Training walk NYC--20.65 miles

Flowers still grow in NYC!

Today was my last training walk with "Burt's Babes" before San Francisco.  We walked from Penn Station to Riverside Park to the Financial District then back to Penn Station.  We had a big and fabulous group of 3-day walkers.  We were joined along the way by other groups who walked with us for a while.

Our group in Riverside Park (Photographed by ranger Izzo from Brooklyn)

Roberta (San Francisco) and Lesley (San Diego) Last week's group in Central Park!

Sandy (Tampa?) Burt (Chicago and Dallas!) and Tracey (Philadelphia)

Oh yes ... there were other pictures taken, but my walk-mates were getting a tiny bit annoyed with me because they were hungry and I was holding up the walk to Adrienne's in the Financial District where we were looking forward to the best pizza in the city!  I couldn't leave you, however, without a picture of the group at "you-know-where" ...

Eyes (photographed by TY of the Village)

This is, of course, for you Sarge!

...

It was a beautiful day in the 80's in NYC. 
It was a total of 8 hours ... about 7 hours of walking.

I'm icing my foot right now ... but there were NO COMPLAINTS out of the mouth of THIS walker! (only observations about my plantar faciitis and my arthritic toe and how hot I was feeling.)  

So I'm on my way to another 60 miles in San Francisco.

It's less than 2 weeks now. 
Thank you, thank you for following me on this remarkable journey!

Crunching acorns, dodging raindrops--6.0 miles

Yours truly!

Joan's husband is coming home from a brief hospital stay, so I walked alone today.  I walked my old training route which is exactly 6 miles (according to my old pedometer ... do the math!)  My Forerunner is not working ... so I have to contact Garmin tomorrow.

In other news ... I forgot to charge my phone so I didn't take pictures. (That might be ok since I take way too many!)

I will tell you that, like Karen (aka Thumper) I saw pee wee soccer players.  They couldn't have been older than 4.  They were wearing red, yellow, and blue pinnies that almost dragged on the ground.  ADORABLE!  I happen to know that when they aren't playing on the soccer field, the geese are hanging out there. I wonder what their little soccer shoes looked like when they got home!

I also saw the miniature sailboats on the pond.  You would certainly have seen a picture of that.  The MPMYC (Mill Pond Model Yacht Club) was busy today.

The acorns are on the street and I love the sound of my shoes crunching them.  I dodged raindrops for half my walk.  That's fine.  Some training should be done in the rain ... just in case!

Central Park--11.87 miles

Garden in Central Park

I've walked through Central Park but today Lesley and I really walked through Central Park.  From Columbus Circle to Harlem, this was a fantastic walk for me.

Road Runners

 There's always some kind of run or walk through the park (tomorrow is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure)  Today we saw a Road Runners sponsored race.  It was so much fun to watch the runners and listen to the people on the sidelines cheering.  Made me think of the 3-day and how important that encouragement is!

Moving along toward Harlem (I think)

Untermyer Fountain

A promenade

Waterfall in the north end of the park (Loch?)

Lesley took me through wooded paths that I never would have walked.  I loved it.  To think this is in the middle of New York City.  

Pedicabs

 We walked back to Columbus Circle for lunch at Whole Foods.  The following picture is for Sarge:

I think this sculpture was modeled after ME!

After a short break ... we reentered the park and I insisted on a visit to Strawberry Fields.

Imagine at Strawberry Fields

It was important for me to visit this memorial to John Lennon.  His message of peace is especially important today--the 9th anniversary of the attack on the World Trade Center.

Bethesda Fountain

Rowboats

 Delacourt Theatre ... Shakespeare in the Park. (Romeo and Juliet)

... 

 Lesley and Roberta 


I thank Lesley for taking me on a wonderful walk through Central Park today.  I loved every step.

Last Walk of the Summer--6.96 miles

pink impatiens

 

When is summer officially over?  For me, today is the last day of summer because school starts tomorrow.  I'm anxious to get back, too.  Two months is a perfectly fine vacation.  I've had a wonderful summer!

...

I walked with my friends Viv and Robin today.

You might remember that we lost Mikey, Viv's son, last Labor Day.

I asked her if she would like to walk to visit "his house" as she refers to it ... and, of course, her answer was "Yes."

So I dedicate this last walk of the summer of 2010 to our beautiful friend Mike Megdal ... who was with us for much too short a time.

Mikey Megdal

Viv reminded me ... today is a gift.

I'm grateful for it.

Sunday Walk With Joan--6.62 miles

summer blossoms

Joan and I met for our Sunday walk ... and walked and talked for our 3+ miles together.  Then I continued on for the rest of my walk through Port Washington to the town dock and back to my house.

View from the dock.  

Another view

 As I approached Mill Pond, I saw a heron just hanging out.  I took pictures, but couldn't get close enough, so you'll just have to believe me when I tell you he was a handsome guy!

May Peace Prevail on Earth

This is my favorite sign ... just before you come out to my street.  With Rosh Hashana upon us ... this is my wish for the New Year. (Can you say "Shana Tova" Bee?)

...

So I'm finished icing my heel ... and I'm on my way to Yankee Stadium.

GO YANKS!

Gone Walking and Feeling Good!--10.1 miles

The sign on the front door says it all!

Shhhhhh .... I had no pain in my heel this morning when I woke up!  Could it be the Naproxen I started taking yesterday?  Or could it be the icing that I've been doing? Whatever it is ... I don't want to say too much.  I just know I felt good!

...

  I put on the new size 8s (that felt like size 3s a while ago) and took off for another walk in Sands Point.  I got a bit of a late start (9:30) but it was 75 degrees and breezy.  Perfect walking weather ... and it never got much hotter!

I took pictures along the way to show you my beautiful walk.

View from Bad Bob's on the Marina

I leave my house, walk to King Kullen for a water, then walk from Shore Road to

 Manorhaven Boulevard.  Manorhaven is home to a few marinas.  I walked out to take a look at the yachts.  This picture was taken at Bad Bob's, a rib joint on the water.

Yankee (Holy) cow (!) in a Sands Point backyard

 From Manorhaven I walk into Sands Point.  There's a dramatic difference in neighborhoods!  I know you've seen the picture of the cow before.  I just get such a kick out of it!  It's a good street to train on, too.  It has a nice hill to climb!

Looks like a fairy tale!

 From the cow ... I continue on my walk to this street.  I've taken pictures of this house before.  It looks like a fairy tale, yes?  I love it.
I turn, walk back up another hill, and take a turn on Prospect Lane, one of my favorite streets.

Wall on Prospect Lane.

Maggie.

 

 Just before I reached Barkers Point Road, I met a couple of "barkers" ... and they were happily barking at me.  This one, Maggie, wanted to get her picture taken for the blog.  (She did not sign a release ... I hope it's ok.)

Plum Beach Point Road

Plum Beach Point Road is one of my favorites.  The road is curvy ... and lined with these beautiful trees.  I decided to walk past the "do not enter" sign to see the houses at the end of Plum Beach ... and I'm glad I did.  They're amazing and right on the water.  I couldn't see the house at the end of the road, but the sign "paradise" said it all.

Backyard

 Plum Beach Point becomes Pelham Avenue and this is someone's backyard.  Nice!

White Hills on Sands Point Road.

 About half way through my walk, I turn onto Sands Point Road.  I'm usually attacked by black gnats at this point, but it was breezy and the gnats weren't around!  I have no idea what "White Hills" looks like ... but I like the entrance.

Back of a garage on Sands Point Road

Estate on Sands Point Road

 I walk from Sands Point Road to Middle Neck.  The end of Middle Neck Road is what I believe is the setting for The Great Gatsby.

Estate on Middle Neck Road

 I didn't want to be so obvious and take a picture of the mansion behind this gate ... but that's Long Island Sound.  It's magnificent.

Lighthouse Road

The beach on Lighthouse Road.  Can you see the NY skyline?

The water was choppy.  I love this part of Sands Point.

Once I leave this part of Sands Point, I'm on my way home.  Middle Neck Road goes right to my street.

This is for you Rocky!

 I had to check the GPS at the Sands Point Golf Club.  The battery was low ... but I was feeling good. 

Helen Keller National Center

 Just past the Helen Keller National Center I saw this ...

Horses in Sands Point.

I thought that the horses in this field were police horses ... but 

Jousting?

... today the riders were wearing armor and holding poles and it looks like the horses were being trained to joust!  (I could have walked closer but I was anxious to get home!)

Port Washington

Just a few steps away from the horses and I'm back to Port Washington.  It's a far cry from Sands Point ... but it's home.
...
It was a great walk.  
Thanks for joining me!
The heel is feeling good right now.
Fingers crossed!
(This was a long one!)

Walking Ahead of Earl--9.28 miles

Even the Black Eyed Susans are fading ...

...

I guess this will be my last Friday walk until October 1st.

I decided to do my old Sands Point route.

The heel was sore ... but ok.  Of course, I only walked just over 9 miles and the first 7 are the easiest.  So I have to make a decision on the shot.  I've heard everything from "It's nothing." to "It's very painful!" to "It's excruciating!!!!"  (The "It's nothing" was the doctor.  What's he going to say?!)  In the meantime, I'm icing it, taking anti-inflammatories, and I'll look into that wrestling boot Thumper!

A pumpkin grows in Sands Point!

I remember when this garden was planted.  Look at the little pumpkin.  It will be a beauty for Halloween!

Lighthouse Road

I love this part of Sands Point.  It's right at the tip.  Walk around the corner and you come out to the water ... and, on a clear day, you can see Manhattan.

Something pretty on the side of the road.

The flowers are pretty much gone ... but I think this is pretty.

...

My neighbor is an artist and he came up with a logo for Blogger Babes for Boobies.

Here it is ... 

3 Days ... 60 miles for the cure.

Whaddya think?

I love it! 
...
ps--I don't know about Hurricane Earl.  Right now it's warm and overcast ... but the sun comes out every now and then.  I don't think we'll get much more than rain ... but I'm worried about Cape Cod.  Last hurricane they had was Hurricane Bob ... and we were there.  It was an adventure!