coins to the bank

I've been seeing these signs all over town in the past week. Today when I was out walking I took the picture. Correct me if I am wrong. A patient obtains these items two ways—buy them outright at the drug store. Or get them at the drug store thru your insurance company. If you buy them with your money why would you sell them. If you get them thru the insurance company and sell them, isn't that insurance fraud? Not to mention really stupid and life threatening? (Unless, of course, you've changed monitoring systems and have a surplus.) Color me very puzzled.


My walk today was a simple square. First stop was to the bank at the 5-points. Both the coin containers on my desk were full, so I thought I'd walk them down and placed them in my canvas lunch bag. It wasn't too bad. I have carried heavier bags of coins. The grand total was just under $90. Not bad.

After leaving the bank, I headed up Wyandotte street to Sassafrass. I learned pretty quickly that is a bad idea during snow season. One sidewalk was shoveled above Sioux Street. And the block between Fiot and Sassafrass was downright horrible. I walked in the street. At 3 pm. Not smart.

So it wasn't a long walk, but I got out.

I managed to walk, even just a little each week.  Four days I even reached 10K steps.  Thank goodness.

The Idtawalk and the Winter Challenge begin Sunday. The winter challenge has two levels—30 miles in 30 days. Or 90 miles in 30 days. You know I'm going for the ninety.

On a different note, the new Liberty Bell Wanders website goes live tomorrow. T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D. Could someone remind me of why I volunteered to do this?

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.

fell into a ground hogs hole

Today I had off from my day job. (I just finished the night one.) So it was my turn to drive Bug to swim lessons at Memorial  Pool. (Yeah, Eryn finally got a learners permit!)

So we pull into the pool parking lot. I tell her I'm going for a walk, and I should be back in time, but if not, I left the car open, or she could sit on the lawn or the stoop and wait. Off she goes.

The pool sits at the top of the hill. So I decided to check out the "stairs" function on my new Fitbit. Stairs is really not the right word. What it really measures is inclines up. I headed down the driveway, then down the hill to Monocacy Park, then up the hill to Center Street.  I received a 5.

I turned around came down the hill, headed thru the park, over the waterfall bridge and back, and headed up the hill and up the driveway. At this point I was at 12. Clearly, it's steeper going up.

It was only 11:40. Still about a half hour to go. So I decided to loop the pool and the dog park. There were people everywhere. Apparently the come for both age level swim lessons and just hang out till the pool opens. They even bring coolers with lunch!

I returned to the entrance of the pool and there was still time, so I looped the pool again. This time, I was at the front of the pool and zig zagging up and down the grassy bank. I stepped in a groundhog hole and tumbled. Thank goodness I didn't roll! I am becoming a professional faller. When I was done my stair count was up to 18.

A pretty decent workout. I finished at the same time as Bug.

But something was quite different at the pool. Little of the grass was mowed. 70%, maybe is allowed to go fallow for environmental reason. They even put up a sign. But we all know it's a lot cheaper to leave big lawns go fallow than to mow.

Paths were mowed around the pool, the dog park, and another down to the street near the edge of the property, and a fourth down to the Monocacy trail.

pedestrian signs

Do they really think college kids will cross at the crosswalks?

I haven't walked a lick since I returned home. If I cross the 5000 steps mark I do a happy dance.

Monday I got caught up with laundry, shopping, grading and all that other stuff that sucks time into a vortex.

Tues, Wed., and Thurs was my first 3-day week at Lafayette since last summer. It takes some adjusting. Plus a faculty meeting for AI last night. Yikes.

I decided last night I have to walk EVERY day. Period. No more excuses. (Technically I have a half marathon in about 10 days!)

Tonight I took Sharon to the Musikfest meeting at the Banana Factory. While she watched the boring film, I walked out 2nd/Columbia to the Museum of Industrial History and back Third Street. I managed to get that bugger over 10K. Finally. Plus I walked up the two flights of stairs at the Banana Factory.

The south side, at least near the Steel, is under construction. So I took pictures, with my phone, of walking signs.

The bathroom at the Banana Factory rated an I-4.5 today.

 I did not cross the street. That side was sunny. I'm not a fool.

At the parking garage.

two bridges

Lydia took an old photo dump on Facebook Thursday. Let's call it Throwback Thursday, Extreme Edition. I told her about my walk thru the old 'hood Friday, and decided to show her our house. See, I told you it still looks the same.

The plan was to head over the Hill to Hill bridge, go around and come back the other side. Things don't ever go as planned.

We were walking under the bridge and decided to go to the historic district.  There still was some snow.

It was there where I saw this odd yellow sign. I have never seen one of these before. Have you? Maintenance? I've seen many a historic marker that was barely readable. I didn't know that they actually maintained them.

 From there we headed to Sand Island. Look, even after 60 degree days the canal is still frozen. That ice must have been thick.

Lyd headed for the restrooms. I headed for the pedestrian bridge. I wanted to check to see if that section of the path was open again. They were doing some construction there in late fall. It is done and the path is open. Now I'll need to go to the Hotel B this week and tear the detour tags off the Volkssport instructions.

Sadly plans to improve the west end of the park have been shelved. It was in yesterdays paper. That money was rerouted to the snow removal budget. Booooooo.

We headed up the stairs to the Fahy Bridge. Those stairs are narrow and steep. Lydia apparently hasn't been on the bridge since the sidewalk was closed. I wonder when they will ever fix it?

When we returned to the southside, we took a selfie with the Penn State Lion. This is the best we could get.

It took 2 hours to do 4 miles. Bonnie would have been getting antsy with all the stops.

musikfest

Yesterday the morning walk was cancelled. It was pouring like an SOB. By 11 it started to clear up so I took my umbrella and walked to Musifest and back.

I took the scenic route over, even in the rain, because I knew that I wouldn't want to do it on the way back.

I had a bag with a book, sketchpad, and my lunch. It was difficult finding something to pack that was on this stupid diet plan. I ended up with a tomato and mozz with some basil. I also took celery and hummus to snack on.

I was stationed at the Luckenbach Mill, on potty duty. So I backed up to Volksplatz. The first show was Opera. Opera, at Musikfest. I was so stunned I text Lydia and Bonnie.

 These signs were in Handwerkplatz near the hulu hoop maker. I love these signs.  He said to come early for my shift and his wife would show me how to use my hoop Maria made. I can only get it around, maybe, once.

 Coming home, I ran into Dave Murphy at the ABC6 booth. Other than that the trip was uneventful until I reached Nativity church. I heard music. I thought it was a car. It got louder and louder as I approached the five points. As I headed down Broadway it got really loud. I thought maybe it was the Pentacostal church. Maybe it was, but it was across the street in a yard. Looked like a revival meeting. (It's the house were we bought Christmas trees as kids.) But there was only maybe 20 people. And hardly anybody had a chair. But they had a band. I could still hear it a block from my house. Dios de la alabanza.

lost and found trails and ticks

I had a brilliant idea last night. Let's walk this morning from Allentown's Canal Park to Hanover Township. Turned out to be not my best idea, but it was an adventure.

I've walked the section from Allentown to Bethlehem numerous times, but never the other direction. Thank goodness Bonnie has a sense of humor.

We headed out at about 7 am. To beat the heat, humidity, and Hanover Avenue traffic. We headed over the Hanover Avenue bridge and down the ramp to the Canal Park. Half way down the ramp we saw a trail head sign. I said "Oh look, you can get on the trail here, too. It must join the regular trail." But why would you? There is no place to park.

We parked in the lot at the park, and went down to the trail head. The way to Bethlehem was obvious. The way to Hanover Township not so much. So we followed what looked like a trail in the right direction. It got narrower and narrower, and downright skinny. (See photo above.) We searched for the exit. When we found it, we moved out to the road and walked along the canal. There was an opening in the woods. It was not an entrance. So we doubled back and headed up the ramp. There was a "sidewalk".

When we finally reached the trail it was beautifully paved and straight uphill. It was away from the canal, and a mule would have never made it pulling a boat. Then it leads to a steep downhill. We arrived at Bradford Street and nothing.

We decided to go back to the car, this time walking in the street and not on the crazy disappearing path.

Bonnie wanted to test my theory about Allentown park bathrooms, and they were indeed locked.

We got in the car and headed to Hanover Township. We decided to go from that end and see what we did wrong. The Hanover Township Canal park is beautiful. Much more developed since I was there the last time. The trail there was grass. Ultimately it lead us to Bradford Street. Clearly, you are supposed to walk on Bradford. Mostly without sidewalks. At rush hour on a Monday. No thank you.


As we got in the car, Bonnie saw a tick on her leg. We then did a tick check. I had Pat do another when I got home. I am so used to walking in the city and bike paths, that I've totally forgot about ticks. Bad Girl Scout. There is now Deep Woods Off in my bag keeping the sunscreen company. Now I have to wear two gross products. I'll be glad when the Tail on the Trail challenge is over. We won't be walking as much in the woods.

Today was an adventure to be sure. More of one than I expected. Last night I checked the trail map. Clearly, I read the wrong thing. I thought it said it was underdeveloped. It actually says "Planned future linkage and trail development". Ooops. Actually, it wouldn't take much. Mow the area we were walking, wider, on a regular basis.  Add some signs, make a walking lane on Bradford street, add even more signs. Signs are a really good thing.

The next section goes from the park to Northampton. I know the Northampton end is barely passable. I've walked a few feet on it with Lydia. Next Monday we will try the Hanover Township Catty end and see how far we can go before it gets nasty. The trail map says "Unimproved, open, travel at your own risk".

Wednesday night I'm going to a walking clinic. No Zumba for two weeks.

i'm easily distracted, especially alone

Today I had to walk alone. I'm not really into solitude, so I have to make things interesting doing something else.

The basic walk: Go the the Eastern Pennsylvania Wellness Expo and return home. Requirement: Find the marker for the Passport to Health on the Greenway. That's a three mile walk if you stretch it. Somehow I made it nearly five.

Maybe it is because a lot is happening on the better side of town today. People who normally are terrified of the south side, will descend like a plague of locusts and then disappear when it's over. Especially before dark. (Okay, maybe that is a wee exaggeration.)

Things to do today on the better side of town in case you're looking for stuff to do:

• The Eastern Pennsylvania Wellness Expo—ArtsQuest 
• Kops 'N Kids book fair (near Loopers)—free books for kids!
• What's on Fourth, Who's on Third—street fair and chili cookoff
• Earth Day Fair—on the Greenway
• Ulysses Dreams—a play in the amphitheater (Oh that's what that is.) on the Greenway presented by Touchstone Theatre
• Dedication of the Chinese Harmony Pavilion—Greenway by ArtsLehigh

So here's my walk, as a photo essay.

Lehigh's campus is always beautiful. But I never realized until today that all the flowering trees and azaleas were pink. Interesting.

On campus I also found this display/art piece about water bottle waste.

Why are there purple ribbons around the old oak trees?

It's the Greenway, not a street. What's with the street sign. Clearly not made by public works.

For those of you looking for the Passport to Health markers, they are small! It only comes up to my butt. Maybe 2.5 feet. Maybe 3 inch wide. I did my rubbing. It's kind of hard with the screw right in the corner where you need to rub.

Location—If you a heading toward the casino, it's less than a block east of Hayes Street. Just past the PNC bank on the right.

Andy Warhol on a rusty trash can.

Road races past. I like how they are starting to add years. Wouldn't it be cool if it continues and the street is filled with race memories? Yeah, I know, I'm weird.

Eastern Pennsylvania Wellness Expo. Not many people in attendance. Nothing floated my boat. I didn't stop at a single stand. Still trying to figure out why Bath Fitters had a booth. Oh, maybe it's for converting the bathroom shower to handicap accessible?

The Smithonian National Museum of Industrial Heritage is almost done. So exciting. It is the project that began the revitalization of the Steel property. I'm guessing this project is 15 years in the making.

 Love the name. I'm guessing it will be part of one of the fairs today.

 No one seems to clean the poop on the Greenway. it's becoming poop-central. Really, if you're a dog owner, clean the poop!

 Chinese Harmony Pavilion and zen-like native plant garden. I've posted better pixs before. But the garden never looked like this before. I think the Greenway needs a labyrinth.

 Setting-up for Earth Day. Between New and Taylor.

This sign is on the door to a Hair Salon. Why would you take your animal to work if they are mean? Especially as mean as the one in the picture? Wouldn't that keep customers away?

The power company has been maiming trees all over the area. This agressive pruning is supposed to eliminate week long power outages during big storms. I could do a whole blog of their "pruning", but this is a great example.  They've eliminated 3/4 of the tree, leaving one branch section hanging over the street (That other little piece has grown around the wires). Next storm, this baby is falling down. Gravity is against it. I pray I am not driving or walking under it when it does. It's two blocks from my house.

Tomorrow is the CASA 5K and the Zumbathon. I think I'm doing both alone. Haven't heard from Lyd in days, and Bonnie is still on the DL.

new signs

I teach at the local community college. It's 95% commuter students. And part of the campus is on the other side of the street.  Needless to say there are pedestrian accidents. At least one a term.

To curb them,  they have added the lime green flashing signs before crosswalks, and the white little bobble sign guy in the middle of the street. Still there are accidents.

Today I parked in the other side of the street lot. Before class I shopped for Easter basket stuff, and that lot is the most efficient from the shopping district. Normally I park in the far away remote parking lot and crossing the street isn't necessary.

I aprked my car, went around the solar panels and headed down the path to the street. I was about to cross the street when I noticed these new signs. When I started looking, they are everywhere. If you look carefully, you can see the sign on both sides of the street. All the signs are double sided! How cool is that?

Pedestrian warnings. Driver warnings. Will that curb the accidents? I doubt it.

funny sign

Clearly this sign is a joke. People barely stop for the light before making a right on red. They really expect them to watch for pedestrian?

ironton rail trail spur

I live in a city. A small city, but still a city. All the Christmas snow is pretty much gone. Or so I thought.

For the first official walk of the new year, I choose the spur trail of the Ironton Rail Trail. The IRT is a paved loop. The spur is straight and about two miles. I think it's the part that was actually the railroad tracks.

Bonnie was early and we headed off to pick up Lyd in the boonies.  (AKA bumfucknowhere) Her address is Northampton, but she's out in farm country. The closer we got to her house the more snow was on the ground. Ut oh.

Lyd got in the car, we waved hi to the dog, and headed to the IRT. We had hoped not to park at the first lot in the Whitehall Parkway, but couldn't find any others, so we parked there. It was plowed. There's a barn covered with hex signs, and tiles with hex signs. I took too many pics.

Thank goodness most of the snow on that trail from that lot had melted.

After walking a bit we arrived on the IRT. It was snow covered with ruts. It didn't look horrible so we headed out, walking in single file, often in the ruts.

When we reached Egypt (the town, not the country) the trail was totally snow covered. We walked on it for a bit, but the road was running parallel, so we moved out into the street.  (Facing traffic of course.)

When we arrived at the Troxell Steckel House the trail bent to the left. We left the trail and walked up to the house. It wasn't open, but we could around the grounds. One day we'll come back when it's open.  The counties website says "this colonial stone farmhouse is an excellent example of German medieval style architecture brought to eastern Pennsylvania by German settlers." It was built in 1756 and is on the historic register.

I really like the inlaid stone sign. Can't read a word of it. Maybe I'll ask when we go again.

We continued on the trail until it ended, turned around and came back. We walked past our entrance point and headed toward MacArthur Road. The trail got worse and worse. It was clear that this section was plowed and it was icy. We tried to double back, and hit dead ends. We ended up going back on the main trail, the way we came.

We walked about 4 miles in 1.5 hours. Clearly we need to get ice grips for days like this. I think I might have a pair up in my camping stuff. Unless I gave them away.

We drove back to Lyds, and dropped her off. And headed toward my house. Bonnie had an appointment and time was running short. I had her drop me off at New Bethany and walked home.

Tomorrow we're meeting at Planet Fitness and doing the East Allentown triangle we planned to do last week.