hellertown rail trail

Actually it's part of the Saucon rail trail, but this part is in Hellertown.

I parked at Water Street park, and noticed some signs for the Heller Homestead. Hmmm I thought. Always drive by, never stop. Maybe today.

When I arrived at the trail I noticed something had changed. The last time I walked it last fall it was large stones that hurt your feet and knees. Now it is a sandy gravel surface. Much nicer. However, I had on my Birks and the gravel kept getting in between my shoes and my feet! Ouch.

The Lower Saucon section is about 1.5 miles one-way. Then if you include the Upper Saucon section it's a total of about 5 miles one-way. When finished the Coopersburg section will be an additional mile and a half. When the Greenway connects it will be paradise.

I just did Lower Saucon.

At the first crossing I noticed old buildings. It was the Wagner Grist Mill. As I walked over I saw the little metal bridge. I went there first. It was the Walnut Street Pony Bridge from 1860. It's about the size of one house and straddles the creek. It's actually a little park with athletic fields and two algee covered ponds.

I returned to the trail and continued walking to the Upper Saucon section, turned around and came back. Then instead of going to the lot, I went to the Heller Homestead where I not only discovered cool buildings—2 house, a root cellar and barn ruins—but another two trails!

I'll have to explore those another day. The roomie called to find out what was taking me so long. She thinks I'm eight.

-----

Update— Mid-afternoon Lydia stopped by with the dog and wanted to walk. We took the dog for a half mile, brought him home, and then did another mile and a half. At the hottest part of a 95 degree day. Probably not smart.

greenway—from casino east.

So I packed up my backpack, got in the car and hit the road. I drove to the new skateboard park across from the casino. Got out my iPod, and set it to Broadway, and shuffle. (I Dreamed A Dream with a techno beat is interesting, to say the least!) Then hit the asphalt which quickly turned to gravel.

I barely got past the park and saw this:

It's Saturday during a holiday weekend. No one is working, I continued on. The plan was to go to Saucon Park (the ultimate ending point of the greenway.), walk around the park, and then come back.

I'm cruising along, went under the Lynn Street Bridge and ran out of trail! It's a bit of a drop. Clearly they haven't made it thru the hump yards yet.

But they did build a really nice pedestrian bridge.

Poop. Once I get going I could walk for days, but then anyone who reads this blog knows that. I have walked for days. Now what to do. I barely walked 1/2 mile and the trail ended.

I walked back to the car and headed for Hellertown.

procrastination

If there were Olympic medals for procrastination, I'd win gold. Hell, I'd win platinum.

Walking with people is easy. You get an idea, you tell them a time, and they show up. For years my friend ML and I went every morning. That stopped maybe two years ago. Now with back surgery and moving, it won't happen again.

Since Lyds surgery two years ago I've gotten her as a walking buddy, and Bonnie since we trained for the Avon.

I haven't walked or exercised since last Sunday. Zumba is over because of classes. My friday walk was cancelled because Betsy is out of town. Bonnie's in the hospital. And Lydia is cleaning her storage shed.

I have been eating like a pig and I need to get my butt moving. There's a 10K Monday and I'm doing it.

So this morning I talked about walking for two hours. Then I stared at the computer and looked for somewhere interesting to go. I didn't really want to drive, but frankly I'm sick of the neighborhood. See, it's easy to procastinate.

Finally I decided to do the new section of the Greenway, moved on to Hellertown, and ultimately spent at least two hours walking.

Exercise is just a big messy mind game. As much as I hate the slogan, I just need to get off my fast butt, and Just Do It.

fat girl, downloading

I bought an iPod for the Historic Bethlehem audio files, and also for the longer training walks I need to do for the half. But an audio tour of Bethlehem is not real stimulating. In fact, it probably slows you down.

I hate buying music online. I don't ever know what to pick. I never really bought much music the old fashion way. I'm more a radio girl. But I needed a fast beat to keep me focused and as fast as possible.

Today I downloaded three albums on iTunes—Broadway (with a techno beat behind it, hysterical!), Disco, (like Donna Summers really needs a techno beat) and a remixed (dance) pop album. Then I googled free workout music and found an hour album from Secret deodorant. I downloaded the Low intensity because it said power walking. Maybe I should also do the moderate. However, it has ads. (Ya get what you pay for!) It's all one track and it's an hour. Then I downloaded one from Shape Magazine, and The Biggest Loser/Subway.

That should be enough music for the half, and then some.

I'll try it out at the 10K Monday. So far the Secret mix isn't bad.

third place????????

I earned third place in my age group at the George Lasso 5K Saturday. I'm in deep shock. Guess it's a good thing Bonnie didn't come. She would have beat me! (lol)

fat girl, flying

Today was the day Lydia picked to do the zip flying adventure at Camelback mountain. Personally, I'd like to do the treetop course.

The original plan was Lyd and Bonnie were going to fly in this seat-like thing, and I was going to take pixs. But with Bonnie in the hospital, and no takers for the extra ticket, I had to do it.

I think Lyd enjoyed it. I didn't. But I didn't hate it either. Would I do it again? Hell no.

We checked in and took the shuttle bus to the top of the hill.The area marked lot is the parking lot. The end of the "ride" was just a little further.

First thing they do is weigh you. Heavier person goes on the right. (I was on the left!) Then they strap you into the seat thingy. The seat is held by a real, rather than novelty, carabiner. There's a gate in front of you that is locked. After you are strapped in they undo the carabiner and unlock the gate.

Leaving the gate is terrifying. There is no turning back. I screamed like a girl and had a death grip the whole time. The actual ride, might have been okay if I could relax, but I couldn't. The end was horrible.  The top pix is me coming in for my landing.

Then we headed to Bushkill Falls. I didn't remember so many rocky, steep, trails and steps! Online we read 1267—as much as the stair climbs we do. It was two miles, we did it in 2 hours.  Lots of water falls, both big and small. Lots of bridges and scenic overlooks. We worked up quite a sweat.

It's been quite an athletic weekend. School begins tomorrow. For me summer is over. I can't cross a single "to-do" off my list. Oh well.

My next challenge—the 10K on Labor Day.

hardest. 5k. ever.

Second walk for the day was the Seed Farm 5K. This one was not timed. It truly was the hardest thing I've ever done, athletically.

It was cross-country around the farm. I thought that meant dirt trails. Indeed it did. And rocky trails, and holes, and lawn expanses of mowed fields with ankle grabbing rose bushes, and rock hard crab grass.

For forty yards we were on macadam. It was glorious. The pix below was taken at the end. We finished in 74 minutes. With the exception of the time I got lost I never finished a race in 74 minutes.

Sharon went along and only did the first loop. Thank heavens. She would have broke something.

Lydia and I have muscles hurting that we didn't know we had! They better get rested tonight. Tomorrow is the 7 falls hike at Bushkill Falls. And that other thing Bonnie and Lyd want to do. With Bonnie in the hospital, it looks like I'm going to have to do it. I've pre-paid. Please say a prayer to the God, non-God, spirit or idol of your choice. I'll need it.