really,I need a 12-step program.) There was three. It took forever to pick one. You can see in the picture above that I went for the rectangular one. I am please that I did not leave with three.

It was about 1:45 as I headed up the hill the the snow began. It was so fine you could hardly see it.

Miles/Steps:  2
Weather:       Low 30's.Windchill 26. Overcast, windy.
PPE Found:   a lot. I am clueless to how many.I lost count. Broadway was a pig sty. I found six or seven masks on one block! And most blocks had four. Hell, there was a mask in the street in front of my house. I also found three gloves.

christmas tree trail

The South Bethlehem Arts District has many, many events to bring people back to the south side of town. Even during the pandemic. For the Christmas season it's a Christmas tree trail. Local business were asked to put-up trees and then the citizens would vote for which was the most creative. I've wanted to go since I heard of it. But even this south Bethlehem loving girl is not stupid enough to walk the streets of South Bethlehem alone.

So I talked Lydia into coming along. She couldn't go with her husband because once he claims his parking spot after work, he doesn't leave again. Night adventures are out of the question.

Besides, her camera is better.

I picked her up in front of her house and we drove down to Arts Quest. I figured we could park for free there. 

Christkindlmarket ended early this year. They had it in October and November because it needed to be outside due to Covid restrictions. It wasn't even close to Christmas so I figured the Christmas decorations would still be up. WRONG. It was all gone. It's was the 11th of December and it was gone. We were shocked. Sure, tear down the tent and pack up the port-o-potties but leave up the Christmas decorations. Even though the pandemic has everything closed, people still walk around down there all the time.

4th and Adams, Randy's Pizza, Flying V, Antique Shop, NIMH

We parked on the street and fed the meter then headed to the Museum of Industrial History to see their tree. It was metal parts and topped with an I-Beam. A coil of steel rolled out from the base and it ended with a box.

We cut thru the NCC south side campus and headed toward the Social Still. It was then I realized I didn't have a mask on. People were eating outside. Lydia had a mask so she went and got the pic -- bourbon barrels stacked in a tree shape and decorated. Next to it, the fire ballister was decorated into a Santa Pez Dispenser.

Social Still, random store with pretty tree, Dinky's, Lit, official Southside tree, Homebase. 

Next stop was Cutters bike shop. It was ordinary. And hard to see. I went to get my mask and Lydia headed to Dinky's Ice Cream. Their tree was large, outside, ordinary but they had a train around the bottom with Yukon Cornelius (Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer, 1964) and packages. Update 12/22: this was the winning tree!

 

We took a pic at Fox optical of their tree made from lights strung into a triangle from a top point. Lit, an official stop was next door. Their tree was ordinary.

We cut thru the gas station's corner onto New Street and crossed at the Greenway to the other side to see the official south side tree tree under the covered walkway. Then we headed up to Fourth, turned right went to the Homebase skate shop. There's was clever made of branches, wire and maybe skate parts. Not sure what the dangles were.

Roasted, hair salon, dress shop, cigar shop, Color Me Mine

We crossed the street, again, and headed back to Roasted for a tall skinny tree dressed in gold lamé fabric wire ribbon, and a poof on top.  

A few doors from Roasted was this window. Not part of the trail, but one of the more creative ones that we saw. I think this might be a "vintage" store.

 

At Fourth and New, we couldn't see the one at Molly's pub. The windows were covered with neon beer signs obstructing our view. They must have wanted you to come inside. Going back down the other side of New there was another skinny tree at a hair salon, and a cool white tree that had a color lights like Aunt Dorothy's old silver one under it. We crossed Third at the bridge, and headed east to Color me Mine. It was a tiny tree very high up. I was disappointed it didn't have little bisque ornaments on it. A lot of these business missed an opportunity to market their products for free.

At Fourth and Adams is a hair salon with a clever tree made of hangers. It was hard to take a pic because the logo was covering it in the window. At Webster is the Flying V and the only living tree we saw. It was hanging upside down, outside. It was great. 

 

We crossed the street again and headed up Webster to Morton to a tiny pizza shop called Randy's. Lydia said the pizza is good there. Their tree was made of pizza boxes covered in lights.

Then it was back down to Third,across the street again,  and back to the car.

Seven Sirens Brewery was also on the list but they were far off the trail. We parked and went to look at it, but it's in the middle of the dining room. We did not go in. That place is way above my pay grade. It's made from beer kegs.

Miles/Steps:  maybe a mile. Not much more with lots of stopping. I wouldn't call it exercise.
Weather:       48 and dropping

back on the d&l

On Sunday I received a call. It was the walk coordinator from the Liberty Bell Wanderers. The Thursday group walk this week is on the D&L. Where would you like the start point?

Huh? I just hosted a walk on Saturday, I was unprepared.

I told her the Durham trailhead at 611 and 212. But as I was driving home from work I reconsidered. There are no bathrooms at that trail head. So I changed it to the Ground Hog Lock at the Theodore Roosevelt Recreation Area outside of Raubsville. This section of trail is 3.9 miles, a bit more than our normal 10K out and back. We advertised it as a 12K.

Yesterday it snowed, so the trail was going to be wet and muddy, with lots of puddles.

When I left the house this morning I figured there would be four or five people, tops. There were nearly twenty. They were still arriving after 10 am. There was a line for the bathroom before and after the walk and it ran out of TP.

I don't think anybody even looked at the ruins. They took off and started walking. The group was really spaced out. I announce we were at the 5K turnaround but no-one turned around. Everyone walked to the Riegelsville trail head. Some even explore the town. Two walked over the bridge into New Jersey. Nobody walked to the Durham trailhead.

Overall a successful event.

Miles/Steps:  my Fitbit said 7
Weather:       36 to start. 48 at end. Overcast and damp to sunny.
Wildlife:         A turkey vulture flew within inches of our heads and into a tree.
Bathrooms:    I-4.5 and it ran out of TP

bethlehem north volkssport walk saga

 

I'm the point of contact for the Bethlehem walks. They had a walk scheduled for Saturday. It was a long week getting there.

Sunday I drove thru downtown and noticed some signs at the Hotel Bethlehem. They were about having a reservation to enter the building. Damn Covid. It's the height of Christmas tourism season here and everything is clamped down tight. But not before my walk. Please.

Monday it was raining. I dropped my gingerbread person off at the downtown Bethlehem association. It was raining too hard to walk the two blocks to the hotel.

Tuesday I went to the hotel. Indeed you need a reservation to get in — room, dining, tour, ect. I called. Can I get the walk box. She said yes. I went in, grabbed some directions to copy and stamped some insert cards. The bathrooms were closed to the public. I walked to Sand Island. Those bathrooms were also closed. The library has reopened but they have a half-hour limit. Their bathrooms were closed as well. PPardon the pun, but shit.

By the noon news they were calling for downpours Saturday. Okay, maybe it would be cancelled.

 

By Thursday they were asking about bathrooms again. There's a bagel shop, maybe they have a public restroom. Back over the bridge I go. The bagel shop had people packed in like sardines. NO social distancing. I got the hell out of there. I decided to go see if the ginger people were hung up. (There are 45.) They were. And at the top of the hill, behind the blacksmith was port-o-potties. Problem solved. Weather forecast looked worse. Copied the directions.

Friday the forecast started to change. They wanted Allentown clear by 10 am. After convincing myself this walk would be cancelled, it looks like it was back on.

Saturday I head to the hotel, again. Meet time is 9:45. I arrived at 9:35 and there was already someone there. It was damp and cold but not raining. Another couple showed up. That was it.

Finally, it was walk day. The historic district was filled with puddles and mud. But other than that, it was a nice walk. By the end, the sun was out.

Miles/Steps:  8K
Weather:       Mid-40s. Overcast and damp to sunny.
PPE found:    A lot of masks and some were reusable. 1 gloves.
Bathrooms:     P-4.5