half the hills in easton.

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/old-photos-pennsylvania/33064-hacketts-park-easton.html

Today we were supposed to walk at Columcille in Bangor, but just as the weather people predicted it was pouring this morning. There were quite a few people who wanted to do the walk.

We were supposed to start at 10. When I turned on the computer this morning there was a message from Angel. "Let me know when you leave for Columcille if you're online. I'm on the fence with the weather". I assured her the weather would clear up by nine. It didn't. In fact when I was prepping to leave it started to pour. After Angel's email, then Lyd called. Pretty much the same conversation. She opted for plan B. "Even if it stops raining it will be really muddy". Then I called Bonnie. They were out also. A text to Dawn confirmed she was bagging it.

Angels child is at camp for the weekend. There are not many opportunities for many childless activities with a 10-year-old in the house. Another email comes...

"Is there someplace Indoors we can go?" And another ...

"We could Mall walk. *cringe*". 

The rain had stopped and it looked like it might clear up. Since I had to go to the farm for eggs I suggested the Palmer rail trail. It's paved. Then Angel sweetened the pot with "You want to come over, get cauliflower and walk from here to Hackett park? Or I can make lunch..."

So that's what we did, Angel, her husband and I walked from her house to Hackett Park on the Wilson section of the rail trail. Like the old cliché it was up hill in "both directions". When we entered the park I had 30 stairs on my FitBit. And it was park-like with swings and pavilions and things. Not a field like when I entered from the rail trail. And there's a cemetery in the middle of the park. With a cannon. And obsolete plaques. Who knew? Wish I would have had my camera.

When we came back we left the trail and hiked up the hill to Northampton Street. I have always wanted to walk up that damn hill. Why? It's steep. But only earned us another seven flights.Then we worked our way back to Angel's house including a set of stairs. Who knew there were stairs on Northampton street? Total stair count—46!

We made lunch—huge salads with peanut-sesame dressing — and then I ate and ran.

First stop, the farm. I had to get a pot roast, a steak and eggs. I eat a lot of eggs. I also got some cherry tomatoes and some peppers. This is pretty much the end of the veggies. They also had pumpkins and squashes of all varieties. While I was shopping others came, and then the hay truck. Nobody yelled HAAAAAAAY! Shocking. But we were stock for a few minutes. Let me assure you that they hay truck driver had some driving skills.

Second stop ArtsQuest. We have a race tomorrow and today was packet pick up. I should have told them "event" instead of "packet pickup". I had to park in the casino overflow employee shuttle lot and hoof it in.

I ended up with 6.5 miles and I still have a deficit in my goal for this week. I'm only at 75%. No way I'll get to 100% this week. Oh well. But damn certain I will make 50 stairs. I will walk up and down the hill until I do.

When I arrived home there was another email from Angel. "Are you blogging about today? Because if you do:
- we walked about 4.2 miles
- we had crazy fitbit issues (hers got stuck and somehow turned on iTunes which played do-wop)
- we ate good food
- we had a great time
- and my fit bit gave me 92 active minutes!!! (mine gave me 1.25 hours active, 31 very active. That's good. I rarely get double digits for very active minutes, yet alone out of the teens.)
- next time let's do six miles!"

You are on Angel. Now what to do about the child ....

palmer bike trail

It is gorgeous this weekend. No  rain. No storms. No heat and humidity. Instead of walking I took a ride on the Palmer Bike Trail.

My bike is at my friend Angel's house. So I emailed her and asked if she wanted to go. She said yes.

We got the bikes from the garage and I sat on mine. Flat tires! The gas station was about 6, maybe 7 blocks away. The bike shop was one. Angel rode ahead to see if it was open. I walked my bike and met her there. The Broken Spoke filled my tires for free! Got to love local independent businesses. They know I'll come back one day and shop there.

We rode thru Wilson, past the high school, thru the shopping center and ultimately rode on the Palmer Bike Path. When we got to the Bethlehem Township Trail we turned around and came back, this time crossing over to Easton High and picking up the Wilson Trail. I love how all the municipalities are working together to make one long trail. The Wilson Trail, once you cross Northampton Street is tough. We didn't do that part today.

The route turned out to be 5.5 miles, with hills. I'm calling it 3 for the Bethlehem to Bethlehem log.

You'll have to wait to see the pixs from the Volkssport walk tomorrow to see my new haircut. Helmet is covering it today.

bike number mystery solved

Yesterday I went for an hour walk around Wilson Boro with my friend Angel. I never realized how big Wilson was, nor how nice. We finished at the elementary school where we picked up the child after school. We got there a little early and was serenaded by the church next door with 10 minutes of carols from the bell tower. I liked it. angel hated it. Maybe I would too if I listened to it every day!

My brother Dave sent me an explanation of the stationary bike numbers at Sharon's  gym that have been a mystery to me. In case you're interested, I'll copy/paste it here for you.

I read you were using the exercise bike and wanted to know what the numbers meant. They don't really mean anything if you are looking for something like pounds or a measurement. They are relative terms for resistance. The higher the number, the more resistance being applied to the flywheel. This is just so you have an idea what is going on. If you are doing well at 8 for several sessions, then up the value until you are doing that well consistently.

It is far more important to work out at the proper heart rate. My doc says 25 minutes of active exercise with at least 50% of that time in the target heart rate. ...

One thing that is suggested at 24/7 Fitness is the 40 minute aerobic workout. You do 5 minutes at the normal rate, then go all out for 1 minute, then back to normal. Continue that until you reach 40 minutes. I do this at times in the 25 minute cycle instead. That one minute really gets me going, sometimes up to near 150 heart rate. There are two ways to do the minute. Keep the tension the same and go fast, or crank up the tension and stay at the same speed. I find going fast is easier to deal with, especially if I feel I can't make the full minute.

 Thanks Dave.

blood curddling scream

Yesterday spring sprang. It hit 50 F. I don't care if spring is two weeks way. I was itching to hit the streets.

My friend Angel emailed me that some work was ready to be picked up. I replied, and as an afterthought said I was going walking.

She replied back that Wilson had a new trail, and did I want her and her daughter (on bike) to come along. Sure! This would be fun.

I got to her house and everyone was ready to go. The little one was confused because we were walking to the trail head. Daddy usually drives them. We told her all about the new one six blocks from her house. Coolest part is is connects to the old one.

So we were off. Since it was the first ride for her of the season, she was wobbly and her steering off. Angel reviewed the safety rules many times. We arrived at the trail, go about two blocks in and it was covered with snow. It go worse the deeper we went. At five her daughter couldn't ride in it, so we turned around and went back toward the old trail.

Because this is an urban trail for a couple of miles there are streets to cross. Busy streets. We patiently waited for the "little white man to scratch his butt" before crossing. Once I tried to cross early and the wee one said "The red hand means stop!". Scolded by a five-year old.

We had fun, we walked for nearly two hours. Part of what we discussed was names for the walking club.

Coming back we decided to get off the trail and walk on the sidewalks. It was a quicker route home and the child was running out of steam. I think I even heard a suggestion of let's call daddy for a ride. We should have.

As I said earlier, her steering was off from the long winter break. With all the riding, she had gotten better, but was still going kind of curvy. We had crossed 25th street (a super busy intersection) safely and started out Butler toward the school. The sidewalk was uneven and had curb cuts for driveways. She was no more than twenty feet in front of us. (I of course was looking down most of the time. Like I always do.)

As I looked up I heared the childs name as part of a blood curdling scream.

She was stopped on her bike, out on Butler street, looking very puzzled. Then as the cars zoomed by with both her mother and I screaming, she was scared and crying.

Angel saw the whole thing, but the words were stuck in her throat. Apparently she steered crooked, and got caught on a steep curb cut and flew out in the street. She threw on her brakes. Thank goodness traffic was light and she didn't get into traffic. Although the green mini van slammed on his brakes anyway.

After Angel calmed her down we continued. She didn't want to ride her bike until we got to the school where there was no corner cuts and a smooth side walk.

As we approached Angels street, Angel fell. (hey that's my M.O.!) The child kept going. I had to scream for her to stop.

Boy was I glad when we reached her house.