i never realized there was a gun range nearby

 

Today was another AARP walk with Michelle Stanton. It was at Hugh Moore Park in Easton and we were to walk on the D&L, but we didn't.

Most notable about today's walk was the constant booming of gunfire. There must be a target range close by. Why have I never heard it? It's not like it's the first time I've been there.

We met in the visitor's lot, and warmed up in the picnic pavilion. We were walking to the lock tenders house. Wait, that's only a 1/4 mile away. How can that be? George and Hank, the mules, were already on site. It's clear that April is field trip month--there was a bus full of Mennonite children waiting to ride the boat. (If the long skirts and caps weren't a big enough clue, the bus said so.)

We headed toward the museum and instead of going left to get on the trail, we went right and followed a paved path in a big circle that ultimately went into the woods and crossed two wood bridges. Ultimately we ended up at the lock tenders house. It was maybe 3/4 of a mile. 

We past the house, and the chain lock and continued toward Island Park where the trail ends. There's signage about how it was an amusement park until about 100 years ago. Nature has taken it back.

We returned to the chain lock where the boat full of children were turning around. 

We were going to take the D&L back, but Michele didn't want to scare the mules with her whistle. My thought was if they could tolerate all the gun fire, the whistle wouldn't bother them. At least we didn't have to navigate road apples and goose shit.

Miles/Steps:   less than 2 miles.
Weather:         low 50s, sunny, cold breeze
Wildlife:          Hank and George don't count. But there were 2 geese. Which is shocking. Usually there is a lot more.

it's earth day!

 Fifty plus years of earth day and the planet is getting sicker. People are dumb-asses.  To celebrate today on the Greenway was a family health and wellness event. I decided I'd walk down. And in the process I decided to document all the changes near my portion of the south side. I last did this about a year ago.

First stop is Alaska and Broadway. The Bavarian Tavern. It's not open yet but I could peak in the window. It's beautiful. It's hipster. I don't know how they are going to make it without parking. The people in my neighborhood drink Corona and other mass produced beers.

 

Next stop is the five points. This National Auto went up in about 6 weeks. There is all new sidewalks. (I get excited about new sidewalks.) There are fences, trees and bushes and even a retention pond. Sadly in a year it will look like shit because we can't have nice things. I'm surprised there is no graffiti yet.

For the past two years they have been renovating the supermarket at Montclair and Broadway. Thank goodness it's almost ready to open. Driving to the market is a PIA. All that remains of the former Ahart's (Food Lane, Pantry Pride, Food Fair ...) is the outside walls. EVERYTHING else is new including the parking lot ... with lines and bumpers! The litter patch and stairs in the alley have been replaced with a retaining wall that is painted with fruits and veggies and a fence. The fence is also on the Montclair side along with the new driveway. The Broadway side has balusters that pedestrians can walk between, but cars cannot. No more pulling out onto Broadway. They even have carts.

 

Then it was down to Third. Angel and I have already decided to go to this exhibit. Hopefully it's as good as the graphic design.

This is the new entrance to the Greenway. And the sidewalk I was telling you about in January. I find it difficult to walk on.

 

I forgot to walk down to Third Street and take pics of the Goodman building from the front. Here it is from the back. The new section will match the old section. My guess is they will keep not much more than the facade. I also forgot to take a picture of the hole that used to be Keystone Brewing. Rumor has it that whole block will be under the wrecking ball and replaced with 19th century style Victorian store fronts and apartments. Pretty much restoring it to what it looked when the City Market existed.

 

I finally got to the festival. It was three blocks long and not terrific. I picked up samples of popcorn, a blueberri acai drink, and a magazine and headed home. I should carry a bag with me. It was hard to carry that stuff and talk with my sister on the phone.

While we were talking I intentionally walked past my street. The other day I walked around the block and tested the new sidewalks. They were amazing. But I am so happy I don't take the bus. They fixed the sidewalks and left this huge, failing hole in front of the bus stop. You could break a leg. Look how far it comes up my leg. The big issue is the parking lot is 4-6 inches HIGHER than the sidewalk. What the heck?

Two hours later I finally arrived home.

Miles/Steps:    about 4 miles.
Weather:         76, cloudy

unexpected (and uneccessary) swag arrived

 

 

Maybe three years ago Tail on the Trail reworked their website and you get virtual badges for completing tasks.  As you can see I completed all the local tasks. When they moved into other counties more badges appeared. I really don't get to Pike, Wayne, Wyoming, or Susquehanna that much. I do go to Monroe. Blue Mountain is not any farther than Palmerton so that's doable. But honestly, I don't want to do longer trips without someone else along. It's more fun, and if I fall someone can get help. My phone will be dead from taking too many pictures. 

You don't have to do anything. When you log your mils, you log the location. The computer does the rest.

Last week this arrived in the mail. It was totally unexpected. And unnecessary. Never have I received a "prize" for doing a walk. This one you had to do 15 walks during the Tail on the Trail '22 event. That's pretty dang easy. Unless you're doing marathons, you need at least 15 walks to do the challenge. Or at least I do. It's headed for the Medals for Medal box. But I guess it's the thought that counts.

i met milly!

 

David would have been jealous today. I met Milly. She was a bit of a minor Lehigh Valley celebrity at today's AARP walk at the Promenade Lifestyle Center.

It was great going to this walk. It's exactly 8 minutes from my house. I arrived with five minutes to spare and people were mingling. 

We met at the corner with LL Beam. Between the kayaks and the street. Then we walked down the side and lined up against the wall for stretches. I thought, gee that lady looks familiar.  But she had a hat and sunglasses on. When we were walking I heard her talk and I knew it was her. I sped up and caught up and said, "hi, are you Milly?" And it was. 

We walked together for most of the walk. It was interesting because other people knew her as well. I think she needed business cards with a QR code on with the link.

I was a bit disappointed in the walk. We really only did one quadrant of the shopping center. But we at least went down to the retention pond. They take the word pond there very seriously. The place is huge. We should need to cover the same block twice. Next week it's at the Greenway, but I have a job interview so I won't be there.

Yes, we did do Milly yesterday, and we'll do yoga and senior exercise tomorrow. I'm signed up for a walk Saturday. Oh and "Tail on the Trail" starts May 1, and I began the Penn State "Everybody Walk Across Pennsylvania" challenge Monday. That runs thru June. Wait, this is begining to sound like the old, pre-lazy, Gayle. Hmmmm.

Today I received the daily "news" from my community college. It said they were dedicating a new disc golf course. Say what? Pam and I wanted to try that for one of our athletic adventures. We were talking about it in fall of 2020. Then dropped it.

I generally park across the street and just walk in the door. If I'd use the main parking lot I wouldn't have been so surprised. You can see the start from the driveway. Not much exploring happened. It's nine holes on the east side of the lot, before the east 40 gardens. It says you can borrow kits to play. I'll have to find out from where at on campus. Athletics maybe? Student life?

My biggest concern is that I'll throw it and hit a car on Green Pond Road. That would be very bad.

I wish the walking path had such a nice sign.

Miles/Steps:    not quite 2 miles.
Weather:         mid-70s
Wildlife:           koi. I guess they weren't very wild. More like dumped.

two posts in one week. holy crap.

I might actually be getting my grove back. It's been a long couple of years. 

As you know, the roomie and I do chair exercises with Milly on Mondays at 11. Pat will not do them without me. It's thru the AARP. They offer a lot of other classes, but frankly I'm not interested in slogging thru them looking for ones that I might want to do.

I've know Michelle Stanton (above) for about 10 years. I met her in the walking community. She's a writer, editor, and walking coach. I've done some of her trainings and workshops. (Look up blog posts from 2012-2015). And I'm friends with her on Facebook. One day I was idly scrolling and there was a post from "my walking coach". I really have seen many since the pandemic. She was hosting walking workshops thru AARP in April and May. There's 8 in all. I signed up. That means I am forced to exercise three times a week. Milly Monday, walking Tuesday, and yoga/old lady exercise on Wednesday. Maybe I'll get my groove back.

Today was the first one. It was held at Trexler Park. We met in the Springhouse Road parking lot and signed in. The poor volunteer with the tablet in the sun was struggling. Thankfully, I did my wavier online. (Thanks Milly!)

We started at the pond using the fencing for balance with a series of stretches. The group quickly spread out. When that happened she'd blow the whistle and the front would loop back to the back group, turn around and move forward again. We did some 30 second intervals. At the split to Harry Trexler we split into two groups. I did not do the hill. 

When we returned to the pond, we stretched again and headed home.

The next one is Tuesday at the Promade Mall. Wanna come?

Miles/Steps:    not quite 2 miles.
Weather:         high 60s, cloudy, blustery.
Wildlife:           woodpecker drumming. And about 8 "gucks". Even though the internet is filled with articles about how this is impossible, I've seen the result. Geese with green heads. Mallards with long necks. Other articles say that mallards aren't fussy who they mate with, but it's usually another duck. Gucks exist and today one was wearing a hat.