i did it!

The Great Saunter around the perimeter of Manhattan was Saturday. It was a 50K, or 32 miles of relentless walking. I took beautiful photos, but alas iPhoto ate them. So I only have a few that were taken by me by the official photographer that I swiped from the Facebook page. (A girl has to do what she has to do! )

The one left was taken on the east side, near 70th street, where there was a comfort station and clementines. I don't know which was needed more. Notice I rolled up my pants.

The second one was taken right before the lunch stop. They took a third one near the George Washington Bridge, but I look miserable. Odd, that is the first photo she took.

But alas, I get ahead of myself. It was a long walk. It's a long story. I guess I'll start at the beginning.

The adventure actually started Thursday afternoon when I looked up the bus schedules. During the week they start about 4:30 am and run every 15 minutes till 9. Saturdays, not so much. Saturdays they run every hour and don't start till 5:30. They are not express and stop a half dozen times. It would get me to the Port Authority 15 minutes after the start of the race.  the other company was worse—was worse. They didn't start running until about 9.

What to do?

I decided I'd go on the 5:30 and take the subway to the 3 mile mark, and join in. When I consulted the map I discovered a late-start line. So I walked from the Port Authority to it. My total walk was about 30.5 miles instead of 32. Oh well. I did it.

The walkers started near Battery Park and headed up the Hudson River portion of the Manhattan Greenway, past the High Line. We walked up the west side thru many parks towards the George Washington Bridge. Passing the USS Intrepid and the Circle Line tours.  At some point between Circle Line and the GW I put my jacket in my backpack and lost my map. (This is important info later.) At the GW there was the smallest light house I've ever seen—the Jeffrey Hook lighthouse. About a mile before the bridge was the first rest stop and the photographer. You could choose either an apple or water. Not both. I chose the apple. Since I have caps on my front teeth, I always cut apples. I bit it with my side teeth to break the skin and was able to eat it.

Until this point it was flat. Bring on the hills. Steep hills that had warning signs for bikers going down. That adventure took us off the Greenway.  At some point there I finally connected with a man from India. He was here on a business trip last year and did the walk. Scheduled his trip this year to do it again. Nice. But crazy. We had to do a little town walking and I lost the Indian man. I am now without a map or a person.  I waited till some people came and I followed them. That took us into Inwood Hill Park. (Aptly named. )

We followed a path under the Henry Hudson Bridge and then the path forked. I had to wait till someone came so I knew which fork to take. It took us to our lunch stop.

All along the route, in the many parks were comfort stations and water fountains. We had not had an official stop since the apples at the GW. Everyone was sitting around eating lunch and changing their socks. There was a huge line at the comfort station. But I didn't see a soul handing out water.

I am at the top tip of Manhattan with no map. We have to get around it to the bike path next tot he Harlem River. And that's not until the Tri-Boro Bridge. I tried following people but they walked so fast. I even saw power-walkers! I even followed them into the grocery store to buy water. Almost lost them there.

I was standing at a corner trying to see where the people went and encountered an older couple. They are members of Shorewalkers and knew the route without a map. They allowed me to walk with them till we got back to the Greenway. It was a rest stop handing out water. Then they took off and were gone in a flash. Clearly they slowed down for me.

By the time we reached double digit street numbers I was done. I called Bonnie and said when we leave the Greenway to go around the UN I'm taking a cab back. But I needed the rest room, and the line was long, and I rested. And talked to people. And got out of my head for a while. At 60th street they handed out clementines. By the time we reached the UN I thought, what the heck only 45 more blocks to go. Wrong.

I found another bunch of people to follow and we headed down First Avenue.  20 - 15- 5 - 2 - I called Bonnie again and told her we were looking for the finish line. It worked out to be about another 2 miles away. Clearly there was a ton of island left. I stopped at a falafal truck for more water.

We walked thru Chinatown and Wall Street and finally found the pub. And I got my completion certificate. There were no buttons left. It was 6:45. The next bus was at 7:15.

I walked a few blocks and took a cab back to the Port Authority. The best $17 I ever spent. We arrived at 7:10. I knew I wouldn't make the bus, so I went for a burger. I hadn't eaten anything since breakfast except for some trail mix, the apple, and a clementine. Note to self. Put trail mix in a zipper bag. Baggies spill all over your backpack.

I took my burger back to the Port Authority and sat in line and ate it. I slept a bit on the bus, and went straight to bed when I got home. After all there was laundry walking to do in the morning.

This is my FitBit graph for walking on Saturday. I've never had a pretty much solid block before. You can see when I stopped to change my socks, and when I waited in line for the bathroom. I think that dip at 2 was right before I picked up the old couple and was standing on the corner, lost.

I hit 5 milestones in one day.

pt 2 – half-marathon day

We got up at 6 and headed for the boardwalk by 6:45. The sun was rising over the Atlantic. I could get used to morning like that, very easily.

We headed to the beach for our first start picture. I so wanted to step in the water. But I didn't want to walk 13 miles with wet shoes. There was nearly an hour before the race started. On the walk over we met Pat from Maryland who was run/walking. We stayed with her the first mile or so.

The walkers were supposed to start at 7:50 or 8:00 depending on what you read. Instead they started everyone at 8. So the walkers went to the back of the 10K people. We didn't, we went back some, left some runners go and then merged in. After leaving the boardwalk we met Ann, who more or less stayed with us the whole route. Her and Bonnie finished together.

We thought it would be flat, but it wasn't. They closed off the AC Expressway and we went up and down long curved ramps. And we walked thru our first tunnel. Then we walked thru some neighborhoods, casino service roads, and past the light house before ultimately reaching the boardwalk.

By that time the three of us were in last place, I was a few steps behind Bonnie and Ann and had a team of sexy guys of bikes with me. One said "You are the hottest girl in last place." I called him a liar and thank him for the compliment anyway.

On the boardwalk were tourists, bikers, pedi-cabs and all kinds of stuff. No clear aisle mapped out for the race. It was race-walking and dodge ball at the same time. I thought I had picked up a stone but was going to tough it out.

When we past the finish line for the last 4 miles (2 out, 2 back), I los Bonnie and Ann. Then I dodged a bike and pulled a glute muscle. The stone in my shoe hurt. I got slower and slower. They got further and further ahead. When I walk alone I slow down. I felt like quiting.

I stopped to deal with the stone. Put my shoe on and it hurt more. Stopped again. This time it was better but not much. Decided not to try any more. It was what it was.

Bonnie and Ann passed me coming back.  They were going to make four hours.

When I passed the final mile time sign it said 3:45:xx. No way I was going to do the last mile in 14 minutes.

"Compete, don't complete" was screaming in my head. I completed in 4:06:xx. See previous post. I was last. Lydia said she saw other half marathoners coming back after me, but they must have been running with someone. I had the sweep team on my tail the whole time.

My reward? Yummy lemon water ice.

After the race we went for burgers, then hiked back to the hotel. That's when I found out the stone was not a stone, but a giant blister on the ball of my foot. Luckily I had a free first aid kit that I had gotten at a 5K in my backpack. It had a 3" square that promptly went on my foot.

Wacked up and signed out and called the valet for the car. Then we headed uptown to the Absecon lighthouse.

Absecon was built in 1857, 171 feet tall and has 228 steps. It has it's original first order Fresnel lens.

Bonnie decided 13 miles was enough for one day. Lydia and I decided to climb. Apparently they had a buy a step program for the restoration. Every step was numbered with a dedication. In some way that was exciting information. In other ways, not so much.

After getting our books stamped, we headed for the Expressway and headed home.

one weekend, three lighthouse, one half marathon and a rescue station

A relaxing weekends down by the shore. I know people always rag on the Jersey shore, but I like it. I just must not be there on the days when medical waste flows in.

Saturday we left Bonnie's about 7:30 and headed down the turnpike. But instead of the AC Expressway we got on 95 and went around Trenton. We stopped at a DINER with local, organic, natural food. Jersey Fresh and farm names were all over the menu.

The hunter's bacon was the best I ever ate. Thick, unsmoked, not processed with nitrates. I didn't order any, Bonnie and Lyd did, but they gave me a piece. I was amazed for the quality that the prices weren't that much more than a traditional diner.

We waddled out of the dinner,  drove thru the Pine Barron's toward the Barnigate light. 

The Half Marathon coincided with the Lighthouse Challenge weekend. For that, you try to do as many lighthouses as possible. If you do all of them you get put in for a prize drawing.

We arrive at the Barnigate light,  we signed in for the challenge, and received our passports. You can see on the back how many lights there are, including two in the Delaware bay.

Barnigate is 172 feet tall, 217 steps and built in 1859. They had the biggest expanse of beach, a visitor center, potties, and a picnic area. Yeah, it was a state park.

Down the street is the museum, with the original Fresnel lamp. In three short blocks we had two stamps in our passports! This building was the town's one-room school house and post office. It had a beautiful garden

Next stop was the Tuckerton. There at the Tuckertown Seaport was the Tucker's Island lighthouse. Much small, more house-like with only 40 stairs to climb. The original was eaten by the Atlantic during a storm in 1927.

The volunteers were decorating the lighthouse for the big haunted seaport Halloween festival next weekend. It was a little scary during the day!

We got back on the Garden State Parkway, passed Atlantic City and headed to our next stop the US Life Saving Station #30 in Ocean City. Constructed in 1885 it was decommissioned in the 1940s, and used as a private home.

When we arrived it was gutted. The docent said that the Coast Guard even sent over volunteers to help. They are just as excited to see it restored.  Though now it's in a neighborhood, at one time it was on the beach, and there is a large room to take the boats out from. Next year the exterior will be done, and if all goes well in 2013 the interior will be done. They are hoping to restore it to it's 1915 appearance.

About 3:00 we arrived at the hotel. Just in time to check in. In the lobby was an exhibit of Miss America dresses. We looked at them all. On the second floor was funky parade shoes. Clearly these were not designed to walk in.

We then walked the half mile to Bally's AKA the starting line. On the 6th floor was the expo, and sign in to get your number, shirt ect. Leaving, we got lost in the maze and spent a good 45 minutes trying to get out.

Our plan was to eat and then head to the Absecon Lighthouse. It was 1.5 miles away and they were open for night climbs. We headed out the Boardwalk and walked and walked and walked. Didn't see it. At the Revel hotel I asked a pedi-cab driver how much further. He said another 10-15 minute walk. And m'am you don't want to walk there. It's a bad neighborhood.

We talked about it and decided to head his advice. When we got back to the hotel, I looked at the map. I think we were 3-4 blocks away. Sunday, we discovered we were about 2 blocks. I guess the skycrapers block it.

i heart lighthouses

Everyone knows that. We're doing the Atlantic City Half Marathon in October so I thought, let's see if there is a lighthouse in AC. There is. The Abescon Light.  And it can be climbed...all 228 steps. photo from lighthousefriends.com till I get there to replace it.

Then I thought, wonder what is close by. I thought I remembered one in Brigantine. There is. But it's not a real lighthouse. It was created for tourist, just like Lucy the elephant.  Great photo op. No exercise. Okay, so what else is there?

Tucker's Island is about a half hour north is Tucker's Light which was decommissioned when Abescon was built.  Actually, this is a reproduction. The sea ate the original. Must have been hungry. Actually erosion has moved it 6 miles from it's original location. It's a little house-like lighthouse.

Another half-hour north is the Barnegat Light.  (217 steps). And about a half hour north of that is Sea Girt, another house-style light.

Five lighthouses in one trip? It is possible. Head out 78, take a right at the Garden Sate Pkwy and just keep on getting off exits. Not real practical with a 1/2 marathon too. Especially since each stop would add at least an hour to the trip. For me, Absecon and Brigantine are a sure-bet on Saturday. The boardwalk—if it's open—has limited appeal to me. (Something better be open. I want Fralinger's taffy!) We do need to go to the sports expo and pick up our bibs and swag. Perhaps Tucker's too? Might be tough. Our free pre-race dinner is at 6. Maybe on the way home we can go to Barnigate. But then again, we might be too tired.

Need to talk to the scoobies.

I just remembered the lighthouse challenge is that weekend. Basically you try to visit/climb every lighthouse. Be still my heart. One. Year.  I. Will. Do. This.

OMG. The lighthouse challenge site says Absecon has night climbs during the challenge. My heart is palpitating with excitement.

solomons island

At 7 am we hopped on a bus and headed to Solomon's Island, Maryland, with the Liberty Bell Wanderers Volkssport group.

The bus driver and the man in the front row (who will be walking cross country in February) were very, very chatty. It's how I found about about another group, Shorewalkers, that does walks in Jersey and New York. Including a 50K around Manhatten Island in May.

The bus was brand spanking new and even had seatbelts. It also had Wifi, which was pretty spotty. It depends on cellphone towers, and we went thru many areas where the signal was weak. After losing many student posts, I gave up trying to work, and went on to knitting. I also took my Kindle, but never opened it.

We arrived at about 11, and finally hit the asphalt at maybe 11:45.

can you see the lighthouse? It has a red roof.

The weekend was sponsored by the Freestate Happy Wanderers Volkssport Group. There was a 6K and a 4K, making a figure 8 and the Holiday Inn was the start/end point. The 6K wove around the downtown area and beaches and the 4K around a ritzy gated community.

We ate breakfast at 6, so our first stop was lunch. We were about 1.5K into the walk. We ate at Stoney's, who had their own dock. That's how we role at a shore town. Bonnie had tuna, Lyd had scallops, and me, salmon salad. Food was delicious. service sucked. Clearly, they were still gearing up for the summer season.

Then we took off and did the rest of the 6K on the island.  We we close to the Holiday Inn and the route led us thru a shopping center. The poles had hand knitted socks on them? Maybe the were cold. I wasn't—it was hot and humid!

Lydia decided after we did the museum and Drum Point lighthouse, she'd stay behind (horrible chaffing issues), and Bonnie and I could finish the 10K. It never happened. As you know we get easily distracted.

The maritime museum was small but nice. The lighthouse was only three stories and tiny. The third floor was the lamp. Seven people lived in that house. Total square feet was about the size of my living room.

On the way to the lighthouse there was a children's activity tent. As it turned out the children could be any age. The three of us made boats.  Theoretically they float. floats. It was fun. 

Our room was the room used to store all the luggage. You couldn't check in till three. So we had lots of visitors.

When we got back to the room, I volunteered to walk to the 7-11 for Vaseline and baby powder for Lydia's chaffing. Then I went exploring to find a close pub to get a snack after our sunrise cruise, at 7:30.

It's 6:58. We board at 7:15. We gotta hit the asphalt. We found out a couple of things on this trip. Whatever time they tell you be there 15 minutes early. We gotta hit the road!