no I haven't fallen off the face of the earth.

Honest. I just have not been doing much walking. While I am looking for my mojo, I am gaining all the weight back it took me years to get rid of. I am eating like it is the end of the world. I've totally lost control.

The excuse of the moment is the end of the term. I am up to my eyeballs in grading. Chained to a computer like it's a prison sentence. Free time is spent chauffeuring people to and fro.

But it's bigger than that. I think I finally pinpointed it.  I've all my walking buddies are unavailable. I need to re-learn to walk alone. And that's hard. I hate solitude. Blame it on mom for having me last. I thrive in choas. Megan is now working. Bonnie is baby sitting. Lydia has no access to a vehicle. Betsy is injured. Angel is almost living at Target till the holidays are over. Even my colleague moved to Virgina. Everybody is unavailable.

In addition, I am sidetracked by Christmas.  

So far I worked on Christmas gifts. (I'm way behind.) We gone to the lights at the Lehigh Valley Zoo, and made candy house with my niece, her cousin and my friend. Next weekend we are all baking cookies and then sharing so we have more flavors and less quantities.

And Bonnie and I drove the baby to Christkindlmarkt. A mile and a half and we took the car. Sinful. But we wanted a happy baby with St. Nick. Ultimately, he did not care for the experience. (Over the weekend the wee one learned to stand up.)

Saturday Bonnie, Lydia, Megan, baby and I did go to Litiz for the Volkssport "Walk Through Time". It was held at 10:11 on 12/13/14. Cool, huh?

Litiz reminds me a lot of Bethlehem. I guess it's the German and Moravian influences. And it's packed at Christmastime. It was crazy finding a parking spot. We had to walk about a mile to the event, and it was so well attended that they ran out of maps. So we had to wait. Babies don't like waiting.

The route was pretty much a square. It went past Wilbur Chocolate, Linden Hall, and the Julius Sturgis Pretzel factory. Oh, and Hendricks' Flower Shop. I'm sure they thought we were nuts taking a selfie in front of their place.

The baby was pretty good. Talking a lot. We were pretty close to the finish when he became really unhappy. Mommy took him with her to get the car and his food. He was screaming by that point.

After getting our books stamped, I headed for my car and Bonnie and Lydia looked for a restaurant. We ended up going to Pork and Wally's. A lot of Liberty Bell Wanderer's showed up there also.

They we nice. The even nuked the babies food so it wasn't icy cold from the car. He had taken a power nap on the way back with the car, and was perfectly happy again.

Bonnie had "ham wings". They looked delicious. It was the shank portion and made to look kind-of like a lollipop.   Smoked ham on a stick. How could you go wrong?

After lunch we headed to Wilbur, and then back to the Pretzel Factory for the tour. I know I went to a pretzel factory when I was about 12 on a school trip or girl scout trip. But I think it was in Reading. I don't ever remember being in Litiz before.

Nice day. And it's a nice day today. Must get my lazy fat butt outside for a walk.

turkey's trotting

Yesterday was the Turkey Trot in downtown Bethlehem. This race is huge. There is probably 10K people entered. There are three categories—run, competitive walk, and fun walk. All were 5Ks.

Only Megan and I went. Bonnie was afraid of falling. Since she already had surgery on her hand, it would have been devastating if she fell.

The line began near the stone bridge at the Luckenbach Mill and wove it's way down to the log cabin. That's where the competitive walkers started.  The fun walkers started up the hill further. You can see the vast amount of people in the photo.

The route was also altered slightly to accommodate the snow and ice. No canal path. Instead we walked around the "fairgrounds" twice. It was a tad weird.

Megan looked at the clock when we started —it was chip timed—and it was about 2:45 when we crossed the start. It was 55:47 when we crossed the finish so we figured we finished in about 53:05. The official record says 54:18. I do not understand why.

It was cold, and Sand Island was icy. Our first and last legs were indeed quicker than the middle one. We watched for black ice.

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.

Not quite dead last, but finished.

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Yesterday was the D&L Heritage Half Marathon Run/Walk. You read that right. A Half-Marathon with walk right there in the title where everyone can see it. About 20% of the athletes were walkers. How cool is that.

Walking coach Michele Stanten, who I worked with on several Rodale projects, organized the walking portion. Maybe next year she’ll get the 300 walkers she hoped for.

In addition Saturday night she organized a dinner for out of town walkers. I attended. Race-walkers attended from Wisconsin and Georgia. If she ever offers a race-walking seminar I’m going to take it. Don’t think my knees could handle more than one day.

This was different from other walks I’ve done. There were “pacers” 3, 3:15, 3:30 to 4:30. 4:30 was the time limit. My fitness friend Nora was the “sweep” bringing in the last walker at about 4:17. As a pacer, she left the walker cross the finish first.

It was cold. And windy—really windy. Which made it even colder. I had on long underwear, a shirt, a fleece and a jacket. I looked like the Michelin Man.

We arrived at 7 am, as required, then sat in the car. I was bored to tears so I left after 17 minutes. As long as I kept moving I was okay. Then Megan came, and Bonnie came last.

It seemed forever until they said start and we were off. Bonnie and Megan moved out ahead. I didn’t even try to keep up. I was sick all week. I also promised my sister Barb that I would not be a hero. Besides, they both had music on their phones. Talking wouldn’t happen.

I planned to try and stay with the 3:45 group. I walked with a couple for a half-mile, and then walked with a woman from Bethlehem for about 4 miles. I never got her name. She told me about a trial in Stockertown. Gonna check it out. It was her first half. For the first two miles I could see Bonnie and Megan ahead.

Once she moved ahead I walked the rest of the race mostly alone. All these people kept passing me. Then I saw a pacer and checked out her time. It said 3:45. Here I was killing myself and I was in the 3:30-group. Too late, I had already depleted my energy and I hoped not to fall behind the 4-hour group. I was not breathing deep. I didn’t realize how much energy it took to breath shallow.

Twice I was going to quit. If one more bike riding trail safety person asked if I was okay I think I would have said no.

I checked off landmarks that I knew—birdhouse fence, the skeleton on the bike in the tree (btw he has a friend now), farm animals in the yard, ect.

Mile 8 or 9 was really windy. I started to think of that old Paula Abdul song that has the refrain "two steps forward, one step back". 

At mile 11, the Slatington trailhead, the water guy offered me a Munchkin. A little bit of sugar was all I needed—and a restroom. I have never stopped for a bathroom before in a race. When I came out I saw the 4-hour pacer in front of me.

I knew there was only a little more than two miles left. I could do this.

Waiting for all the walkers at the finish line was Michele. She also came to visit on her bike. Also at the finish was Mulegellan, the D&L mascot. I bet s/he was warm! I crossed at about 4:03.xx. Slightly better than my Atlantic City half time of 4:06.xx. Then sent me an email with the total. I don’t remember it. Megan looked it up. I don’t remember that either. It was more than 4, past my goal, that’s the only thing I remember.

Bonnie finished slightly ahead of Megan at 3:47.xx. Bonnie swears this will be her last half. Also no more 10Ks. I’ll believe it when I see it.

The course appears flat, but anyone who has driven from Northampton  to Slatington knows that one is at the bottom of the mountain. The other at the top.  Imagine when we looked at our fit bits and saw we climbed 149 flights of stairs. Megan was way ahead at 190. How that is possible I don't know. Though by the time I synced mine it was 189. Maybe it was tired on the bus. I didn't have the energy to walk up to Wyandotte street to get 200.

Speaking of the shuttle bus. Every time we bounced it gave us a step! It thought we were moving.

Next weekend I have a half and a 10K. Heaven help me.

my house smelled like autumn

Lydia is still having car issues so I planned a walk near her house on the Nor Bath trail today. That way I could pick her up and we'd be almost there.

The plan was to meet Bonnie, Megan and the baby, and Angel and her family at trail head. But Angel wasn't feeling well and Bonnie and Megan went to the wrong trail head. So Bonnie and I headed into Northampton to meet them at the Siegfried* train station. Then we moved across the street to the Northampton Heritage trail, which is part of the D&L. That section is paved, but once out of town it is totally natural. This is one section of the D&L that is not developed.

Then I took Lyd home and we picked up Adonis to go to my house.  It was the first time an animal had been in my car since I brought Snowball home for Megan when she was a child.

We opened the door and the house spelled wonderful. I had a beef roast ready for the oven when I left. The roomie put it in at 10:30. When we were kids mom put a roast in before church and it was ready when we came home. It smelled like that. And it tasted even better. Can't beat the meat from the farm.

The dog managed to get two walks before we had to leave for Basket Bingo. This bingo is held by the Boy Scout Troop Camp Association. Jarrod loved the camp that they manage in Allentown. Or is it Salisbury? Anyway, we go every year. And usually leave empty handed. I call it a charitable donation. But this year we won. A lot.

All in all, it was a good day.

* The Siegfried Station name came from the original settlement's founder, Lehigh River banks store/tavern/ferry/bridge owner John Siegfried. In 1902 the nearby communities of Siegfried, Stemton, and Newport had merged to form the Borough of Alliance, a name which lasted until 1909 when it was renamed Northampton.

lehigh stair climb

We look so happy before we began!

It wasn't a full stair climb, only about 450 stairs, because we only had about 55 minutes. But it was aerobic. We left my place and took the most direct route to New Street—Out Broadway. Not scenic, but efficient. Then we headed up New To Campus Square. Then the stairs began.

Since I knew we only had an hour to get there, climb and get home, we restricted ourselves to the far west side of the campus. By doing this we missed my favorite climb. Maybe I'll do that one day alone.

There is quite a few stairs at Campus Square. Then we headed up toward the student center. On the right is more stairs which took us to the road. To do this walk you basically look right or left, and find the next set of steps. Hoping that they are not dead ends.

We made it almost to the top of the campus. We had one more set of frats/dorms before the top. But there was no time.

This is the view you get near the top. It is so worth the climb. Too bad the leaves haven't finished turning.

Now it's off to Monocacy Park for the Super Secret Christmas Present adventure with Eryn's children. I have a slim chance of making goal today!

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.

morning star celtic classic 5k

Today was the Morning Star Rotary Celtic Classic 5k. Yeah, it's a mouth full.

We didn't do this race last year, but in 2012 it started at a different place and went to the south side. This year, it began at the Luckenbach Mill, and headed to Union Blvd, out Main, and down the HBI path back to the mill. We went past the mill and out Conastoga Street. We crossed Union Blvd, and headed out the Monocacy Trail to Burnside Plantation. Then we turned right on Paint Mill Road and made an immediate right on to Mauch Chunk Rd. Up Geopp, and down Monocacy and back to the mill.

I finished in a hair over 51. Bonnie in a hair under. Megan came in 15 seconds behind me. Our times were slightly higher than the last time, but trails were not involved. I'm happy with it.

When we first started the race I thought it was odd that a girl had a Camelback for a 5k. On Mauch Chunk Rd we ran into her again. It wasn't a Camelback. It was oxygen! We leap frogged a lot but ultimately she ran into the finish and beat me.

This race always has good cheese, lots of fruit and water, and the best part—men in skirts.

The "boys" were meeting Bonnie and Megan at the event to hang out for a while. I had a meeting with a client at noon, and I didn't bring a cent with me, so I opted to walk home.

exploring courtesy of the wpa

This morning we did an early walk in downtown Allentown. The last time we did it there was a huge hole in Hamilton street. Now there is a brand spanking new arena, square and almost a city block. But someone still tried to hit us up for money. I've never seen homeless people in suits before.

Today is was Megan, Lydia, Bonnie and I. The wee one stayed home with daddy. I could get used to this.

We parked near the Parkettes gym and headed towards south Fourth street passing a statue of MLK and his wife. How long has that been there? I go past there frequently and never noticed the zig- zagged sidewalk, stairs or statue.

We headed up Fourth past Trout Hall and the prison then went out Linden to Fifth. We stopped at the Art Park to look at Rise Up Allentown, and went thru the park to Sixth. Up Sixth past what's left of the Americus Hotel, and out Hamilton to the square. There is a Tom Horton's there that kind-of, sort-of looked open and a bagel shop that wasn't. It's Sunday morning and the bagel shop is closed? I guess they depend on the courthouse / office traffic to make their money. Neither are open Sunday's.

We went out Hamilton to Twelfth, and crossed at the Public Library and headed down the hill to Union. We went down the hill to where I had my accident. And there is a tunnel in the WPA wall. I noticed it when I was waiting for the cops that day.

 You can see the tunnel and some of the stairs in this Google Pedometer image.

This is not the stairs from MLK Blvd. The one's that are in need of  repair. These are above those, on Union. In the retaining wall (c. 1937) there is a tunnel. In the tunnel there are stairs. After one flight they Y. The right side is barricaded with railroad ties. They look like they might lead to yards.

The ones on the left go up and up and up.  Damn, I wish I had my camera. They end in an alley going up to Spring Garden Street, near Eleventh. Nobody wanted to explore but me. So I went alone. They waited for me which was nice. I guess I should have given them the car keys.

Boonie must have been getting worried when I didn't come out so she started yelling for me. I yelled back. I'm sure the people in the row houses appreciated it at 9 am on a Sunday.  I was almost at the top and had to find out where they lead to so I was not turning around. What the WPA givith, Gayle explores.

When I came down we headed back on the Fountain Park trail to the Parkettes lot.

Then came home and took the dog out. He was so good we took him almost a mile. He's sleeping. Wore him out.

fitness friday

When I get up I grab my Fitbit and my glasses—they have an illicit relationship and sleep together.  Usually I clip the fitbit to my jammies and run around doing morning things. Then switch it to my clothes for the day. I didn't do that yesterday. It was a bout 12:20 when I realized it. It registered less than 500 steps.

Thankfully I discovered it before my walk with Betsy. We did our normal 3 miles in her neighborhood. I did a few errands than headed home.

At 5 I met up with Bonnie and Megan and we headed to Coca Cola Park for the Bacon Challenge. It's a 5K where half way thru you consume a 1/2 pound of bacon. We all opted out. Nothing makes me want to vomit more than the thought of chugging a half pound of cold bacon and then racing.

When we arrived, Megan sent a text to Lyd.  Lyd and Dawn were already there, and Dawns friend Cindy met us a bit later, We had a big group. Dawn wanted to know where the baby was. "He's part of the team now." Luckily he was home with daddy.

Cindy was nervous. Her first 5k. We did our best to assure her everything was okay. She'd finish and she wouldn't die. I took a before shot, and promised a finish shot. But of course that stupid camera died. Again. So I had Megs take it with her phone. Dawn and Lydia stayed with her and they finished in 61 minutes. And they were not last!

The course never left the ballpark. We started in front of the main gate, and went down the hill to the American Parkway and back up again. The head east and circled those lots, and entered the ball park and looped around the concourse.  We left the stadium by the lower gate then headed toward the west parking lots behind the Western Electric building. (I have no idea what the current name is. It changes yearly.) This is where people stopped to eat bacon. We heard little good about it. I'm guessing about 10% of the people went in the pass-by lane.  You could not leave the bacon lane till you finished. I did not see a vomit bucket.

After circling the west parking lots we headed down that hill to American Parkway, back up and followed the road at the rear of the stadium. I thought we'd enter then by the pork racer door, but no, they had us pork racer the lot first. Then we entered the field and looped of the dirt path.

I had managed to catch up to Bonnie several times, but when we entered the door, she went into finish line mode and kicked it into high gear. Bonnie is now a half block ahead and I hear running behind me. It's Megan. I yelled "Megan is running." Bonnie looked back and started running too. NOBODY, not even her baby, will beat Bonnie. She crossed 1.9 seconds before Megan. I finished in my typical spot 20 seconds behind.

Bonnie 49:02
Megan 49:03.9
Gayle 49:22.8
Dawn 61:35.5
Cindy 61.36.6
Lydia 61.37.5

My fitbit was at about 18K when I returned home. I would have made 20, or maybe even 25 had I remembered to put it on in the morning.

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.

farmers market thursday

Since I went back to school August 25, my hours shifted for my many jobs. I am now off on Thursdays till about 4ish. I'm headed to work when everyone is headed home.

The south Bethlehem Farmers market is conveniently held on Thursdays at Campus Square. Megan, the baby and Bonnie and I usually take a 3-4 mile walk to get there. I have to get very creative with the routes. There is only so many ways to get tot he university.

Today I was smart and took two bags and balanced my groceries in them. Bonnie pushed the stroller home and Megan ended up carrying about 25 pounds. Next week Bonnie is taking an extra bag too.

Today we headed up the hill, out Sioux, down Clewell and out the alley to Bergen. We crossed Broadway and came back Seneca. Up the hill that I thought was huge as a kid, and past the old 'hood. Then we headed down fourth, to New and to the market. We zig-zagged our way back up the hill and home.

Last night I went to Zumba. It's back on. I'm worse at it now than I ever was. Oh well. After fighting with my sister I could blow off steam.

Tuesday I walked at the crack of dawn with Bonnie in her neighborhood. There was a fresh dead skunk on Emmaus Avenue and I couldn't walk out in the street to avoid it. Too much traffic. So I returned to the neighborhood and met up with Bonnie at the Daisy Hill.  I'm pretty certain she thought I was nuts.

Monday and Wednesday I walked at lunchtime. But maybe only a mile and a half. Not much. One day I only had 5,000 steps.


Speaking of steps. I received a message from Fit Bit today that I have reached 4000 flights of stairs (inclines) and have been awarded my 747 badge. It will probably be a year or two before I see the next one. I have to double—8000—the amount of stairs.

Tomorrow it's walking in south Whitehall with Betsy. Then Saturday it's the 30th anniversary celebration of the Liberty Bell Wanderers at Lake Galenda in Doylestown. That's a 10K walk.

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.

saving birds

This morning we walked in Bonnie's Salisbury neighborhood. She has routes. The east route. The west route. And variations on all the routes to add or subtract hills. This one was LV flat.

We were near the park and there were several lime green 4-pack rings on the ground. (Why are beverage companies still using these things? The dangers to animal life is well known. I digress.)

When I walk, I walk past/over all kinds of trash. There is not enough time to clean the streets as I walk, and it looked like there was quite a party at the park last night. Let's just say the sales at BK were very good.  I did walk past the lime green 4-pack rings. Maybe a whole two steps. But I had to go back and pick them up. I could not leave them sit. A goose from the pond my get it's neck in them—and I don't even like them.  Bonnie and Megan kept going. When Bonnie looked back she probably thought WTH?

I carried those buggers for nearly two miles. When we got back to Bonnie's, I forgot to take a picture of them before Megan cut them up.

Tonight school starts. I should begin to see my walking numbers go out. Still don't have a chance in hell of catching my friend with her "working retail" steps. But I'm going to try.

I also signed up with the Wellness Center (that's the fancy name for the nurses office) at NCC for the 10K a day challenge. That should help keep my fat butt moving.

and the carillon played

Yesterday we drove to Valley Forge to do an 11K Volkssport walk.

I've been to Valley Forge before. I don't remember it being so ... sparse. Lots of fields and woods. Few historic buildings. I kept thinking how did Washington command his troops—everything is so spread out. I pity the poor courier that had to ride back and forth to get from place to place.

I guess I am spoiled by Gettysburg where there is a tombstone every 5 feet.

We followed the Multi-Use Trail or the MUT around the park, and then down to Washington's Headquarters. About 2/3rds of the way to Washington's HQ we passed the Washington Memorial Chapel. It was a huge church. With a carillon. Megan had just finished changing the baby when the carillon began to play. Timing is everything. I have never heard one in it's natural setting. Just off the Cast In Bronze truck. It is even more beautiful when the sound dissipates into the air and falls downward. (If you are near Valley Forge, free concerts, Weds. at 7, I think in July and August.)

After coming back from Washington's HQ, we followed the MUT to the history trail. It was nice to walk in gravel. It was a nice break from macadam.

After returning to the MUT, we headed thru the arch and back to the parking lot.

There were a lot of hills on the walk. We discovered that the fitbit might not be as accurate as we thought. Our steps were similar. Our distance was similar. But our stairs (it measures inclines and can't tell difference between a stair and a hill) Megan had about 70 flights of stairs (stairs/hills) Bonnie had nearly 50. I had the fewest. We walked exactly the same route. Megs thought it might be pushing the stroller. But that makes no sense to me.