coopersburg to upper saucon on the new rail trail

They've extended the Saucon Valley Rail Trail to the outskirts of Coopersburg. It now ends at the Living Memorial Park.

We weren't sure how to get there from The Upper Saucon Park—Lydia and I were unsuccessful a few weeks ago—so we drove and started in Coopersburg. It was easy to find. We were greeted with this lovely hand made sign. Clearly none of the signage is ready yet.

We followed the path and quickly found the trail. Nicely groomed with fencing in place. You'd never know it just opened. I hear there is one more section to go to reach into Coopersburg. I've also heard a rumor that  potentially this path could start at the Bethlehem Greenway and go all the way to Q'town. Exciting.

This section is about 2 miles. We were on the last quarter and I said to Bonnie "is that a covered Bridge?" We determined it was, but it was far away. When we were done we drove looking for it and found it! It's tiny. I think it might be a private bridge.

The trail came out in the ballfields at Upper Saucon Park. Lydia, we walk right past the entrance! We made the loop around the ball park, and headed back to the car. All our little detours stretched this walk to 5 miles.

Tuesday, Bonnie and I will be walking in Bethlehem.

splat!

School's out for summer for the summer. (Cue Alice Cooper!) So I free time on my hands.

Wednesday grades went in. Wednesday night I annihilated all the mutant dust bunnies in my home office that have been growing, unchecked, for the academic year.

Thursday I was out at 6 am gardening. Maybe by August it will look like a garden again. Afterwards, I met with another faculty member and we cleaned our corner of the adjunct office. I had a Frosty for lunch, then spent the afternoon working in my online classes. (2 ending. 2 starting. Love overlap time.) By late afternoon I was jumping out of my skin. I needed to walk.

Besides, I haven't reached 10K steps on my pedometer all week. Need to do better if I'm doing around the world.

The original plan was to make dinner and then hit the streets. Then I remembered Bonnie is home with a busted wrist. So I called and asked if she want to walk after dinner. She said yes.

Now I know that she'd tired of walking in her hood, so I planned a 3.5 mile loop nearby. Starting at 5th street, we'd walk out Dixon, up Delaware, loop around the subdivision, out Mack Blvd, back Emmaus Ave. and then back 5th street.

When we arrive at the Mountainville Park, the children were playing on the equipment, and more children were playing baseball. I said to Bonnie, when we get back, if there's room, I'm going to swing.

And we were off.

It was a lovely walk. We were headed up Delaware and I saw a stop sign. I said to Bonnie, That's probably our turn. It should be Vine Street. I don't know if I was looking at the map or straight ahead but the next thing I knew I was headed face-first to the sidewalk.

My glasses went flying. My new hat went flying. I was a bit disoriented and turned to look at bonnie and saw a yong man with dreads asking if I was okay. I told him I was fine. Bonnie was in full nurse mode asking me to move my arms and legs to check if things were busted. Bonnie asked the young man for ice.

Next thing I know Mama comes running out. Se wants to call the ambulance. NO. I'm fine. The boy comes with the ice. Now dad is out. He wants to call an ambulance. NO. Really I'm fine. Dad helps me up. Mama is survey my damages. She really wants to call an ambulence. Bonnie told her that she'd take me when we got back to the car. A boldface lie to some very nice people. But I don't think we could have left otherwise. I did tell Bonnie that after we cleaned it up, if it was bad, I'd go to the doc-in-the-box.

Needless to say, no swings. (Boo.)

We cleaned it up. Head wounds bleed a lot. It's in my eyebrow. Most likely form my glasses.. I have one on my arm too. Bonnie put a steri-strip on it one-handed. No need to go to the doc-in-the-box.

My camera was in my pocket and it is dead. It's only 6 months old. Clearly not a model built for my lifestyle. I'll need to get a new one before tomorrow.

And my sunglasses are also broken. Thank goodness I had them on and not my real glasses!

Tomorrow is the P'burg Relay for Life. Our friend Beth is one of the organizers. No walking for her since her knee was destroyed in an accident. So now she organizes. We'll walk in circles for a few hours. (Each loop is 1/4 mile) The P'burg High track is rubber. If I fall there will be a soft landing.

Sunday is Color Me Rad. You'll be able to find me easily in the pictures. I'll have the colored bandages on my forehead.

a funny thing happened on the way to the 10-miles.

This morning Jillian and I did the Capital City 10 mile race, in Harrisburg. We were to meet at her house at 6. Walkers started at 8:15.

I don't sleep well, but only woke up once during the night. When I looked at the clock it said 5:15. Holey Moley, I've got to get moving! I got ready and out the door I went.

It was dark and traffic was very light. I cruised down Susquehanna street. I looked down at the clock to see what time it was. Was I on time? It was 4:47. Say what? I pulled out my phone. 4:46? How is this possible. I cruised past the house and it was dark. Shit. Time changed again last night.

You see I have very old electronics, bought before they moved the time change days, so they change automatically on the wrong date. Each time we have a time change, I have to reset the clocks—twice. It's a PIA. But I'm too cheap to buy new ones.

What makes this even funnier is I drove past my neighborhood independent gas retailer, and his big LED sign declares the time. I totally missed it.

So I went for gas—no lines—and then home to chill (and set clocks) for 45 minutes.

Promptly at 6 I was back at her doorstep. And off we went. In her new car—it has GPS and satellite radio. Something my cars will never have. Again, too cheap. I buy cars that go forward, backward and stop.

We arrived on City Island by 7:40, with plenty of time to register. The race started promptly at 8. There was only about 15 walkers. I thought it would be fun to take our pix in front of the Harrisburg Senators sign wearing an Iron Pigs cap. Although the Senators are not in their league.

We walked around the island, then over the pedestrian bridge. Then headed down to the river way, and the Capital Greenway. Then turned around and came back past the start point to the next bridge. That bridge is about a mile long. When we crossed the Susquehanna, we turned around and came back the other side. It was beyond windy up there. Then we returned to the upper river walk, back over the pedestrian bridge, around the stadium and to the finish line.

The runners left at 9 and there was serious congestion at around the four-five mile mark. People coming. people going. Narrow path.

We stayed together for the first 7 miles or so, then Jillian took off. I was busy taking pixs of art.

She finished in 2:57:xx ahead of the 3-hour goal.

I finished in 3:01:28. A minute and a half over. But I'm not in it to win it. And I always walk slower alone. A few people finished after us.

 Make music not war.

Bulls, hydrants, garbage cans. You can see why I was so distracted. My favorite sign was a horse and buggy crossing sign. In the middle of the big city.

The walk today put me over the 25000 steps in one day on my fit-bit. I got a new badge! That and a buck fifty will get you coffee. Hopefully I'll reach gold status in the Presidential challenge this week. I'm at 98%. I'm running out of time. My anniversary date is very, very soon. Then I go back to zero and start again.