dang it was cold

When my friend Pam and I decided to walk today, it was a balmy 45 degrees out. What a difference a couple of weeks makes.

We planned to go to Cedar Creek (beach) Park off of Hamilton Street.I awoke this morning thinking, "does the city do winter maintenance"? The parks are heavily used, so I hoped they did. the backup plan was Trexler Park. I was fairly sure they plowed that.

As I was driving down Ott I could see the left side was plowed. Yes!

Pam was waiting for me by the pool. We headed east around Lake Muhlenberg. But when we went to cross the bridge quickly realized the other side was not done. We headed toward the sidewalk but that had drifted shut. We returned to the pool the way we came. After crossing Ott we went south towards Cedar Crest College. (All directions are totally random. Hopefully after hearing landmarks you can make your way around.)

After we went past the rear of the college there were city trucks working. They were pruning and removing trees. It was 30 degrees out. Maybe. Why? Seemed like a more appropriate job for spring, summer, autumn ... not winter. Pam had a great theory. Maybe it's true. Many of the trees run along the creek. Perhaps the banks of the creek are so soft and unstable that they do it when it is hard and frozen. And the trucks won't fall in. Sounds plausible. I'm sticking with it.

When we finished the loop at Ott, we decided to go around again.

As we returned to the pool, Pam told me the Allentown JCC was  having a Polar Plunge and was I game. It's supporting their aquatics program. She always goes with me on my adventures, so I said yes. Yes, I know. No spending money. Ya gotta do what ya gotta do.

On the way home I took a picture of this fellow on Hamilton, across from the park. Clearly he is a Phantoms phan. He's built on top of the snow bank and pretty hard to miss.

A friend posted this race on FB. It's in York. I am so tempted. How many times do you get to race around a giant shoe? I will resist. It's 3 hours away.

Sunday is the Tri-to-help Triathlon. I signed up to do this event, but my friend backed out. Not really interested in doing it alone. It's a two-hour drive. Probably will just skip it.

lake galena

Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the Liberty Bell Wanderers. There was a 10K walk and picnic at Lake Galena in Peace Valley Park near Doylestown. It rained.

Thankfully when we arrived it stopped. And it stopped for the whole two hours we were walking. then it started again. Over 100 people were packed into the pavilion. Plus the food. Plus the pig. Let's just say space was limited. By the end of lunch it was pouring and everyone went home.

The lake loop is a 10K. More or less. Lydia's tracker had it at 7 miles. Bonnie's as 6.2 miles. Didn't ask Megan about hers. Lydia started whining about 4 miles in. I think it was because she ran out of things to take pictures of. We were in the woods.Think I'm kidding? Check her FB page. She post 85 of them!

The lake is man-made. But it's beautiful. A few hardy souls were out in boats and kayaks. But not many. The dam was covered with birds of all kinds. The fields fill of wildflowers. The trail is macadam so there is no gravel slippage under your feet.

Since we saw nobody after about the half way point, I think we were the only ones that did the 10K.

Some sights along the way—

 Orange fungus on a tree trunk. The tree still had leaves but was half-fallen and dying slowly.

 A telephone. You cannot see the cob webs on it. But it worked. Here I thought they were extinct.

 A woodpecker condo. And the tree is still trying to grow. I can't count how many holes are in it.

 Boats lined up waiting to be used.

The pig. Mostly consumed by the time we got back.

Comfort Station I-3.5, and they were plentiful.

Today I'm on my own. Bonnie and Megan are taking the baby for swim lessons, and Lydia (and maybe Dawn) are at Bushkill Falls. I think I'll be doing the south Bethlehem Volkssport walk.

fitness challenge—making believe you are still 10.

Yesterday was the 75th Anniversary celebration at Camp Mosey Wood. The oldest Girl Scout there was 92. Yep, it's true. Our blood is green.

I picked up my friend Mary Liz first. Her mom was instrumental in the creation of Mosey Wood. Her father designed some of the buildings. They courted there. It's so romantic. Have her tell you the story of the trees.

Then I picked up Angel and Little Miss at the Rt. 33 Park and Ride and we were off. You should have heard us driving down 80 singing girl scout songs. You just knew it was going to be a good day. And it was.

We arrived in an hour—there is no traffic at that hour in the morning. Mary Liz immediately started her reunion. Because of her walker she spent the bulk of the time visiting and talking with old and new staff members and scouts. I missed a great picture. The vintage girl scouts sitting on the dining hall porch talking. I ran in for my camera, but the moment was gone.

There was a lot to pack into a small amount of time.

First stop—archery. On my second round I hit the target four times. One is even in blue.

Second stop—hiking. We started on the lake trail and then branched off to Harvey's Hike. HH was part of one of the Ranger's Gold Award projects. It's in fairly good shape. The back end of the lake trail, not so much. Bug is looking for a Silver project. This just might be it.

The back side of the Lake Trail, and Harvey's Hike are great places to pick blueberries. It's no coincidence that they call it blueberry hill. In addition to having a nice snack, we carried some back for Mary Liz.

 After lunch we went to the waterfront. We had about 20 minutes to kill before it opened so we ran up and down the steps. The real 10-year-old is still a bundle of energy.

The waterfront opened and Angel and I chose the row boat. It was cool, we had no interest in getting wet. The child chose stand up board paddling (SUP). She actually dove in a couple times. I had a mommy moment and yelled that she was too far away from the other people, and the lifeguard boat. She had to come back. The real mommy didn't whack me for overstepping my bounds.

We were trying to get back to shore and the child is giving lessons on the waterfront. She has an incredible memory (except when mom requests something) and was doing pretty well. The waterfront staff didn't stop her. Somehow she convinced mom to SUP. Mom did stand up, but fell off the board. The child didn't have her adjust her paddle or use it as a third leg. They probably don't teach children that. Balance comes naturally to them.

Next stop—climbing wall. The child was a monkey and did all the walls at least twice. Angel did two. I could not get past the first row. She wanted to go again, but then there would be no high ropes course (HRC).

We hiked back up the hill to the HRC. When we arrived there was a backload of people. Someone was stuck on the swing. She couldn't jump. It took at least 15 minutes. Waiting is not good. I was no longer feeling confident after the rock wall, and now I get to watch someone sweat it out. The child, on the other hand, took to it like a fish in water. She kept saying she was terrified. That she couldn't do it. Does she look terrified? No. Did she come down and say can I do it again? Yes. I gave her my spot if she gave up a swim. Angel also completed the course successfully.

That was the end of the adventure portion of the day. We headed back to DJs Place for dinner. On the way back we stopped for our t-shirts and or "cookies" for the wishing ceremony.

First in the water was 1939-1959. Little Miss took Mary Liz's and placed it in the water. (She also created it.) I get a little bored at a Scouts Own so mine is sitting on top of the sandbiodome I made. As you can see I picked some gnarly wood and doodled on it.

 It floated well.

The night is nearly over. It was 9 when the ceremony was over and the campfire was yet to begin. We all agreed we could skip the fire. The child—and the adults—were fading fast and the child slept all the way home.

I arrived home at 10:30 and went straight to bed with a realization. I am no longer 10.

fitness challenge 8 — stand up paddle boarding

I DID IT! I stood up. Okay, it was only 30 seconds and the instructor was holding one end of the board, but I got up. twice. Then I fell into the lake.

Walking coach Michelle has done it with her family and loves it. So I found a class about 3 weeks ago thru the LL Bean Discovery School while surfing the net. (Now I know full well that these classes are offered to get you into sports and ultimately buy the equipment from them. I'm cool with that. And hey, it worked with the snow shoes.) It was $20. Over my limit for this challenge, but all the equipment was included. Equipment rentals can get steep.

I sent out an email to the rest of the every two feet group. My friend Pam said yes. And she'd bring the family. Kathy was interested in a weekend, so I sent her my availability.

Wednesday was the night. It was held at Lake Nockamixon at 6 pm. I left work at 3 and headed over the bridge to Jersey for gas. It was $3.17 for cash. Credit is about a dime higher, but still cheaper than the it's $3.39+ in Pa. I always take cash to Jersey for gas. And got on I-78 to go home. At Rt. 33 where it merges from 4 lanes to 2, traffic stopped. On a night I had to be home on time.  Thankfully whatever happened was over and the road thinned out about 3 miles down. By the exit there was no backlog at all. Still it took an extra 20 minutes.

To go to Lake Nox I usually go thru Quakertown. But it was still rush hour. It would have taken an hour. So I googled directions and they sent me down 412. What a delight.. I will never use 309 again to go there.

I arrived at exactly six. I had water shoes so I didn't need to use theirs. I also was issued a life jacket and filled out the "if you die don't sue us" waiver. People were still arriving so I hit the comfort station (L-3) and realized I had no hand sanitizer in my bag. Oh well. I'll be in water soon.

Pam arrived with her husband, daughter and friend. The teens were excited about the new adventure. Pam and I were excited but questioning our abilities to do it.

We met the instructors — Phil and Heidi. Then the safety talk, the anatomy of the gear, and a demo on how to get on the board, balance and stand. They asked if we had questions or needed to give them any info. Yes, I can't swim.  "That's what we're here for." They had a tow rope and have towed people bigger than anyone in the group.

 (The boards, water side up, so the fins don't get damaged.)

Now I can't stand gracefully on the ground. How was I going to pull this off in water.  I had practiced a few times but my leg muscles and knees don't cooperate. I have to concentrate. After learning how to pick up the board we were off.

We waded into the lake and went in about knee deep before we got on the board. I was wobbly but managed to stay afloat. I was behind everyone. Lack of confidence really puts you in the back of the pack. Phil hung back with me and I got the rhythm of the paddle down.

It didn't take long to stop wobbling. Phil said it's like riding a bike. Once you find your balance, your body learns where it is. I noticed everyone was getting up. And soon everyone was up. Phil asked if I wanted to try. I was paralyzed with fear but said yes. Ultimately he held the front of my board (training wheels) and I got the first knee up. Balancing all my weight on my wrists and my hands I got the other leg up. But now I am stuck. My back leg wouldn't come front. I willed that sucker to move and it finally did. I WAS STANDING. And Phil left go slowly, and I put my paddle in the war and tried to stroke. And wobbled. And wobbled more, and then leaned back (bad move) and did a back flip into the water. All I could think about was losing my new glasses. And my board. And for a brief moment the flashback of the last water adventure in Willy Wonkas chocolate river. But nothing happened. I didn't even lose my board or paddle. And Phil was right there.

I decided to stay on my knees and we joined the others. They were doing yoga. (The yoga class uses the waist straps like water aerobics). When I met up with Pam, her daughter was doing a back bend.  The fell in. To be 17 again. Everyone fell in at least once.

Then they taught us to sit on the board, move further back so the nose was in the air, and spin. Then it was time to go back. But I had difficulty getting back to the kneeling position. But I did it. I was getting great at paddling and steering. But I headed to the wrong shore and got hung up in shallow water. I got off the board, pushed it out and got back on.

I headed to the correct shore. Phil asked if I needed help and I said yes. I'd like to stand one more time. He said yes. We went a bit further out and I tried again. It was better. Not great and the result was the same. Splash. I was the last one out of the lake.

I had jelly legs when I hit shore. My wrists, knees, ankles and shoulders all hurt. But not in the true ouch sense. I did lust for Aleve, but didn't take it.

Kayak class. That's next. All the Discovery Courses are just $20.

Yesterday I still sore. The I have used muscles that have never been used before kind of sore. By the end of the day it was just my calves and the back of my thighs. Pam and her daughter had black and blue marks where they hit the board falling in. Pam was also sore. She didn't mention if her husband or the friend had difficulties.

I'm ready to go back. Anybody want to come? Once September comes it's only weekends.

Tomorrow is Moseywoods 75th anniversary. Rock climbing? Kayak? Row Boat? What will I chose?

This challenge got off of a slow start, but now I'm cooking. Next year, I'll be spending a lot of time in the Discovery School.