baby it's cold outside

Today I had an appointment at the car dealer for inspection, oil change, and to get my seat checked. I decided about 3 am that walking home from the garage would be a lovely idea. I'd get exercise, take a totally different route, and get the car done.

Bethlehem Ford is at the Allentown/Bethlehem border line in west Bethlehem. Across from the Lehigh Shopping Center. Near the old A-treat factory.Much closer to my brother's than my house.

It was 4 degrees this morning. What the heck was I thinking?

At seven I got dressed. All my long underwear was in the laundry, so I put my flannel pj bottoms back on, then covered them with my jeans. I have no long socks, so I put on regular socks, and then my pedi socks. They have no toes, so I inched them over my heal and scrunched them around my ankles. Then tucked the pj pants into them.

On top I had a long sleeve tee and a fleece. At 8, I added my blue coat and headed out the door. After dropping off the car, I added my hoodie over my coat, two pairs of gloves, my fuzzy hat, and both hoods. And a scarf. I was cold.

I always wanted to take a photo of the tile work on the Ukrainian Church.
Today I got the opportunity and the sun was not cooperating.
Can't complain. It's been a while since we have even seen the sun.

I headed out Union Blvd toward home. The sidewalks on the north side are just as bad as the one's in the hood. Lot's of those homes don't shovel either. What melted yesterday also turned to ice.

At 8th Avenue, I turned down and headed toward Broad. Out Broad to 3rd, then out Spring to 2nd. Over the 2nd Street ram, across the bridge, out Broadway and home.

I walked in the door about 1:40 later. It was about 3.5 slow miles. I was barely in the house when my roomie said: "The car dealer called. Your car is done."

I guess I should have just waited.

two bridges

Today I walked over the Hill to Hill and back the Fahy bridge, with a few errands in between.

I heart winter. I heart everything about it, except maybe snow days. We have to make those up, or I don't get paid. But it does add some challenges to walking.

As I was walking I thought (more times than I could count) that the city could raise all shortfalls by enforcing the laws. Mainly the one where you're supposed to shovel your sidewalk after it snows. For pedestrians it's beyond sketchy. There were more than a few times when I almost went down. I know that citation would be on my door the one time I didn't shovel.

Another problem for pedestrians is crossing the street. Even when the homeowner or business shovels to the corner the plow comes thru and closes it back up. If the property owner doesn't come back out and dig out, again, you get to scale humps of snow. Or worse, cold messy slush.

But if you are able to navigate those challenges. You get to see the frozen canal.

Or where cars have played spirograph in the empty parking lot.

Tomorrow we are to get another storm. I've heard everything from four inches to two feet.  time will tell. My snowshoes are ready.

over the river

Today I did a maybe three mile walk. I left my house, headed out Broadway and up Wyandotte to the bridge. Then over the bridge to the Hotel Bethlehem I went. I had to change the "special programs" sheet in the walk box. (I just read on FB that my brother and his family were there for brunch. There was a lot of people there for brunch.)

Then I headed towards home with a stop at CVS and Aharts.  Then I headed up  Wyandotte hill to Sassafras, and home.

The pictures were taken at the Church of the Nativity.

day 18—happy new year!

Personally, I don't get the "new year" holiday. Why should January first be any different than July first? To me, it is just another random Thursday, but I get off from work. Celebrating a new year goes all the way back to Mesopotamia in 2000 BC. And is apparently the most celebrated public holiday in the world. I think it's stupid.

To celebrate the new year I walked with Bonnie. We started at the Comfort Suites and grabbed the Bethlehem South volkssport walk paperwork. Then we headed over the Hill to Hill and did the same at the Hotel Bethlehem for Bethlehem North. We went up to Broad, down First and down Spring. then around the fairgrounds, and up Lehigh to the Fahy bridge. Across the bridge and back to the hotel.

I have no idea how far it was. Maybe 2 miles, perhaps a bit more.

The rest of the day was a whirlwind. We picked up Sharon at David's, came home and defrosted the freezer. Did two loads of towels (as a result of the defrosting). And did the Volkssport paperwork. Then it was time to make the pork and sauerkraut, which required a trip to the store. Finally run Sharon and Lydia home. Pshew.

Tomorrow will be worse. Take Lyd to and from Lehighton, hairdresser, and a trip to the garage. And I have to have my syllabus and the ADDY award entries done by the 5th.

So when does that vacation start? I have yet to open a book.

what happened to my mojo?

Yesterday  Bonnie, Megan, the Wee One and I did the Bethlehem Volkssport walk. We had a great time doing the the second-loop 5K.  That loop goes west to the tomb of the Unknown Soldiers, the armory, then back to the Fahy Bridge. Up the hill and circles thru the cemetery. Basically a odd shaped figure eight. It was chilly but nice. The baby even fell asleep for awhile. We parked in front of the Moravian Bookstore -- why didn't I go in? -- and went shopping in the Christmas Village. It was my best walking total in a long time.

But I'm still looking for my mojo. Can't find it anywhere. I have had about six weeks, maybe even eight weeks of sucky totals for walking. I made my goals maybe twice, but only because of half marathons. My clothes are telling me I am gaining weight. Yet I exercise less and less and stuff more and more into my pie hole. Pie-hole stuffing is out of control. Today was the first day in forever I ate vegetables. And I love vegetables. It stinks.

Even if my Fitbit wasn't acting wonky this week, I would have still had lackluster totals. Again.

I did no exercise walking today. First I was going to call Lydia. Then not. Then I planned a route in the neighborhood. But something always got in the way. Obligations from 20 directions. Can't anyone do anything themselves. No. because I'm a push over.

Do you want to know how bad my laziness has gotten? Thursday I walked down to the South Bethlehem Volkssport walk at the Comfort Suites and collected the paperwork and then didn't do the actual walk! Who am I and what have I done with Gayle? I had sixteen people to walk with and I went home. I just had so much grading to do.

I even missed my regular Friday walk with Betsy. She cancelled, so instead of walking I shopped for Toys for Tots while I was driving Lydia.

Sadly, the more I don't walk the more it becomes easier to sit on my fat ass and let it get fatter. Any ideas how to get me out of this rut, let me know. I'm begging.

Meanwhile I have two 5Ks this week. I'd better get my fanny moving.

This week the swag came from Tail on the Trail. (Thanks for the pix Lydia!) We had gotten a long sleeve grey tee a couple weeks ago. now we've gotten a flannel blanket with a plastic back. I'm guessing it's for picnics after your walks. I'm kind of perplexed over the super-duper stadium cushion. Isn't sitting something they are not promoting? It's nice. If anyone needs a stadium cushion I have one. Otherwise it's going in the hand-me-down bag. The blanket is in the emergency kit in the car.

beat the bridge 10K

After finishing the Deja Vue half, I headed down to Annapolis for the Beat the Bridge 10K over the Chesapeake Bay. It was the little bridge in Annapolis, not the giant one further east and south.

I spent an hour in Wilmington with traffic on 95. the rest of the trip was kind-of uneventful. I drove the speed limit the whole time. Couldn't risk another ticket. The last one, two weeks ago, in the school zone cost $169.50 and earned me three points!

I arrived at the Navy Stadium for the expo and packet pickup in plenty of time.

I think it is the only football stadium that has it's own plane.

My hotel was 22 minutes north near the Baltimore Airport. It was weird being alone. Usually Bonnie or Lydia is with me. No restaurants in the area so I ended up eating there. I picked the hotel because it was a sponsor hotel. I really didn't check into their website because it was a sponsor hotel. Almost every hotel offers free wi-fi and breakfast, right? Wrong. I had to buy internet to do class. And I had to find breakfast in the morning.

My shuttle time from the Navy stadium was 8 am. I left the hotel for the 22 minute trip at 6:20. I'm a little obsessive about being early. Ask the others. I needed to get off exit 24.

I found a McDs and bought an Egg McMuffin, and hit the road. At exit 23 the world stopped. It took on hour to get the next mile and park. There were at least 20 buses. Maybe I'd be on time. The line went 3/4 the way around the stadium. It took 1/2 hour to reach the bus. And another twenty minutes to get to the start line.

I arrived just as they were calling my wave. And I was off. No time to think.

I have few pictures. We walked right into the sun. Hopefully the pros got a nice one.

There was about a 1/4 mile in the park, then about two miles up the bridge, on mile that was sort-of flat, and two miles down. There was port-o-potties on the bridge—twice. And an elaborate water station. It was a cup free event and you had to bring a water vessel.

The final mile was in a park-like area. But there was no clock. I didn't know what my time was until
I got home. Awaiting me in my email was this elaborate graph. And a link for my finish. I'm the walker, not Elvis.

The drive home was pretty uneventful. Though I wish I had someone to help drive. I was tired.

This is my ninth metal from an event. I'm not a medal person. I'm not even really excited when they hand me them. And I'm running out of space on the shelf above my desk. Guess I'm going to find a box for them. Maybe I have an envelope box somewhere. Or maybe I should put them in an envelope and send them off to Medals4Mettle. They repurpose them for kids fighting life threatening diseases. I'll think about that another day.

will race for free beer

Or not. The line was way to long.

The Oktoberfest 5K was today. We had a huge group—Bonnie, Lydia, Megan, Dawn and Lyds friend Joleen. It was cold today waiting for the race. We all wore layers. Most of us wore the shirts we picked up yesterday. Nice, right? I had a pink shirt under mine. It is Pinktober after all.

We planned to meet at the entrance to ArtsQuest at 10 am. Megan and Joleen arrived first, then Dawn and her husband, and finally Megan and Bonnie. The race had at least 4K people. They capped it at 5K and were still selling entries.  It was wall to wall people. The broke us into four waves with beer themed names. We were in the last wave. The first was at the start line near the Welcome Center. The last was in the "Keg" section. The line up for that began at PBS. Yep, we pretty much had to walk two blocks to the start line. It took almost 8 minutes for us to cross. Thank goodness for chip timing.

We quickly splintered by pace. Near the beginning I actually passed Megan and Bonnie. How did that happen? But soon Bonnie passed me. Then Megan. Once we hit the hills, I was doomed. Those two, like my friend Angel fly up the hills. I passed them on the way down. But then they passed me again and it stayed that way.

The course went out first, up Webster, out Columbia and over the Fahy Bridge. Then up Center, out Church, and down around the city center and down Lehigh.  Over to Sand Island, turn around and come back.

I met Bonnie and Megan again on Columbia, near the back side of Looper's. Bonnie said "You caught up". And I said something about them seeing the finish line and they'd speed off without me. But they agreed on the bridge that we'd all cross together. And we did. My foot must have hit first because I finished in 50:48, and they finished in 50:50. Our unison was a little off. Dawn finished in 56:50, and Lydia and Joleen in 63:55.

They did not give us our traditional gingerbread cookie medals at the finish which I found odd. You had to wait in line. It wasn't a horrible line, like the one for beer.

Dawn was going to try and save hers. I don't know about the others. Me, I'm eating it. I assure you, it will be gone by morning. Hope it tastes as good as it smells. I heart gingerbread.

trout creek park

This morning we walked thru Tout Creek Park. The baby was quite happy today. Clearly he liked the cooler weather. Or maybe he's just excited that daddy is coming this week.

Trout Creek Park is not the prettiest park in the Allentown Park System, but it's got a walking path. Once we reach 8th street, then we head towards Mack Blvd. But we don't go that far. I think the street we turn on is Dixon.

We head down Dixon, and thru the development.  to the shopping center. We found the stacked tires at the edge of the shopping center. If you look thru the yellow tire, I'm in the shadow. The baby wanted no part of looking at the camera.

When we reached the Susquehanna Street Bridge, we crossed, and went under, back to the park. We too the trail north, then spun around at the end and came back. Everyone's trackers said something different. It was somewhere between 3-4 miles.

After arriving home, we took the dog out for another 3/4 mile.

parkway

Most every week I send out an email with my walking plans to about 6-8 people. Usually it's just family that comes. Occasionally I'll get a reply from someone else.

This week it was Lydia's friend Dawn. Since we've spent enough time together that I kind-of know her, I'm going to now refer to her as a fitness friend.

Dawn arrived early. We called at about 8:15 and said we were running late, but she was already there. We were just leaving. Bonnie called a few minutes later that they were leaving.

Ultimately we didn't start walking until about 8:45. We started at the Robin Hood parking lot and then headed toward the Iron Bridge. Under the Iron Bridge and thru the solar system walk. Eventually arriving at the covered bridge. That's where I discovered that my camera was dead. Dawn took the group shot with Lydia's phone.

Then we headed back on the north side of the creek to the parking lot. Dawn left for home, and Lydia played in the lot with the baby. Bonnie, Megs and I did that last mile loop. Near the end of that loop is a set of stairs which I did. It put me a little behind the others, but that's okay. Then we headed home.

Funny thing was we had two cars, went two different directions and both ended up at the Wawa. then we both ended up at Valley Farm Market—2 cars away. We didn't see each other at either place.

After we arrived home we took the dog out for a walk. He really doesn't care how far you walked without him.

Bathrooms, according to Bonnie, were an I-3.5 (composting toilets!)

a walk on the D&L

Thursday Bonnie, Megan, the Wee One, and I walked again to the south side farmers market. We took the scenic route through Fountain Hill to get there.  Again I bought heavy food. Will I ever learn. This time it was a giant head of cauliflower. I almost wished I would have had a knife with me. I could have cored it and left all the leaves there. It probably would have weighed half as much.

I had mail to take to the post office. I put it in my grocery sack to carry it for the first part of the walk. At the farm stand, I took it out, but needed to set it down to get money out. I was nearly to Broughal when I realized I left my mail (and Bonnie's mail) at the farm stand. I ran walked back and it was still there.

Next stop, the post office. I needed to mail the letters, and buy 100 stamps. They have no machine at that branch. There were two people in line and the person in front of me looked aggravated. I can see why. The person in front of him had 50 letters and each one needed to be weighed individually. Because it was lunch time there was only one clerk on. Bonnie and Megan though I got lost.

We finally reconnected and walked home. We were about 2 blocks away when the Wee One decided he no longer wanted to be in his stroller.

Friday I walked with Betsy early in the morning. then Pat and I headed up to the Monroe campus to see the faculty art show.

Yesterday, we all did the D&L tow path from Bethlehem to Freemansburg.  It was advertised as 6 miles. It was a little longer. An no, I didn't get the uniform memo.

We started at the ice house and headed east thru Sand Island to the D&L. The weeds on the side of the trail are giant. You can see that in the group picture. The narrow portion of the trail is very narrow. We arrived at the first Freemansburg bridge in about an hour. We only had one stop with the baby. He was not a happy hiker and cried a lot. By Freemansburg he was asleep.

Megs, Bonnie and I wanted to climb the stairs to the bridge. Lydia didn't. So she took the baby and walked ahead. We'd catch up.

Back when mama was alive if we gave her a grocery cart, she forgot all about her arthristis and flew thru the store like she had wings. Apparently Lydia is the same with a stroller. I had to run to pass her to take the picture. She stopped so Bonnie and Megs were able to catch up.

Megan took over the stroller until we reached the Minsi Trail bridge and the same thing happened. We climbed, she took the baby and flew away.

By the time Lydia gave him back at Sand Island he was awake and unhappy.  Megan took the stroller and kept moving. But he was over the stroller.

When we returned to the road I took him out and I gave him my piggies hat. And we walked back to meet Lydia. She had climbed down some stairs to get a picture of the Steel.  We took selfies. He didn't understand. But he was quiet. In the distance I could see Megs and Bonnie coming down the Fahy bridge stairs. I gave them back the baby and I climbed them. All in all it was about 7 miles.

Bathrooms, according to Lyd were an I-3.5.

When we arrived home, we took Adonis out for another 1/2 mile.

Later in the afternoon, I went out for another mile or so. My total for the day was 20K steps, and 25 stairs.

two walks

Last night Lydia and Adonis came over for dinner an a walk. We took Big A out first for his typical 1/2 mile. I was already hot and sweaty and we hadn't even started the main event!

Lyd doesn't like doing hills after work. She's on her feet seeing clients a good portion of the all day. We drove the few blocks to the hospital and parked. The we walked out Jeter avenue towards Salisbury. When we reached Public Road, we played in the park. The swings were nice, and high. The spinning thing was old and made horrible noises.

Then we headed up Public to Graham, and down the long Graham street hill and back to the car. Turns out that loop is 2.5 miles. Not bad for after work.

This morning I headed to Bonnie's to walk in Salisbury. The baby fell asleep so Megan stayed home. We did what she calls the west loop, with all the hills. It's just under 3 miles but I was flop sweating when I returned to her house.

Even with the walk I'm at less than 6K for the day. If it doesn't start to pour, I'm going to need to go out for another walk. I have not chance of catching my friend in the FitBit race, but I at least need to make my goal for the week.

Tomorrow we are doing the two-bridge walk and Veg-Fest. Sunday we'll be doing the Volkssport walk in Valley Forge.

walks I'm planning

People always ask what I'm signed up for. Even though I am mad, frustrated, discourage, and generally pissed off at myself right now these events are a go. I've already paid for the bulk of them.

2015, on the other hand, may be a very different story.

September
1-- Saucon Rail Trail 10K 8:30 am, the give you the best, most comfortable, and ugliest socks ever. Mine from last year are threadbare I wear them so much.

13 -- LBW 30th anniversary walk and picnic. It's a 10K around Lake Galenda.

19 -- Bacon 5k run/walk Challenge if you are crazy, you can eat a half pound of bacon at the half way point. No thank you. I could easily eat a half pound, hell a whole pound, of bacon. But not during a race.  Ordered a larger t-shirt. I'm giving it to Dave. He's a huge bacon, and Iron Pigs fan.

20--Tail on the trail event in Palmer (rt. 33 access point). These usually start around 9

27--Morning Star Rotary Celtic Classic Run/Walk, 8 am.

October 
5--Yuengling Octoberfest 5k run/walk, 10:30 am. Pricey but you get lots of stuff. Most of which I will give away.

11 (maybe)--Turn Bath Pink 5k, 9 am. The pink fire trucks will be there the weekend before.


17-19 -- we've been talking about doing the State College Volkssport weekend. Hard to get counties. But if we are going we'll need to make reservations soon. Even after their staff's fall from grace, Penn State is football.

November
2--D&L Half Marathon. Walker Friendly. 4.5 hour time limit

8--Deja Vue Half. Walker friendly. 5.5 hour time limit. You have to scroll to the bottom of the page for the half.

9-- Across the Bay 10K. I think I told them I'd finish in 1:45. So I'll be under the gun.

new hope and washington crossing

Yesterday we all went to New Hope to do the Volkssport border crossing walk. When we were done, we headed to Washington's Crossing and did it again.

This trip was more complex than most. We had to take two cars. the infant car seats only allow one passenger in the back. In many ways it's terrific. Since you are following people you obey the speed limit and every sign. In other ways it's not. One gets the light, the other doesn't. One gets a little ahead and turns, and the other gets lost. (That would be me.)

The start point for the New Hope walk was a Ramada way out of town. Then we had to drive back into town to do the walk. We did a little of New Hope walk, then crossed the bridge and saw 14 turtles, then headed out the D&R (Delaware and Raritan) Canal path. Quickly we came to a detour and followed it. It returned to the trail at — you guessed it — the turning point. We headed back into town and back over the bridge to New Hope.

 Megs leave the little on in New Jersey, while she stays in Pennsylvania. We won't tell Papa.

I'm in Jersey. Bonnie is in Pennsylvania and Lydia is straddling both states.

The route wound around New Hope and picked up the canal path near the Locktender's House. Megan couldn't take the baby down the steps so the Stephens' family went on an adjacent street and Lydia and I went to the D&L. Of course, we misplaced each other. Phoning wasn't working so I said to Lydia let's go to Main Street and just stand there. They'll come. They did.

Then a pitstop at the train station to change the baby (who flirted with the conductor) and for the adults to use the restroom (I-3.5). Then it was back to the car.

After a stop for a late lunch it was off to Washington's Crossing in New Jersey. The start point for that walk. New Jersey State Parks charge for parking on weekends. Who knew? There was a little chaos finding our way into the visitor center but we finally got there and signed in.  The ladies room (I-2.5) had no changing table for the baby so Megs changed him on the sink!

Then we headed off to walk back to Pennsylvania! The sidewalk on this bridge is skinny (and not turtles). The bridge is skinny. We kind-of went off course and walked around the Pa. side of the park, stopping at the Visitors Center. It's beautiful. Looks fairly new. (I-4.5. I bet it's a 5 first thing in the morning!)

We decided not to follow each other going home. I came back thru Pennsylvania. Bonnie thru Jersey. I wanted to stop at Bowman's Hill Tower for the "best view of Bucks County." And to climb stairs. The ranger was closing the park when we arrived at 4:15. (The pix is from Wikipedia.) On Wikipedia I read that they remodeled in the 80s and put in an elevator. I wonder if stairs are still an option. You only must climb 23 for the top most point.

When we got home, I walked the dog. He was happy.

fell into a ground hogs hole

Today I had off from my day job. (I just finished the night one.) So it was my turn to drive Bug to swim lessons at Memorial  Pool. (Yeah, Eryn finally got a learners permit!)

So we pull into the pool parking lot. I tell her I'm going for a walk, and I should be back in time, but if not, I left the car open, or she could sit on the lawn or the stoop and wait. Off she goes.

The pool sits at the top of the hill. So I decided to check out the "stairs" function on my new Fitbit. Stairs is really not the right word. What it really measures is inclines up. I headed down the driveway, then down the hill to Monocacy Park, then up the hill to Center Street.  I received a 5.

I turned around came down the hill, headed thru the park, over the waterfall bridge and back, and headed up the hill and up the driveway. At this point I was at 12. Clearly, it's steeper going up.

It was only 11:40. Still about a half hour to go. So I decided to loop the pool and the dog park. There were people everywhere. Apparently the come for both age level swim lessons and just hang out till the pool opens. They even bring coolers with lunch!

I returned to the entrance of the pool and there was still time, so I looped the pool again. This time, I was at the front of the pool and zig zagging up and down the grassy bank. I stepped in a groundhog hole and tumbled. Thank goodness I didn't roll! I am becoming a professional faller. When I was done my stair count was up to 18.

A pretty decent workout. I finished at the same time as Bug.

But something was quite different at the pool. Little of the grass was mowed. 70%, maybe is allowed to go fallow for environmental reason. They even put up a sign. But we all know it's a lot cheaper to leave big lawns go fallow than to mow.

Paths were mowed around the pool, the dog park, and another down to the street near the edge of the property, and a fourth down to the Monocacy trail.

walking vacation, day 7

We arrived Saturday night and went to the hotel that hosts the walk box. They were booked. They sent us to a town a couple miles away to the Comfort Suites. They were booked to. Everyone was booked. There was a film festival in town, a motorcycle rally, and a huge accident on the Interstate. Who would have thought that a sleepy town in West Virginia would have no room at the inn?

The Comfort Suites clerk was wonderful. She called around. The Knights Inn 10 miles away had 2 rooms left, but wouldn't hold them. By the time we got there, they were gone. They sent us across the street to the Roadway Inn. Finally, a room for the night.

Since we did the Volkssport check-in at the host hotel Saturday night, we parked near the middle school. No use walking the long driveway for nothing. Getting the instructions early allowed us to read them, and become familiar with them. That saved us a lot of time.

I believe this was an 11K. We headed toward "downtown" and they were setting up the Farmer's Market. Bonnie decided to get peaches on the way back. there is a historical marker on every block in this town. We walked around town a bit more, then headed into the university, and across the bridge to Maryland. Once we crossed the bridge we headed down the path and snaked around to almost the canal path. Instead, we turned right into the woods. It was a rustic trail. I wished I would have brought my walking stick. It was a climb back up the hill.

When we reached the lawn of Fairy Hill we were soaked with sweat. So what do we do? Take a tour of the house. Lucky for us the air conditioning was broken. They had fans running. We did not get overly cooled down. While there we bought National Park Passports and started collecting stamps. Something else to carry and never fill.

Then it was back down the drive, and back over the bridge.  Back thru the university's athletic fields, and back thru town. Somehow we read the instructions wrong, and I missed the farmers market. So we drove down, Bonnie hopped out of the car, and I drove around the block. Those peaches smelled good.

On the way out we stopped at Antietam National Battle field. Why not? We were in the 'hood.

walking vacation, day 3

This morning we headed to downtown Louisville to do the Border Crossing Volkssport walk. Had I realized it was 12K I probably would not have had Maria drop off Foxy and Kitty to come along. We shaved a bit off, but it was still about 6 miles.

In Louisville one bridge is under construction, so they are down to one bridge. To get to the YMCA logic would indicate using I65. But that's right in the heart of the chaos. We took I64 and the longer route. Avoided all of the traffic.

 After signing in at the YMCA we headed off with the children reading the instructions. When we arrived at Main Street, we cut off the loop that went down to the Slugger museum and back. 1K gone. We headed up the Belvider thru the fountain, and up to the river walk. Then down the stairs and thru River Park and the wharf. I was at least a mile thru the park to the pedestrian bridge. The children were tiring so we took a break in the park. Then before heading up the ramp to the bridge, we rain thru the water sprinklers. That, and the breeze, cooled us off.

 Then it was over the bridge to Indiana, and back. We stopped at the same park for ice cream from the truck. Then headed back to the car. It was a good mile and a half away.

In the car the children were talking about a troll restaurant.  But didn't know the name. We ended up at O'Charleys near Barb's house. I looked it up online when we got back—We walked past it within a half block. Crap. It sounded cool.

Next Volkssport walk is Friday, maybe. In Frankfort.

Tomorrow will be spent on a short walk, then doing some running around with Barb.

Oh, in case you are curious, Bonnie was attacked last night by her father's dresser. Aparrently it was hungry.

cedar creek park

Today we went on an adventure. Lydia is always wanting to try new places, and we actively search for stroller friendly routes.

First stop, Cedar Creek Park East. There was a trail but it was rustic. Clearly not stroller friendly. And there was a huge boys soccer tourney going on.

Second Stop, Cedar Creek Parkway West. Much bigger, and another tourney. this time girls soccer.
We couldn't find any place to walk. Back in the car, again.

Final stop. Cedar Creek Park in Allentown. Same old park we always do. This time we headed toward Cedar Crest, around the rose garden and back to Ott. Then we crossed Ott and looped around Lake Muhlenberg and back.

The baby slept most of the time.

Then it was off to the Comfort Suites to do my paperwork for the Volkssport club. The Allentown walk (196) is popular! I have at least three pages of walkers.

North Bethlehem (717) isn't. There were very few on that tally sheet.

Personally, I finished my Distance and Event books, as well as my Pennsylvania book. It is time to send them off to Houston! I've ordered a starter kit for Megan and the Wee One. If my new books don't arrive by the time I leave for Kentucky the trip will be done with the dreaded Insert Cards.

Speaking of finishing. Lydia finished her Gold Award for the President's Challenge yesterday. Unlike me, she will not be doing Platinum. Maybe by the end of summer I'll get to 50%.

fitness challenge 2 —geocaching. not.

Today my fitness challenge was to be geocaching. The almighty Wikipedia defines geocaching /ˈdʒiːoʊˌkæʃɪŋ/ as an "outdoor recreational activity, in which the participants use a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver or mobile device and other navigational techniques to hide and seek containers, called 'geocaches' or 'caches', anywhere in the world.

Basically it's a giant scavenger hunt with a GPS unit.

One of my former Girl Socuts —Debi Lehr, now Rice, wanted to try it.  I said sure as long as she had a GPS. She did. Her phone is her job. She does marketing for numerous small business and maintains about two dozen Facebook/Twitter pages for them as part of her job. The plan, today at 9 am. Sand Island.

I registered at the geocaching website on Tuesday in preparation. I set up my location—Bethlehem— and hit submit. A map appeared. In Hebrew. Wrong Bethlehem. But there were a lot of geocaches. Then I had to figure out how to edit it.

Friday I get a FB message. Might be trouble at a Virgina event Sunday. Might have to leave town. Poop. Saturday. Sorry I have to cancel. Crap. (I found out today that the Geocaching workshop at the Wildlands Institute was yesterday. And the Lehigh Valley Geocaching website, hasn't been updated in two years. I guess I should try Meet-up.)

I couldn't try it myself. No GPS. Too cheap to pay for a data plan. Bonnie and Lydia were at the Christening for Bonnie's grandchild. Lydia would have a GPS on her phone. So I went for an ordinary Volkssport walk. Sadly, the Desk Clerk at the Comfort Suites, south Bethlehem, recognized me. Clearly I go there too often.

Today I did the second half of the Bethlehem-South route. Out 4th to Webster (I went to Polk...oops) and back Third. Up the bridge ramp, out Brighton, up Uncas, and back Delaware. At Wyandotte and Delaware I ran into a Girl Scout friend, Elie, and talked for a while. Then I headed down Wyandotte toward home.

Since Adonis was a my house, I also took him for a walk.

kreiderville 5k challenge. 2014 edition

This is a tough course. No way to get around that. We've done this race three times before.  (2011, 2012, 2013). You choose 5 or 10K if you run. No choice for walkers.

We arrive, parked on the lawn and hiked down to the bridge. No crazy lines this year. Maybe it was because it was a Sunday, but  there were less runners and hardly any walkers. I walked illegally. I went to the registration tent and they couldn't find me on the list.

This year the 5 and 10K started at the same time. The course never changes significantly.  It starts with a small hill up from the covered bridge, and you turn a corner, go down a bit. Then you go up. And up. And up. For 9/10 a mile, then turn a corner and go up another 1/4 of a mile. Everything that comes after that is a walk in the park. They don't call this a challenge for nothing.

Halfway up the hill everyone was out of site. Usually I'm in the back walking with Lydia. But she didn't go this year. I had hopes I'd be further front. Hope spring eternal. I was dead last. At the top of the hill I saw these silos filled with corn.

I finished in 55:40. About my time the first year. Last year I was over 60 minutes. the year before 58. The first year 55:37. Of course I didn't cross the finish line. I was a nonparticipant.

These are the signs on the road. I loved them.

allentown walk

This morning I picked up Bonnie and we parked under the Susquehanna Street bridge, and walked north, I think, thru Trout Creek Park.

We headed down Auburn street, and came up the Fillmore Street hill to the park. then played on the swings of course. We cut thru the park and came around St. Paul's Church then crossed Susquehanna street.

We continued to follow 2nd to Brookdale, and came back South Fourth, and back over the bridge.

Partly new. Partly old. Not pre-measured but still 3 miles.