someplace new!

Today we went to the Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary. I'm always looking for someplace new to walk, or in this case hike. I should have taken my stick!

It was hilly. It was rocky. there were signs that said Danger Cliffs. Yep, my kind of place.

Bonnie was still sick (bronchitis) so it was just me and Lydia. This place is near Raubsville, off 611.  We went 412, 212 and then on every back road in the area. When we reached the no outlet sign we kept going. And going. We stopped some pedestrians and asked if there was a nature center. They said at the end of the road. It was.

It was nice. there was a parking lot, a nature center (closed) and bathrooms that could be accessed even when it was closed. The trail maps were in the bathroom.

We decided to do the "river outlook" trail first. I figured there would be a hill. Best get it over with first. Silly me. We went downhill to reach it, holding on to trees and each other. We climbed back up to get out. (Pictures just never show how steep the hill is.) We should not go on trails that feature this sign:

this was out clue to turn around. But no, we didn't take it.

Then we went back to the main trail and went up and up and up. When we reached the top, there was two paths. One going up yet again. Another going down. We went down and eventually returned to the lot.

Sadly we only went about a mile and a half and it took 50 minutes.

my worse 5k time in 3 years, but for a good cause

Today was the Kridersville Covered Bridge Challenge. As I write this it is 87 and humid.

We've done this race twice before (2011, 2012). It's always hot. And 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 3/4 of a mile, 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. You choose 5 or 10K if you run. No choice for walkers.

As always, the parking was great, the potty lines short and there was a massage area. The massage area had no line so we all got a free massage. I thought, dang, this is going to be a great race.

Traditionally, I stay with Lyd until we get up that monster of a hill. Then I can sprint ahead, and finish with a decent time. That was not meant to be this year.

As we went up the hill, Lyds head began to pound. She was sweating way more than necessary for the conditions. We were going slower than normal. Then about halfway up the hill, she stopped briefly to drink water. Two minutes later, projectile vomiting. She continued to try to walk, but looked worse and worse, with more vomit.

When I trained for the three-day they always were worried about heat stroke. We had to watch a video about it. It wasn't pretty. Today, it looked like that was unfolding in front of my eyes.

Lyd stopped under a tree and I went for help. Where the hell was the sweep girl on the bike? It probably took me 10 minutes to arrive at the water stop. The water girl had a phone, and called someone at base. I felt a little better and headed up the second hill.

In the distance I saw bike girl coming toward me. When she saw me she turned around and went back. WTF? I finally found her, she was chatting with the crossing person at the church. I told them both that they had a walker down, 1/3 of the way down the big hill.

When I reached the cemetery a fire truck was pulling out. I was guessing he was headed to Lyd, but didn't take chances. I stopped again and told the traffic guy. He told me everything was under control and help was on the way.

Feeling better, I picked up my speed a bit and continued on. But my head was no longer in the game. At about the 2.5 mile mark there was another water station, and a little past that, two people with hoses set on sprinkler. Gee did that feel mighty good.

When I finished, I found Bonnie and told her the story. We were trying to figure out what to do next when the ambulance dropped off Lyd.

They wanted to take her to the hospital but she said no way. (By the time the posse arrived—bike girl, ambulance, fire truck, a couple in a van, and someone else—she was feeling better.) They checked her for heat stroke. They checked her BP. Everything was getting better because she knew what to do as she waited. And she had done everything right—poured water over herself, soaked her bandana in water and put it around her neck, and cooled down her face. She also managed to get some water to stay in. She moved to a more densely shaded area. She sat down.

All is well that ends well. But we need to develop an emergency plan. Bonnie and I were helpless at the finish line. That is not happening again.

Almost forgot, my time—60:03. My worse time in years. But being a Good Samaritan takes time.

Lyd has plans for tomorrow so Bonnie and I will do two of the Passport to Fitness walks.  Lower Mount Bethel Twsp. Trail, and the Jacobsburg State Park, Henry Woods Trail or the D&L at Hugh Moore (a two-fer). Hopefully the trail markers are easier to find than the one at Lehigh Gap. Lydia went back there yesterday and still didn't find it. Then when she was posting on FB, she saw it. She was there, read the signs and missed it. Can you find it?

hardest. 5k. ever.

Second walk for the day was the Seed Farm 5K. This one was not timed. It truly was the hardest thing I've ever done, athletically.

It was cross-country around the farm. I thought that meant dirt trails. Indeed it did. And rocky trails, and holes, and lawn expanses of mowed fields with ankle grabbing rose bushes, and rock hard crab grass.

For forty yards we were on macadam. It was glorious. The pix below was taken at the end. We finished in 74 minutes. With the exception of the time I got lost I never finished a race in 74 minutes.

Sharon went along and only did the first loop. Thank heavens. She would have broke something.

Lydia and I have muscles hurting that we didn't know we had! They better get rested tonight. Tomorrow is the 7 falls hike at Bushkill Falls. And that other thing Bonnie and Lyd want to do. With Bonnie in the hospital, it looks like I'm going to have to do it. I've pre-paid. Please say a prayer to the God, non-God, spirit or idol of your choice. I'll need it.

heritage trail walk, part one, the monocacy

Today Lydia and I started the Heritage Trail walk at #19. The Dye House. Pretty much smack dab it the Industrial Quarter, or officially The Monocacy Valley (#20). This is where industry began in our fair city.

We proceeded north following the Monocacy creek and the railroad tracks to Burnside Plantation. Before reaching the Plantation there was marker #21, the road to Nain Village. After the French-American wars,  1000 acres of land adjacent to Burnside Plantation was set aside by the Moravians, for Christianized Indians. 

The Plantation houses markers 22, 23 (Farm house, summer kitchen), and 24 (Johnson barn, Haas barn, orchard.). Burnside was the first privately owned land and home in the Moravian settlement. After Burnside's death it was given to the Moravian settlement and operated as Plantation #4. Over the centuries parcels were sold off and only 6.5 acres remain as a museum.

Once you cross Paint Mill road, the trail is a little less established. We missed the turn for Illicks Mill Nature Trail (#25), and came out near the dog park and walked down the hill to Monocacy Park. This trail is clearly in need of a Girl Scout Gold Award/Boy Scout Eagle Project.

Illicks Mill (#26) ground wheat into flour for the community. The park which surrounds it, was build by the WPA in the 30s. Students in the Bethlehem School district spent the last decade restoring the mill.

We walked thru the parking lot, picked up the nature trail and headed back to Burnside.

One of the problems with these historic trails is they don't loop. They are one-way trails. Personally, I like loops.

On our way up we noticed that 24/7 Fitness at the base of the Burnside Driveway, had a walking track around it. While we waited for traffic to cross Paint Mill, I said, let's be rebels and walk the track. As we got closer to the building it looked like there were rocks and holes in the side. Clearly not for rock climbing. I think we figured it out. The railroad tracks are next to the  club. The trains come flying thru, kick up rocks propelling them skyward and they land like bullets in the building. Makes me not want to walk there when the train is coming!

We were gone a long time. We didn't walk especially fast, we explored, and took lots of pixs. Tomorrow, is the founders walk, and maybe the western developement or the Victorian era.

there is a dress barn at the casino!

The casino in town has a mall. I guess it's a high end outlet mall. If that's the case I don't understand why Dress Barn is there. But it doesn't matter. It's there. It is my favorite store to buy clothes and I can walk to it—that should keep the binge purchases down. You are looking at one fat girl in heaven!

This week has been a series of little walks and Zumba. Nothing exciting.

I did go to Zumba Wednesday night. It was hot. Very hot. I still only did maybe a third of it. I am just not that coordinated. But I will try at least one more time.

Thursday I had a meeting at Gilbert's on campus and took the scenic route there and back. I could have stayed all day. We talked about the project—a book filled with photos of dead pigeons—for ten minutes and talked the rest. Part way in we were joined by the college archivist. It was my kind of meeting.

I usually walk from a drop-off point from the car pool. But I was a lazy butt and had them drop me off at home. The heat was on.

Friday I did not walk with Betsy. We decided that an afternoon walk in 100 degree weather was crazy. And they were calling for violent storms. Instead, I did a morning, two mile flat walk with Bonnie down at the Steel. The storms never came, but it did rain hard a couple of times. Later in the afternoon the power went off. In the dark for a hour and a half, I went for Chinese for dinner.

Today, Sharon, Lyd and I went for 2.66 miles, around the steel, the casino and a section of the Greenway that we've never walked on. The extension to Hellertown is being worked on. Can't wait to walk the whole thing. It will meet with the Saucon Valley Trail, and then with the Coopersburg trail. Being noisy, I trip over a guide wire at the Skatepark.

I did every walk in my Birks. It was heaven.

covered bridge challenge, 2012 edition

Last year we did this 5k for the first time. It was challenging. The hill goes on for about a mile. Maybe more.

Bonnie walked alone and went fast. She's really good at hills. Lyd hates hills, so I stayed behind with her. She stopped several times, but finally made it up the hill. At about the half way point, I bid her adieu, and took of on my own.

I finished in 58 minutes. She finished in 62:15 and Bonnie waited a long time for us at 54:30

10k in the parkway

Today we did our first Volkssport walk in a long time at the Parkway.

We met at the Comfort Suites across from Dorney and drove to the start point, the fish hatchery. At the Comfort Suites we met Carol, who is coordinating next weeks walking trip to St Mary's, Md. Her email handle is bobodancer, so she thought it was funny that that's what we called her. On of the ladies also remembered Lydia from a previous walk. I guess because Lyd is always the youngest one there!

Bonnie and I walked together, and Sharon and Lyd walked together.  This was Sharon's first Volkswalk. I'm not sure she understands that it's just a walking group. I kept annoying Lyd by calling her on the phone to give her directions.

The trail is gravel, my shoes were full of it by the end, and avoided most of the major hills. All of us cheated on the course to avoid the hill from h*ll under Rt. 78.

Lyd and Sharon turned back at the first pedestrian bridge. There total was about 4.25+ miles. Bonnie and I came in at about 5.5. There was one little jughandle that we didn't do.

When we arrived back at the Native American Cultural Center Sharon and Lyd were waiting for us under a tree, sitting at a picnic table. We headed back to the car together.

Bonnie is doing two separate on-calls tomorrow, including a nurse-on-call, so we'll walk in her neighborhood. She's got to stay close to the car.

april fools half marathon

A few weeks ago the route for the fall Bethlehem Half Marathon was printed in the Morning Call. We decided to walk it. On April Fools Day. We're crazy "walking fools"!

Potentially I had six people going: Me, Bonnie, Kathy and Lyd who went, and my friends Betsy and Pam. Betsy had another commitment, and Pam's husband had an accident, so they both had to back out.

The half starts at the Sands Casino at the former steel mill. I wasn't sure what the rules for parking there were, so we met at ArtsQuest, right in front of the blast furnace. Lydia only wanted to do a 10K so she left her car at Monocacy Park. Bonnie and I picked her up and brought her to the southside.

We left ArtsQuest and headed up Polk to Packer and past Lehigh. It was then I realized we were supposed to go to the casino first. Oops. We headed down Brodhead, across the Fahy Bridge, around the city center, and up Main. At Geopp we headed over to Monocacy and followed the creek to Paint Mill Road, and up the hill to Schoenersville. It was a hilly walk and we were only about 4 miles into it.

After a potty break at the Wawa, we continued down Illicks Mill Road to Lyds car—the pitstop. There we had items to replenish our supplies. We filled our water bottles, and had a snack. There was even gluten free ones for Bonnie. At the car, Kathy decided to bail, so Bonnie and I proceeded out Dewberry and down Linden to Washington. Then we went past Lyds old house, which is up for rent. Bonnie and I thought we should make an appointment to look at it. Not to rent it. We're just noisy. How did they rehab the house?

We worked our way back down to Broad and out Market to Linden, and back Church, and over the Fahy Bridge again. We finished the walk by going down First Avenue to the car.  Bonnie's feet hurt, so we never went to the casino. Missing that both times shaved about a mile off the route. Oh well.

I felt good and it took about 4 hours. It was a good training walk for the 100K—less than a month away.

lemons from lemonade

2012 didn't start out very positive. But the day ended on a good note. Let's hope all the negative energy has been exorcised.

I do not celebrate New Year's Eve, or Day for that matter. The day is generally spent taking down the tree and cleaning up. NYE I generally go to bed early, wake up for the fireworks, and go back to sleep. My neighbors had other ideas. They thought it was the 4th of July. A few of their fireworks I thought would land in my bedroom. It sounded like war had broken out in south Bethlehem.

I got up early ready to walk!

There was a New Year 10k Volkssport walk in Princeton. NJ. I was hoping to leave at 10. It would give us a nice cushion for when we got lost. But Lyd overslept, and we left at 10:45. The event started at noon. I decided to take the scenic route (shorter and the same amount of times as the highway route) which was a bad idea. We got stuck behind Pokey Pete out for a New Years drive. I should have know that would happen! And we made a wrong turn right as we got there. The jug-handle for turnarounds was, well, odd. We arrived at 12:17. The desk clerk at the hotel said the last of the Volkksport walkers left two minutes ago.

Note to self. Don't do Volkksport walks that don't have a time range. Especially when going to unfamiliar places.

We had the name of the park and the desk clerk gave us horrible directions. I was already upset because of Pokey Pete. I really wanted to do the walk—the University, historic Princeton. It sounded great. Lyd told me to stop whining. She kept repeating her mantra "It's all good". Wish I had her outlook.  We ended up in a golf club and asked a golfer. He sent us to the wrong park. But it was a really nice state park—Princeton Battlefield State Park and Clarke House. We decided to park and walk there.

The house was run down and closed for the holiday.  The trails were open and being used. They were wide, but mostly unmarked, but most seemed to circle, with lots of tree roots covered by leaves. Lydia fell once and almost a second time. The major arteries had these tombstone-like markers.

Lyds phone pedometer said we walked 5.35 miles. She even found a job johnny.

Time for a little Mummers and pork and sauerkraut.

The day turned out "all good".