the electric run fizzled

The Electric Run looked like it might be fun. But as we were waiting in the que lightning was off in the distance. Then, when it was just about our turn, the fire department pulled the plug. Really. It was on the news and everything. All 14,000 of us had to go home at the SAME TIME. It was a nightmare. It created the worlds largest vacuum.

We all assembled at my place at 5 and were on the road at 5:20. We had to take two cars because no ones car would hold 6. Lydia followed me. She kept saying I was doing 80, but I was being diligent stay under 70.  Is my odometer broken?  Anyway, following people on the sure-kill is hard. Bonnie and Bug kept looking out the window to see if they were still behind us. We never lost them. Getting on the Sure-kill took a good 15 minutes. Getting off, and to the lots was probably another 15.

We found our way to the assigned parking, paid our $15/car and finally parked. It was a sea of humanity. We had a picnic on the hood of my car. I had packed nutritious snacks—fruit, cheese, multi- grain chips, humus, eggs, water—to eat when we arrived. After cleaning up we hiked over to the shuttle station. The buses filled up quickly. More buses were coming but stuck in traffic. We decided to walk instead of wait. We barely got across the street and a bus pulls up and starts loading the walkers.

It was still only about 7:30. We hit the port-o-potties, got out our glow stuff, and decorated ourselves. At about 8:15 we headed to the start line. The waiting began. We were in the front half, probably close to the front third. Watching how people were dressed was fun, for a while, but it was hotter than Hades and the sweat was pouring off us. Everyone was bored. Especially Bug. We saw lightning in the distance. It was finally 8:45. The waves of people started rolling out.

It was starting to be fun. We had finally reached the start chute. There was one group in front of us. We were next. Finally. Each wave left with a countdown, and a cheer. The group in front got the 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-----and then the words we never expected to hear. "I'm sorry but the Philadelphia fire department has closed down the event due to severe lightning in the area." WTF? A wave of disappointment hit the crowd. People were angry. Bug was puzzled. "Mommy, why must we leave. it's our turn."

We followed the crowds and hiked back to the car. We pulled out onto the road and then stayed there for the next half hour+. Everyone in front was leaving other people out. It was two blocks to the main road. The traffic headed for the zoo/Sure-kill was not going anywhere. I put to use my 3-day walk memories and tried to get us to Route 1 by going around the park. We got there after a few wrong turns and enter the highway on City Line Ave.

It was a little long but we were moving. Wish we would have had Bonnie's car with the GPS but we did it. We probably didn't save any time. We got home at 11. Probably the same time we would have gotten home if we had walked.

Should have gone to the Moon Walk in NYC instead.

road trip friday

Friday Bonnie and I walked around her neighborhood at 6:30. I expressly said, your neighborhood is fine, but no hills. It's too hot. The first 25% was downhill. That's when I said, "I thought I requested no hills?" She said there wasn't any.  I said "what goes down must come up". "We're zig zagging", she replied. Actually it wan't bad. It was the principle. And after that hill last week, all hills have been demoted.

At 10ish, she picked me up and we headed to Philly to pick up our bibs and swag for the electric run. Parking was a nightmare, but we found a lot abut two blocks away.

We parked on the 5th level, under cover, and headed down the stairs. We had six bags to pick up, so we took a grocery sack. Thank goodness we did. The stuff was in plastic zip close bags.

I don't think my tee will fit. It's a small extra large and woman's cut to boot. I'm not sure the bracelet will fit either, but we bought a ton of light up stuff at the dollar store, so it shouldn't be a issue.

We ate lunch at a Chili's a block away and then back to the parking deck. It was a lot harder going up in the heat then down.

On the Schuykill coming back I noticed that Bonnie's dashboard read 100F. Of course it wasn't but it felt it.

tile, tile, everywhere.

Today we were in Doylestown walking with the Liberty Bell Wanderers. I've never walked outside of the downtown area before. There is tile in every corner of the borough. Clearly the Mercer legacy continues. I choose to post this one from Freedom Park to post because it's Memorial Day weekend. The stairs say "walk to freedom".

There was only about ten walkers at the start—the YMCA of Bucks County. (A really nice Y.) One was Carol, who organizes the trips.  It turns out that this is the first walk we took since sending in our starter books at Christmas time. As the man was stamping, he said, where's your event book? I didn't have one. Must order one tonight. They will have them next week at the walk in Bala Cynwyd, but I doubt if we'll go that far. Though I bet that's a pretty walk.

We got our instructions and headed out. Lots of twists and turns. It took a lot of reading, and I managed to read AND stayed upright.

Finally we arrived at the Michener Art Museum. When I saw the mule from Miles of Mules, I realized I hadn't been there since 2000. Long time.  At the end of the road from the museum, we found and walked a community labyrinth. Well, I walked it. Lydia took pixs. She thought I was nuts. Then she took a pix of the entire group walking thru it. Quite a site. Eight people walking a labyrinth.

Then we wove thru downtown, including the farmers market. I had no money with me, so of course they had a lot of kale. Three different kinds. Lyd bought some dog cookies for the spoiled boy.

After that, we got a little lost, spied the rest of the group, and walked together to Fonthill Castle. Have you every been there? The castle consists of forty-four rooms: 10 bathrooms, 5 bedrooms, 18 fireplaces, an Otis elevator and 21 chimneys and air vents. And nearly every square inch is filled with Mercer tile. It's been a long time since I was inside.

We headed down to the Moravian Tile Works, and then came back past the castle, to the Doylestown Cemetery, and arround it. Grave of note—W. Atlee Burpee of the Burpee Seed Company.

While walking, I talked to Carol about have to make trails and what you need to do to get them sanctioned. I'd walk more often with the Wanderers (it's 3 bucks a walk, if you want credit) if most walks weren't Philly and it's 'burbs. (There is a Bethlehem, and two Allentown walks.)

After the cemetery, we left the other behind and finished the course, Then headed home. We had a spoiled dog to walk!

Tomorrow we'll be doing one of our challenge walks. Either the passport walk in Bangor or Jacobsburg. Or perhaps a leg of the D&L.

color run #2

Today was the color run. The top pix is "before". The bottom is "after". Enough said? Probably not, you want details, right? Right.

You twisted my arm.

Angel, Darrell and Bug arrived about 4:45. Lyd and Adonis were back by 5. We hit the road at 5.  wore Birks.

Everything seemed to go great. We past the area on the Turnpike that was problematic Saturday.

After we past Lansdale, Angel said, Gayle, you gas light went on. Oh poop. In the chaos of Saturday I didn't get gas. We go off the same exit as Saturday and no gas stations. When we finally started finding some, they weren't open! I was starting to panic. We'd miss the race. It took a half hour, and I was running on fumes when we finally found gas.

Thank goodness the rest of the trip was fun.

We parked at a garage at 21st and Market and walked to the Ben Franklin. We just followed the sea of white shirts. Since I had checked us in the day before we didn't need to do anything but get in the start line. They were leaving 1000 people thru at a time. 2300 were registered. It took about 20 minutes to get thru the line. We might have started walking at 8ish. Darrell followed us on the sidewalk to the first color station—pink.

You cannot imagine how dense the cloud of dust is. You can't see a thing walking thru it. 

The second station was in Fairmont Park, kind-of near Zoo. It was blue. The blue people were much more aggressive with color than the pink people. I somehow escaped most of it.

 Then on Lincoln drive we had Orange, followed quickly by yellow. I got the full brunt of the orange people. I think I was too clean!

Yellow was the last station. As we went got to the other side Angel and Eva dropped to the ground and started playing in the dust. People were making snow angels!

We were almost back at the art museum when Bug yelled "there is daddy!" I told her to run over an hug him. He had no interest in attending the rainbow color throw. he waited on the steps of the museum.

After the throw we got into the circle and were blown off by a leaf blower.

We retrieved Darrell and went looking for the changing tent but didn't find it. So we changed in the parking deck.

Then went and looked for a place for brunch.

color run #1

Saturday I went to pick up our packets at the Color Run in Philly. They were expecting 23000 people. Seemed like a good investment of time, at that point.

The plan was simple. Leave house at 6, go to Philly by 7:30. Turn around and come back. Stop in Q'town at Walmart, then head to the Coopersburg diner for breakfast. Then across the street to Giant for last minute groceries for the family picnic.

Simple, right? Wrong.

We left at 6, arrived home at 1 and had a helluva adventure in-between.

The first part of the trip was uneventful. We entered the turnpike and headed to Philly. About a mile before the Lansdale exit  I hear a giant pop. I pull over to the side of the road. Then I notice other cars pulled over. I got out, checked my tire and it was flat. The other people left but more and more pulled over.

I dug in my purse for my phone and it wasn't there. The one day I actually needed it. Thank goodness for the kindness of strangers without flats. I called AAA and said the word Turnpike and was immediately transferred. Limited access highways have dedicated towing companies. Who knew?

The long wait began. But more and more cars pulled over. In total there was about 9 flats, some multiples, before they closed the lane. It was get to know your fellow stranded people time. The car in front's daughter was giving birth. The car behinds mother had a stroke. Two cars of vacationers, and one who was meeting her son at the airport. He was coming home from deployment to Afghanistan. She missed it.

One state trooper came, then two more. They were busy writing up reports. In the mean time the tow truck finally came. I thought he'd start at the end of the line, but he came to me. I was the first call. So happy. At least one more truck came.

I thought the state trooper said to file a claim with my insurance and the Turnpike's would cover it. When I called my insurance this morning, it didn't sound promising.

We finally got back on the road at 8:30 or so. We got off the Lansdale exit and couldn't find a garage or tire store. We got pack on the Turnpike and drove slowly. Thank goodness it was a work zone. But everyone was still flying past us. We got off the next exit, and it looked like lots of shopping centers, but when you got off, nothing. There was a BJs. That held promise. But then I saw the Ford dealer. We went there. An hour later we were on the road.

We didn't arrive in Philly till after 10, I picked up the packet--they were out of kid sizes-- and left. Then I missed the Roosevlt Drive split and ha to take a long detour. I was hungry and cranky. When we got back to Q'town, I stopped at the Wawa and got a snack. Pat didn't chew hers well enough and vomitted in my car.

Could this day get any better?

I dropped Pat and her mess off and went for groceries for the picnic we were having later in the afternoon. Lyd arrived around 3 with the dog. She was spending the night because we were to leave for the color run at 5 am, and Pat was dog sitting.

We arrived at the picnic at 3:45, and is was good, until the storm came. We ran around and packed everything up and put everything away. We didn't lose power there.

But when we arrived home at 9:30 we did. The house was hotter than Hades. Lyd took the dog and went home. She'd be back by 5.

I called my friend Angel and told her to give me a wake up call. She called at 4:06. The power came back on at 1:45. I had maybe three hours of sleep. Sleeping on the porch was pretty impossible.

To be continued.