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.

veg fest —not quite a washout

I woke up at 4:30 and it was raining. It stopped at maybe 7:30. Hurray we can still walk. So I talk to everyone and by the time 9 am rolls around it's drizzling.

Bonnie and Megan arrived with the baby at 9:15 and come in so Pat can see the baby. It starts to pour. No VegFest walk for us. It poured for an hour and a half. The baby played with the dog and on the floor. He was happy. Pat seemed happy.

The rain slowed and they went home. Lydia and I took Adonis for a longer walk in the drizzle. And then we waited. In the mean time I started a batch of moms barbeque. It's more like "manwhich" than BBQ, but that's what she called it. It is yummy. And without additives. We haven't made it since before Henry died and it was delicious. I even got the white spongy hamburger rolls instead of real bread. When in Rome.

VegFest started out as a way to celebrate being vegetarian right at the end of the harvest. Now it's moved into August and has a decidedly "vegan" theme. Though it's a great place for people with allergies to eat. Everyone has signs up that says gluten, nut, whatever free. There is a marketplace for craft vendors, an animal spot for "save the {fill in the blank}" — all creatures great and small are represented. My favorite are the pigs. Hense the picture. They all have donation cans out. I gave a dollar to the pigs. I didn't want to ask, but why is there a need for a "basset hound rescue".

Another aisle is activism. That the green energy, no GMOs, laundry soap, whatever. Also three performance stages, and a place for lectures and demos. Oh, and a cooking stage too.

Then there is the aforementioned food court. The Cinnamon Snail came down from NYC and they started lining up before the festival opened, in the rain. When we walked past the line was a block long. I can think of nothing that would be worth a block long line. And it's all veggies!

 I don't even want to think about what the hot dog cart was selling.

We did get a "gluten-nut-dairy-soy-free only 45-83 calorie—with no added sugar" ice pop. Mompops had a cart. OMG delicious. Lydia had chocolate with sea salt. It tasted like a fudgesicle. It was made with coconut milk. I had the strawberry lemonade. It was pureed strawberries thinned with lemon juice. It was tart. Both were delicious. They are out of West Chester so if you are in the Philly area, look for them at coffee shops, healthy stores, and farm markets.

Lydia kept a look out for fried veggies but none were to be found.

Sadly, I guess because of the rain, there were a lot of no shows.

The clouds were getting blacker so we high-tailed it home. Then, because it was still clear, we took the dog for another walk. He was a happy boy today.

dang it was hot out—and only 7:30 am!

Yesterday I talked with Pat from the Liberty Bell Wanderers and we were to meet this morning at 8:15 am. She was coming up from the Philly 'burbs to walk with a friend from North Carolina. The friends husband is playing/singing at the Moravian Music Festival. (They'll be doing 10K walks all week. In the heat.)

Pat is the trail master for LBW. I am now the new contact for the Bethlehem/Allentown trails. Yes, I don't need more work to do, but I said yes. And as we walked we discussed the Bethlehem walk.

Bonnie came along for part of the walk. We arrived downtown at 7:40 or so, and walked till 8:15. (About a mile and a half.) Bonnie needed to leave at 9 for the dentist. Imagine, choosing the dentist over walking!

Pat really flies when she walks. I think we were doing close to 4 mph. I was sweating like crazy.

Here's what I found out. Bethlehem used to be two walks, but people never wanted to do the southside walk because some neighborhoods are a little unappealing. They combined the two routes, but to get the distance for the 10K they have you retrace some of the 5K loop, walk over the Fahy Bridge, go tot the steelworkers memorial, and then come back. What a waste.

Thru my rose-colored glasses, I do not see any problems with the south side. Sure it's worn out and needs some sprucing up. Sure there is some neighborhoods that you don't walk in especially at night. But they really are the exception, rather than the rule. A block off those run down main drags, are nice working class neighborhoods. Please do not break my rose-colored glasses. I live in one of those neighborhoods.

Anyway, that is no longer the case with a nice section of the southside—the Greenway, ArtsQuest, NCC-SS, and the casino. Not to mention the Smithsonian affiliated National Museum of Industrial History that is almost complete. Oh, and the Hoover Trestle high line. You can hear what's about to happen, right? I volunteered to split the Bethlehem walk and do a separate south side one. The clinker. It needs to be done by August 7th for board approval or it waits for next year. The 2014 national guide book goes to press at the end of August. Now it doesn't need to be the whole thing, just the basic route and distances and a couple points of interest. I can do this. Bonnie and Lydia will help me test it out. Maybe.

Anyway, I walked about 6 miles today, in the extreme heat, and crossed the finish for the 165 mile challenge. I guess 200 miles is next.

insulted on the trail

It was not as hot today—77 on Lydia's phone. But it sure was humid.

Bonnie didn't walk today, she went to the Kutztown Folk Festival instead. Lots of walking, of a different variety. Lydia went this afternoon with her "family". Hopefully the rain holds off for both of them. Looks like it's not supposed to hit here until about four. But it's awful dark out.

I picked up Lydia in Northampton, and Dawn in Walnutport, and we headed for the Slatington/Walnutport Trailhead.  We hiked from Walnutport toward Laurey's Station on the D&L. Slowly but surely I'm getting that challenge done.

Maybe other people are too. It was pretty busy, especially bikers, today.

This section of the trail must follow an old railroad bed. There were deteriorated tracks in the weeds. I love how nature is in charge. The tree above is growing around the rail.There was also a triple stone column that might have been a railroad bridge over the river. That's where Lydia took the picture. I forgot my camera. (She uses funky filters on her phone pixs. Please be assured that I do not have a weird skin disease.)

We stopped for many pictures. One I would have liked to have taken was someone's home. It looked like a junk yard. They even had coqs. They needed a really big fence to hide the ugliness.

My favorite stop was to shoot the skeleton riding the bicycle. On the front of the tree branch it said "dead end".

Oh, the insult. Almost forgot. I hadn't planned to include it but Lydia pretty much dared me. We were getting near the end of the hike, and we were all very sweaty. I had poured what was left of my water onto me. Things were getting silly. I don't remember how it started but Lyd said when you get really sweaty you "smell like aunt Sharon." She might as well have taken a knife and stabbed me. My sister Sharon stinks. All the time. She still stinks when she gets out of the shower. Her clean clothes stink. When she gets sweaty it is really bad. But we are all kind-of used to it.

I mentioned the exchange to her twin sister. She thought it was hysterical. Sharon comes walking in the house and do you know what she did? She says "Lydia says Gayle stinks worse than you do." OMG. I was aghast. I nearly disappeared into the floor. Tact is not her strong suite.

Tomorrow I start the around the world challenge.  If it's not raining Bonnie and I will be out at 6:30 walking. We have a funeral at 10. I'm thinking we should explore that trail under the bridge again. See if we can find where it goes. Maybe we should call Stephanie and see if she wants to come.

i'm easily distracted, especially alone

Today I had to walk alone. I'm not really into solitude, so I have to make things interesting doing something else.

The basic walk: Go the the Eastern Pennsylvania Wellness Expo and return home. Requirement: Find the marker for the Passport to Health on the Greenway. That's a three mile walk if you stretch it. Somehow I made it nearly five.

Maybe it is because a lot is happening on the better side of town today. People who normally are terrified of the south side, will descend like a plague of locusts and then disappear when it's over. Especially before dark. (Okay, maybe that is a wee exaggeration.)

Things to do today on the better side of town in case you're looking for stuff to do:

• The Eastern Pennsylvania Wellness Expo—ArtsQuest 
• Kops 'N Kids book fair (near Loopers)—free books for kids!
• What's on Fourth, Who's on Third—street fair and chili cookoff
• Earth Day Fair—on the Greenway
• Ulysses Dreams—a play in the amphitheater (Oh that's what that is.) on the Greenway presented by Touchstone Theatre
• Dedication of the Chinese Harmony Pavilion—Greenway by ArtsLehigh

So here's my walk, as a photo essay.

Lehigh's campus is always beautiful. But I never realized until today that all the flowering trees and azaleas were pink. Interesting.

On campus I also found this display/art piece about water bottle waste.

Why are there purple ribbons around the old oak trees?

It's the Greenway, not a street. What's with the street sign. Clearly not made by public works.

For those of you looking for the Passport to Health markers, they are small! It only comes up to my butt. Maybe 2.5 feet. Maybe 3 inch wide. I did my rubbing. It's kind of hard with the screw right in the corner where you need to rub.

Location—If you a heading toward the casino, it's less than a block east of Hayes Street. Just past the PNC bank on the right.

Andy Warhol on a rusty trash can.

Road races past. I like how they are starting to add years. Wouldn't it be cool if it continues and the street is filled with race memories? Yeah, I know, I'm weird.

Eastern Pennsylvania Wellness Expo. Not many people in attendance. Nothing floated my boat. I didn't stop at a single stand. Still trying to figure out why Bath Fitters had a booth. Oh, maybe it's for converting the bathroom shower to handicap accessible?

The Smithonian National Museum of Industrial Heritage is almost done. So exciting. It is the project that began the revitalization of the Steel property. I'm guessing this project is 15 years in the making.

 Love the name. I'm guessing it will be part of one of the fairs today.

 No one seems to clean the poop on the Greenway. it's becoming poop-central. Really, if you're a dog owner, clean the poop!

 Chinese Harmony Pavilion and zen-like native plant garden. I've posted better pixs before. But the garden never looked like this before. I think the Greenway needs a labyrinth.

 Setting-up for Earth Day. Between New and Taylor.

This sign is on the door to a Hair Salon. Why would you take your animal to work if they are mean? Especially as mean as the one in the picture? Wouldn't that keep customers away?

The power company has been maiming trees all over the area. This agressive pruning is supposed to eliminate week long power outages during big storms. I could do a whole blog of their "pruning", but this is a great example.  They've eliminated 3/4 of the tree, leaving one branch section hanging over the street (That other little piece has grown around the wires). Next storm, this baby is falling down. Gravity is against it. I pray I am not driving or walking under it when it does. It's two blocks from my house.

Tomorrow is the CASA 5K and the Zumbathon. I think I'm doing both alone. Haven't heard from Lyd in days, and Bonnie is still on the DL.