if i had a hammer

Today we did something a little different. All in all we only walked about two miles. But we climbed a lot of rocks.

Bonnie and Lydia met me and then we went to NCC to pick up my international student. We headed out 78 for Rt. 611. Got off the Easton and decided to go straight, and take the back road. But the back road was on the OTHER side of the fireworks store. We ended up getting back on the highway!

So our trip down 611 took a side trip to Jersey. (Gas is only $3.05 there!)

After getting back on-course we headed down 611, then 32 to Ringing Rocks Park. I probably haven't been there in 30 years. Lydia has been asking to go for at least two years. I thought it would be fun for W. It was. I'm sure when she Skypes her parents tonight, she'll tell them about the crazy Americans hitting rocks.

Bonnie stayed on the edge taking pictures.

After finding many musical rocks, we continued on the trail to the waterfall. After climbing over some more rocks, we headed into the woods, across a field and ended up on a road. Bonnie decided the road would take us back to the park, no need to climb again, so out the road we went. Thankfully, she was correct.

When we got back to the car a boy scout troop was using the picnic table. I thought we just move to the Delaware Canal Park a few miles down the road. Lot's of place to park, a clean port-o-potty, but no picnic table. We ended up tailgating out of Bonnie's car. W tried ring bologna (I checked that it was all beef.) and apple cider for the first time. She liked both. Maybe next time we'll feed her Lebanon bologna. I have to make sure it's all beef first.

When we returned to Bethlehem, we went for frozen yogurt near the school.

When we returned home, we took a very anxious Adonis for a walk. Initially he was so bad I told him if I scolded him one more time we were going home. Clearly my tone was right, he behaved the rest of the time. He even did well with all the fire engines heading to Bergen street.

I need to toss out a HUGE THANK YOU to Lydia. She swapped out the broken tv for the newer tv. Lifting both those huge models alone. These are 27 inch analog with tubes. Clearly she took her Wonder Woman vitamins this morning. Then, with my help, we carried the air conditioner upstairs for the winter. All that crap is out of my living room for Thanksgiving. Of course the kitchen still looks like a war zone, but there's nothing i can do about that.

hawk mountain

Yesterday Lydia, Zahra and I went to Hawk Mountain to hike. I'm glad I have a student who likes to hike. Zahra is from Yeman. She and Lyd got along well.

Hawk Mountain is now a paid trail. (I only knew that because NCC's International program was planning a hiking trip last weekend, and HM was ruled out because of the fee.)  The last time I went there it wasn't. But that was a lifetime ago.

We parked at the Visitor's Center, paid our fee, and headed to the trail. The volunteer ticket taker took our picture.

The first part of the trail was just dirt. We stopped at the south lookout, and the intern gave us all sorts of information. Frankly it went in one ear and out the other. Shortly after that the trail got rockier and rockier. To get to the north point, we climbed a staircase made from rocks. Then turned the corner and there it was. A cliff of boulders. I stayed near the back. I'm a wuss. Lydia went a little further.

Zahra, went the fartherest. She said it's rocky in northern Yeman, and took off to explore. I was calm when I could see her green scarf. I was not when she disappeared behind the rocks. I kept thinking, what will I tell the international coordinator.

When she came back we all headed to the front most rocks. I felt old, and out of shape. Clearly I am not flexible or fearless.

But we all made it out safe and sound. I'm just a worry wart like my mother.

It took 1.5 hours to get to the north lookout and less than a half hour to get beck. But then again, we stopped a lot on our way there.

After looking at the pictures, many butt shots, I need to get rid of these jeans. They are too big.

This morning I had my first episode missing sugar. Really missing sugar. We had waffles for breakfast. Waffles with just butter are gross. No 10x, no maple syrup, not even any gross pancake syrup. YUCK.

Off to pick up Bonnie. We're doing the 9th street stairs in Allentown, then hiking thru downtown.