ice floating on the delaware

The Delaware was beautiful this morning. Just after sunrise, with the light bouncing off the ice as it floated downstream. The banks were frozen with maybe a third of the width still running.

Sorry I have no pictures. I didn't want to walk over the bridge in my work clothes. Beside it would have taken too long. Instead I'll just wax poetic. I can only imagine what a real writer would do with the image.

It was an ordinary walking day. Lots of stairs, and walks thru two campuses. Not great, but I managed to get 6K steps so far.

I also registered Lydia and I for snowshoeing on Saturday. You had to register to borrow equipment.  I have shoes, but Lydia doesn't.

Tomorrow I'll try an more interesting walk. I guess if you do wild and crazy walks everyday, blogging daily would be fun. I'm actually looking forward to the end of the month and having quality, rather than quantity.

new hope and washington crossing

Yesterday we all went to New Hope to do the Volkssport border crossing walk. When we were done, we headed to Washington's Crossing and did it again.

This trip was more complex than most. We had to take two cars. the infant car seats only allow one passenger in the back. In many ways it's terrific. Since you are following people you obey the speed limit and every sign. In other ways it's not. One gets the light, the other doesn't. One gets a little ahead and turns, and the other gets lost. (That would be me.)

The start point for the New Hope walk was a Ramada way out of town. Then we had to drive back into town to do the walk. We did a little of New Hope walk, then crossed the bridge and saw 14 turtles, then headed out the D&R (Delaware and Raritan) Canal path. Quickly we came to a detour and followed it. It returned to the trail at — you guessed it — the turning point. We headed back into town and back over the bridge to New Hope.

 Megs leave the little on in New Jersey, while she stays in Pennsylvania. We won't tell Papa.

I'm in Jersey. Bonnie is in Pennsylvania and Lydia is straddling both states.

The route wound around New Hope and picked up the canal path near the Locktender's House. Megan couldn't take the baby down the steps so the Stephens' family went on an adjacent street and Lydia and I went to the D&L. Of course, we misplaced each other. Phoning wasn't working so I said to Lydia let's go to Main Street and just stand there. They'll come. They did.

Then a pitstop at the train station to change the baby (who flirted with the conductor) and for the adults to use the restroom (I-3.5). Then it was back to the car.

After a stop for a late lunch it was off to Washington's Crossing in New Jersey. The start point for that walk. New Jersey State Parks charge for parking on weekends. Who knew? There was a little chaos finding our way into the visitor center but we finally got there and signed in.  The ladies room (I-2.5) had no changing table for the baby so Megs changed him on the sink!

Then we headed off to walk back to Pennsylvania! The sidewalk on this bridge is skinny (and not turtles). The bridge is skinny. We kind-of went off course and walked around the Pa. side of the park, stopping at the Visitors Center. It's beautiful. Looks fairly new. (I-4.5. I bet it's a 5 first thing in the morning!)

We decided not to follow each other going home. I came back thru Pennsylvania. Bonnie thru Jersey. I wanted to stop at Bowman's Hill Tower for the "best view of Bucks County." And to climb stairs. The ranger was closing the park when we arrived at 4:15. (The pix is from Wikipedia.) On Wikipedia I read that they remodeled in the 80s and put in an elevator. I wonder if stairs are still an option. You only must climb 23 for the top most point.

When we got home, I walked the dog. He was happy.

fat girl plunging

 Before the Plunge—with coat and without.

Today was the Special Olympics Polar Bear Plunge into the Delaware. The last time I did it was in 2010, down near Philly. The water was cold. thank goodness it was not during the Arctic week. Today was about 34.

Firs thting I needed to do this morning was sweep the snow. It was only maybe a half-inch, so no shoveling was necessary.

Bonnie came about 10. We planned on arriving in Easton about 1.5 hours early for the noon start. Why? We had a walk to get in! After parking we went to Scott Park to sign in. I was in the third wave. Thankfully I didn't have to wait the hour till the 13th wave. I might have chickened out. I only had to wait 10 minutes.

We walked around and stopped at all the vendors. Should have taken a bag. I brought chips, Mike and Ikes, soft Pretzels and Wawa juice for Pat. We visited the photo booth, got some hot choloate from DDs booth, and Bonnie took her picture with the Wawa goose.

We had so much stuff we had to go back to the car, before heading over the free bridge. We headed up the Main street hill and walked about a mile to Shappell Park, walked around the park and back toward the bridge.

 Before crossing we headed up the Boylan Street stairs. All 146 of them. Then back over the bridge to the lot. After grabbing my bag, we headed toward the event. We arrived 10 minutes before the start. Perfect timing. I didn't take off my warm clothes until they started calling wave two.

Finally it was our turn. We went down to the start. And into the water we went. I went in to about my waist. Some crazy people put their heads under. Even though in the safety speech they told you not to. You can see one of the rescue boats in at the far right of the pix. Not a boat nor an ambulance was needed. Thank goodness.

I came out and immediately put on my pants and fleece jacket. I also took off my water shoes. (Note to self. Buy new water shoes.)

We hiked up the stairs to the park and headed back to the car.

All in all we walked four miles.

lehigh gap nature center

A few weeks ago, Lydia received an email from the Lehigh Nature Center in Slatington. They were having an open house and wreath making workshop. We decided to go.

We arrived about an hour early and walked on the D&L toward Slatington.

First order of business, crowd 4 people into a selfie. Good thing Sharon is short.

 Bonnie and I kept our normal pace. Lydia slowed down and walked with Sharon. Sharon doesn't move near as well as she used to. Lydia had ample time to stop and take pictures.

 On the return trip, we headed down the dock road to the river. It's the first time i've walked that trail that I didn't want to jump in the river. It was cold. And windy. Mostly I was warm. But I should have had long johns under my work out pants.

 Then we headed inside for the open house/workshop. A lot of people came. They had four types of evergreen, some cedar, some juniper, rose hips and two kinds of holly. The table wasn't large enough for everyone so I had to wait for space. In the meantime, I helped everyone but Bonnie. Her hand gave her trouble but she stubborn and wouldn't accept help. I ran for greens. Cur stems and string. Fetched pine cones. Held and bundled greens. A little bit of everything. After Bonnie, Lydia and Sharon finished it was my turn. I picked a small grape wreath form, and chose every kind of material they had. I was allergic to one of them. My right hand had poison-like bumps on it, but they don't itch...yet.

Once I hang the wreath on the porch it will need to be trimmed. Or maybe I'll leave it diamond shaped. Overall, I like it.

the art trail has art!

Well, a little art. But it's a start.

At the trailhead on 13th street the sign said it was 2.2 miles to the end of Scott Park. Then how in the world did we manage to walk nearly six miles? I don't know. As Lydia says "these trail maps lie!"

We started at 13th street, walked past the dog park, the Easton Cemetery, and the entrance to Lafayette. Then we headed down third, made a quick left after the highway, and headed to Larry Holmes Drive. We walked thru both Riverside Park and Scott Park. We played on the swings. It was a perfect day.

While in the parks we took pixs of the river. The one below—a railroad bridge over the Delaware—I think Lydia took. Look at that beautiful reflection.

 I saw on FB about the D&L half marathon. I wasn't planning on doing another half, but Lydia posted interest on FB. If she decides to do it, Bonnie and I will do it too. And this time, we will --okay, me. I don't think Bonnie can walk slower--try and stick together. Walking with someone will improve her time. I bet we can shave 15 minutes or so off it. No walking alone head games.

back to mount bethel

Bonnie and Dawn couldn't walk today, so Lydia and I stuck with the plan and went back to the Mount Bethel trail today. Lydia needed it for her Passport To Fitness. Bonnie and I did ours back on June 2.

This time I knew where I was going. I didn't follow 611, I just made sure the cooling towers and the river were in my sight. We arrived in about 35 minutes.

After parking, I waited for Lyd while she used the 24-hour indoor facilities. (Gosh I love this place!) I took pictures of bees and butterflies doing what comes naturally.

We headed up the welcome center trail, and down to the blue trail. We quickly found the post, about a half mile in, and continued on. When we crossed the bridge I said to Lyd it was near where we came back. It wasn't open. Today it was. There were patches that are clearly unused and narrow, but it was all passable.

We knew we were close to the end when we saw the cooling towers. But even from the viewing platfom another half mile down the trail we couldn't see the towers any better.

At the viewing platform, someone wrote Peace, Tranquility, Harmony and something about love forever (that one we couldn't see w/the sun beating on it.) I thought, teenagers didn't hike all the way in here. A) the trail would be better. B) they aren't that ambitious. We must be near a parking lot. We continued on. And the road forked. So we turned around and went back.

We turned correctly at the red/blue split, but somehow missed the blue/welcome split. We ended up at the other parking lot! So we walked down the road to get to our car. Total miles—about 4.5.
We hopped into the car and headed for Jacobsburg to get her next stamp.

We arrived, took the picture in front of the sign and headed toward the bridge. On our way I saw my colleague, her husband, and Vivian the dog. Small world.

We headed down the Henry's Wood trail and encountered a family taking formal portraits. In the woods. In the heat. In dress-up clothes. Bizarre. If I was taking a family picture int he woods, we'd be outfitted like an LL Beam catalog!

We found the post, and headed back. Another mile and a half, making today's total six.

Tomorrow we're doing the Bethlehem Volkssport walk with some people from out-of-town. I've been asked to be the Bethlehem contact, and will be helping plan some additional Lehigh Valley walks.

This week it's supposed to be hazy, hot and humid. They'll be no walks at lunch time.

Saturday is the Electric Run. It's a 5K, but I hope to get additional walking in, in the morning. Sunday, we'll just do a short 4-5 mile walk. The next two weekends we'll have to do ten miles. The half marathon is quickly approaching.

passport finished!

Today Bonnie, Dawn, Lyd and I went to Hugh Moore Park in Easton. It was a two-fer walk. It qualified for both the Passport to Fitness and the Tail on the Trail Challenges.

We met at my place and headed to Easton using the back roads. Of course I made a wrong turn and ended up on the wrong road. I could get us to the right one, but the bridge was out. Very frustrating. We could see the park but not enter it! I almost had to have Bonnie press Starr's button for directions. But alas, I was able to get us to the park.

We parked, and I said, the bathrooms are this way. I know that's always our first stop. I did not remember them being a half mile away!

We entered the trail at the canal boat ride. They didn't start running until 1 pm, so there was no using the BOGO tickets today. We'll have to use them another weekend, since the rides are only Wednesday thru Sunday. Guess they can't over work the mules!

This section of the trail was grass and loaded with goose poop. By there were no geese in sight. After we had switched to the macadam path, we found the geese. There was, well, pooploads of them!

We walked for about a half hour before we found the post. It takes a while with four people doing rubbings.

The trail turned to gravel for awhile, and we finally reached the lock.  Dawn and Lydia were always behind us, but usually we could hear them talking so they were not far. When we didn't hear them, we turned around to make sure they were there. However, there was never a need to double back to get them.

After crossing the lock, we headed into the woods and took the upper path. I thought they both went the same place. The upper path is an old railroad track and it goes to the hump yard. The hump yard has a big "no trespassing" sign (Norfolk and Southern), so we doubled back.  We were going to take a cut off path, but that just led us to a bird watcher in a tent!

We returned to the trail. At the start, it was decided that we'd walk an hour one direction and then come back. The hour came about a mile away from the Forks of the Delaware. I gave the others a choice and we decided to continue on and reach that milestone. We were so close.

Then we turned around and headed back. The D&L in Easton is bright and sunny. We took some cut off paths into more wooded areas. It was hot and humid today. A little shade goes a long way. We arrived back at the car at exactly 10:30. Seven and a quarter miles. After a stop at the Wawa for the bathroom and gas (no hiking back to the park bathroom!) we arrive home by 11. Adonis was waiting for his walk!

Another half mile with Adonis. Then Bonnie, the roomie and I headed to the Saucon Valley Farmers Market. More walking. Bonnie dropped us off and then we headed for Illicks Mill to have our finished Passports verified. My pedometer says I walked 8.5 miles today. I feel it!

Lydia and Dawn both achieved personal bests for distance today. (:

Tomorrow Bonnie and I are going out at 7 am to do the Allentown to Hanover section of the D&L. It's about three miles one way.  This challenge is 165 miles over 5 months. Right now I'm at a total of 18 miles with 18 only weeks left. Two of those weekends I'll be out of town for other walking events (the Biggest Loser Half Marathon in Erie, and the Freedom Walking Festival in D.C.). So let's drop that to 16 weeks. That means I'm going to have to average nine miles a week on the D&L. That's gonna be tough! Because if I break the 100 mark, I'll have to finish. I know what I'll be doing Monday morning for the rest of the summer.

Wednesday, since I don't have Zumba, I'm going to a walking clinic at the Rose Garden. Lydia is coming for dinner and coming along. I think Bonnie might be coming too. Bonnie and I know what to expect. Lydia, I'm not so sure.

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Trail Update

The Palmer Bike Trail that goes from Easton High School to Riverside Park off 25th street was always a bit of a pain. If you wanted to go to Hugh Moore Park, you had to walk on a road with no shoulder. It was dangerous.

I'm happy to report that the connecting trail is done! All you need to do is cross the street and keep walking till you get to HMP. That's very exciting if you're walking the whole D&L, or training for an ultra walk or marathon.

rain, rain, go away

I love rain. And snow. And pretty much any weather event that does not send me soaring into the atmosphere like Dorothy to Oz. Although, if Oz was a guaranteed destination, I might rethink it.

This morning was another morning of torrential downpours. Sadly, none of the water is going into the ground, it is coming down too fast. It's just heading for the sewers and the rivers. (Left is Willy Wonka's chocolate river, aka the mighty Delaware.)

All the storms lately did motivate me to call the roofer to check the roof. The insurance company to review my insurance, and start looking for someone to point my foundation. Know any good masons?

Yesterday was beautiful. I walked around campus twice. Once in the morning while the servers were down. The second at lunch time. Then in the evening I headed the big five blocks to Zumba. I'm perplexed. I can't do it, and maybe do only 40% of what the others do. Should I continue to do it? It isn't fun. But it isn't torture either. I don't like it, but I don't dislike it. I like the people. And it's one less hour to spend with the roomie. Am I wasting my $6 a week? See what I mean. When I ask myself WWJD (what would Jillian do) the answer is stay. Maybe I should try and find a free Tai Chi class. I liked that. Or yoga. Wait, I can't do that either. All questions. No answers.

Lydia called last night. She wanted to know if the roomie wanted a furry friend for the day. If there isn't a downpour when I get home, I'll take Adonis for a walk. If it's not raining after supper, I'll go with Lyd for a walk.  My pedometer isn't even at 5,000 yet, and I walked at lunch. Office jobs are heck on your activity level.

a funny thing happened on the way to the 10-miles.

This morning Jillian and I did the Capital City 10 mile race, in Harrisburg. We were to meet at her house at 6. Walkers started at 8:15.

I don't sleep well, but only woke up once during the night. When I looked at the clock it said 5:15. Holey Moley, I've got to get moving! I got ready and out the door I went.

It was dark and traffic was very light. I cruised down Susquehanna street. I looked down at the clock to see what time it was. Was I on time? It was 4:47. Say what? I pulled out my phone. 4:46? How is this possible. I cruised past the house and it was dark. Shit. Time changed again last night.

You see I have very old electronics, bought before they moved the time change days, so they change automatically on the wrong date. Each time we have a time change, I have to reset the clocks—twice. It's a PIA. But I'm too cheap to buy new ones.

What makes this even funnier is I drove past my neighborhood independent gas retailer, and his big LED sign declares the time. I totally missed it.

So I went for gas—no lines—and then home to chill (and set clocks) for 45 minutes.

Promptly at 6 I was back at her doorstep. And off we went. In her new car—it has GPS and satellite radio. Something my cars will never have. Again, too cheap. I buy cars that go forward, backward and stop.

We arrived on City Island by 7:40, with plenty of time to register. The race started promptly at 8. There was only about 15 walkers. I thought it would be fun to take our pix in front of the Harrisburg Senators sign wearing an Iron Pigs cap. Although the Senators are not in their league.

We walked around the island, then over the pedestrian bridge. Then headed down to the river way, and the Capital Greenway. Then turned around and came back past the start point to the next bridge. That bridge is about a mile long. When we crossed the Susquehanna, we turned around and came back the other side. It was beyond windy up there. Then we returned to the upper river walk, back over the pedestrian bridge, around the stadium and to the finish line.

The runners left at 9 and there was serious congestion at around the four-five mile mark. People coming. people going. Narrow path.

We stayed together for the first 7 miles or so, then Jillian took off. I was busy taking pixs of art.

She finished in 2:57:xx ahead of the 3-hour goal.

I finished in 3:01:28. A minute and a half over. But I'm not in it to win it. And I always walk slower alone. A few people finished after us.

 Make music not war.

Bulls, hydrants, garbage cans. You can see why I was so distracted. My favorite sign was a horse and buggy crossing sign. In the middle of the big city.

The walk today put me over the 25000 steps in one day on my fit-bit. I got a new badge! That and a buck fifty will get you coffee. Hopefully I'll reach gold status in the Presidential challenge this week. I'm at 98%. I'm running out of time. My anniversary date is very, very soon. Then I go back to zero and start again.