The original title of this post was going to be "parlez-vous Français", But well that was this morning, and then the afternoon happened.
Let's start with breakfast. Wednesday I noticed my front tooth was feeling squirrely. I looked in the mirror and saw nothing. The timing was, of course, dreadful, with the trip and the holiday. First thing on my Tuesday list was call the dentist. This morning we met at 7 and walked down to the dining hall. I've been avoiding the tooth but forgot and bit a piece of bacon and it was hard. I pulled it out and you guessed it, the filling from that tooth. Thankfully it's on the side and just looks broken. I don't look like a redneck hick from Pennsyltucky.
I saw sculpture...
a helicopter pad for the hospital across the street and ... wait for it ...
Canada Geese in Canada. They have not all emigrated to the Lehigh Valley.
The 10K walkers left in groups first. There was close to 400 walkers. I was probably at the start point nearly an hour. I sat on a bench under a tree and a woman sat down next to me. She had an accent but I didn't know what it was. Then another woman came by and they talked. They were both members of the Quebec group. It was then I found out she was leading the French language 5Ks. I said to her, maybe I'll do your walk instead. I wouldn't understand a thing your saying but when else would I get the opportunity?
So I did. I lost them twice because I was moving so slow. But we all finished together.
I went to the host hotel because it was the only place with free water. (I have since found the bottle fountain at the dorm.) I also needed to plug in my phone. So by this point I've walked 7.5K and I made the rookie mistake of sitting down. Not only did I sit, but I sat in a cushy hotel chair ... for an hour! When I went to stand my leg muscles pretty much told me to go duck myself.
I went outside to find the deli I heard everyone talking about. I couldn't find it and went to a juice bar instead and got a wrap. Again, I sat to eat it. I got up to go back to the start point and I couldn't move faster than a snail. I was done. I had 2.5 hours until the meet and greet at 4. I could sit on a park bench and watch the seagulls but that didn't sound like fun. Then one of the trolleys went by that takes you to all the sites and you hop on and off. The walks in the afternoon were "history". On a whim I bought a ticket and got on the trolley. If I wanted it to take me "home" it would have. It drove right past my dorm.
I did the full circuit and learned everything I didn't want to know about Kingston. (Which used to be Kings Town but those dang American kept pronouncing it wrong and it stuck.) Then it was off to the host hotel for the meet and greet with the carpool gang. Everyone looked beat. I took off my shoes and was walking around in my socks. My feet were very happy.
Those crazy people mostly did two 10Ks plus walking to the event. One did a 10 and a 5. Another a 10 and a 7. At the end of the event, I said to my table, I'm taking a taxi back to school. Two people can join me. No, no, they were purists and had to walk back. Finally our driver -- the one who insists we leave the car parked -- said, may I come? I said sure. And we rode home.
You'll notice I said taxi. I cannot seem to get Canadian money. People prefer charge cards. Here in the dorm the vending machine only takes charge cards. I need real Canadian bucks for the bus.
I'm planning on doing the walk, then working my way back on foot and hitting up the Murney Tower Museum, The Pumphouse Museum, and the boat. I didn't sign up for the social so I'll have the whole evening free. Too bad the tv only streams and the University is closed up tight for the summer.
Sunday there is only one walk. There is a dinner cruise that you needed to sign up for ahead of time. But my car mates and I have decided that we're going to just go on the cruise on the lake.
Weather: 15 degrees C, sunny, a little humid
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