election day walk

 In case you were hiding in your fall-out shelter, yesterday was Election Day. Our choices were not great for president: an incompetent buffoon that is probably a closet fascist, or a kind and genial man who has more than a few skeletons pop from his closet. But since they are men in their 70s, you have to look at the vice-president, since she will be running the country one day. We hope.

In spring I did the mail in thing. I didn't feel like I voted. I chose to walk down to Broughal middle school where I have walked dozens of times before to vote. There is usually no line and the poll workers are bored. Presidential years their might be a little line, three, five people. Today the line stretched two city blocks, the length of the school. I was going to be there an hour, at minimum. I should have dressed warmer.

At about 20 minutes in an election official came and split the line in two. One line for Ward 1, the other for Ward 2. Ward 1 was shorter ... hurray ... and I got in it. It took about 5 minutes to get inside. Inside it was hotter than Hades. Ward 2 was on the right. Ward 1 on the left. First we signed in with one poll worker who checked that we were registered. Then we went to another table where the big books usually are. The big books are now on a tablet and it flips over to sign. Then I was given what looked like a key punch card from the 70s and I had to insert it into an electronic touch screen. It printed my ballot and when I hit "vote" it sucked it into the machine.

Then it was time to walk home.

Miles/Steps:  2 miles
Weather:        low 40s, partly cloudy
PPE found:     3 masks in one block

i got a new phone

My old iPhone 6S (12/14) was failing for at least a month. It held a battery charge for a New York second and pretty much had to be left plugged in at all times. Web pages would freeze because I didn't have enough data. (I had 16 G. I was using 14 with zero photos on  my phone. Just a few apps.) I couldn't do updates. I started looking. 

I wanted something smaller. I thought my phone was huge. I wanted the original tiny iPhone/iPod size. That's not happening. The smallest Apple I could find was the size of my old phone.The rest were bigger. I found a sweet Galaxy flip phone but it costs as much as my laptop. No thanks. Saturday at work was the last straw.

I received a text saying that my Cricket auto payment bounced. Why? Because my Discover is frozen. I lost it nearly two weeks ago. The minute I cancel it I will find it. I went to do an online payment and it froze. And it froze. And it froze. I finally used my employers computer. It was the last straw. I made an Apple Store Appointment. The new phone is a super basic model and still costs $400. But if I get six years from it again, it will be worth it. Just need to find a eco-friendly case.

homestretch

On Monday we had three sections of the D&L to go. We walked one and still have three. Let me explain.

Monday Pam met me at Hellertown's Park & Ride, and we headed south together. We met Bill from the volkssport group at the Virginia Forest trailhead and then carpooled to the Tinicum Park trailhead. The trial map said 9.7 miles. I started to worry when the odometer said we drove 10 miles on Route 32. And another mile to the trailhead thru the park. Then we headed south.

This section of the trail had six locks, multiple overflows and two major aqueducts, as well as a pedestrian foot bridge.  We also two waterfalls. In spite of all that it was a pretty boring walk. Mostly the trail,  river and Rt. 32 were next to us with a thin line of trees. Don't get me wrong, but it was monotonous. Thank goodness for those locks and aqueducts to keep us entertained. Several of them were restored and had two channels. One for heading north and one for heading south. 

The Paunacoussing Creek Aqueduct was about 20 years old and in great condition. The sign said they used experimental materials to reduce the eco footprint. Things that are being used now on other crossings. The Tohickon Creek Aqueduct was brand spanking new. It's so new that the website says it's still being worked on. I'm surprised the paint was dry.

The trail in this section is narrow. Sometimes grass, sometimes gravel, sometimes wood chips. Occasionally it gets a little wider.

It was windy and cold, but there was a breeze at our back. Since bathrooms are limited I've stopped eating and a lot of drinking on the walks. The downside of that is you have no fuel to walk with. The cold made my knee hurt more than normal. By the pedestrian bridge I was falling behind. In the distance Bill saw a little red house and exclaimed we were a mile away. Problem was the red house was not the park. It was a stone quarry. The park was yet another mile away. By this time I was more than a quarter mile behind. As Bill zoomed ahead, Pam hung back and walked with me. When we arrived at the park he had already used the facility and was headed for the car.

I dragged my sorry fat ass over the finish line.

When we checked our Fitbits Bill's said 11.8 (he was at about .6 when we left) and mine said 11.7. That was a long 9.7 miles!

After driving back to the car in Tinicum, we bid Bill farewell and got in the car. Pam asked how far the next ones were. I said 10.7 from the park to Route 212 trailhead, and another 3.9 to Raubsville. And we are done. Then she suggested what I was thinking. Is there a way to split it into thirds. It turns out from the park to Ringing Rocks trailhead is six miles on the highway. And another five to Rt. 212. Maybe 5.5. We will still have the final 5 mile section but it's a lot better than pulling a ten!

Even better news. The trailhead at Rt. 212 (Durham) is open. The website says "Currently the Durham Aqueduct Trailhead is closed as repairs to the intersection of PA 611 and Durham Road occur. Users are encouraged to use the Riegelsville Trailhead instead." Clearly this website needs updating.

Miles/Steps:  about 11
Weather:        started in low 40s. Finished in high 40s. Windy.
Wildlife:         hawk diving in for dinner. He missed. seven mallards. Hear a gaggle of geese
PPE found:     1 mask

i forgot to post tuesday's walk

 

(File photo. We took none!)

We did walk on Tuesday, but not on the D&L. Instead we walked on the Greenway from the skate park to Hellertown. 

This path is flat, and follows Fourth street to Emory, around the corner where it ultimately becomes Hellertown Road. At this point the trail is between Hellertown Road and Saucon Park. Then it just ends at the cement recycle facility. We did continue walking on a well worn path, but since we were trespassing, we ultimately turned around and went back.

It's been raining pretty much since. It looks like the sun might be wanting to come out now. Finally.

Monday we'll be doing the Virginia Forrest to Tinicum section of the D&L.

Miles/Steps:  just shy of 3 miles
Weather:        start low 60s, partly cloudy
PPE found:     1 masks

south bethlehem volkssport walk

 

Today I didn't work. I switched out till tomorrow. It was the Bethlehem South Volkssport walk and I was the walk leader. I had to show up.

We met at the Comfort Suites on Third Street and headed out. There was only seven of us. Going up the hill to Lehigh I was the last one to the top. Going thru Lehigh was uneventful. We only met one person. When we crossed Taylor and headed thru the old stadium they were setting up tents for something, and some young men were working out. We followed the caution tape to Zoellner and headed to Packer Avenue, down vine, Morton, and New. Eventually we found ourselves at the Greenway.

When we reached the Greenway there were sign boards with photos on them. It's part of an exhibit called "Doing Democracy"; photos from the collection of news anchor George Stephanopolus. "The exhibition explores the unfolding process of American democracy through an array of photographs that shine a light on significant events of the 20th century and the present—featuring world leaders, the media,  politicians, civil rights movements, and everyday Americans." If you are only walking one way on the Greenway, you need to look at the front and the back of the signs.

 The "Blue Herons" sculpture by Virginia Abbot and Broughal middle school students has been around since 2011. Someone gave it a garish makeover. Now the garish colors are Broughal colors. Is this a coincidence? It used to be beautiful.

At the outlet mall, fall flowers were abundant. 

The HMT was still closed and the signs all said that First Avenue was closed. There were other people walking, so we walked too. I think we also walked thru Christkindlmarkt. It wasn't open yet.

Then it was out 2nd Avenue and I headed back to the Banana Factory, and the Comfort Suites. The others continued for the 10K.

Miles/Steps:  6K plus walk with Pat
Weather:        start low 60s, drizzle. End 79, sunny
SLF killed:      Bill and I killed about a dozen. Plus one when I was walking with Pat.
PPE found:     7 masks, 2 single gloves

water review -- canned water

I went to the DiVinci Center Sunday to see the "brick" ocean sculpture exhibit. You had to make a reservation and it was all outside. As is typical in today's world the exhibit was a one-way deal. You go in one entrances, follow the maze, and exit the second entrance.

I was checking in and noticed a sign for bottled water for sale. I mostly ignored it. Then while I was in que waiting, I looked again. The water was in a can. That got my interest and I bought one, put it in my pocket, and saved it for a walk.

I ended up taking it with me Monday. It didn't taste good or bad. And warm. I think it might have been highly filtered, though the can doesn't say that. You should be able to use this bottle a zillion times, but I'm thinking it will last as long as the lid lasts. It's not very sturdy. And in my house you have to protect it from the recycle bin.

 

anthracite section completed

Today we drove to the top of the D&L -- the Black Diamond Trailhead -- and walked nearly 10 miles down to the White Haven Trailhead. 

The description said "The D&L Trail is open and passable, but some sections are single track or rocky." Later on it said the "Black Diamond Section, named after Anthracite coal’s nickname – “black diamonds”, ...  passes ponds, bogs and towering trees providing a good wildlife viewing section. ... The final distance into White Haven is a little more rough surface ... we suggest wearing orange during hunting seasons due to State Game Lands adjacent to the trail through this section. 

I prepared for the worse. I wore an orange vest and thought about taking bear spray. I had planned on taking my hiking stick and forgot it, but Pam lent me hers. I thought it would be a grueling walk.

It wasn't.

The only thing I really noticed was that it was narrower than most of the trail. The last mile or so was dirt. There was a few roots and more rocks, but I didn't need the hiking stick. 

But it sure was pretty. And empty. A few bikes, and less walkers.

We only saw one hunter. He was on a bike. I couldn't help but wonder how he was going to carry a deer out on a bike. however we did hear gunfire once.

The trail was mostly straight and very slightly downhill. There were some railroad ruins and a lot of bogs, as well as a large man-made pond. The trees were tall, but young. And the wildlife was not abundant. It was almost non-existent. 

There where  picnic tables were about a half-mile point. And mile markers every mile. I will miss them when we are only walking on the Delaware.

Speaking of rivers, we really only had infrequent glimpses of the Lehigh. We were clearly on an old railroad bed, not the original canal path.

We had a great view of the railroad tracks from a bridge. There was so much fencing up around the bridge. We had speculated that they might have had some trouble with jumpers. We were pretty high.

Shortly after crossing the bridge the trail stopped and a path led us left and up over more railroad tracks. Then we crossed a busy street and returned to the trail. it followed the railroad tracks for awhile. Then the tracks became higher and higher and we began to notice these little grottos under the tracks. This one continued on the other side of the trail and went down a cliff like a waterfall.

In case you are keeping track, we started this adventure March 30. We didn't realize it would become an adventure until May 3. Now we are three sections away from being done.

Miles/Steps:   almost 3
Weather:        mid-fifties at start, mid-sixties at end, drizzle
Wildlife:         1 doe. 1 snake. Pam jumped and screamed like a girl. It was hysterical.
PPE found:     2 mask