Category Archives: Pedestrain Post

Walk, Check. Blog Post, Check.

OK, it may be late blog posts all week, because here I am Wednesday morning making my Tired Tuesday post.  For anybody who read Monday’s post (made on Tuesday morning, of course) and was wondering: I did feel better as the day went on.  I went to rehearsal for Love’s Labour’s Lost (just to plug my upcoming play again) and did not do too badly (or perhaps I flatter myself).

I thought this morning instead of making another post lamenting my inability to make good posts on time (just ignore the preceding paragraph), I would attempt a Pedestrian Post.   This was one motivation to get me out the door and walking when the devil on one shoulder said, “Don’t walk today. You have to make a blog post and fix your lunch.”  I still don’t know what I’m going to bring for my lunch, but I will worry about that later.

I thought of using Map My Run on my phone to track my walk, because I was worried my Garmin would not have enough charge, but Garmin at least had a couple of bars.  That was good, since I intended to do a short-ish trek that I have mapped before.  It looks like Popeye’s arm.  I know this, because I usually share Map My Run on Facebook, for the entertainment of my friends.  Some of them like to say what the shape looks like.  Sometimes I tell them what it means about them psychologically or predicts for their future, adding the caveat that it is for entertainment purposes only.  Not that anybody takes anything I say seriously, but you never know.

The Garmin always says Wait when I hit Walk, but I don’t always do it.  Today I did not.  It seems to track the walk or run the same either way.  I headed towards German Street and turned left.  I had a bottle of water.  My intention was to drink it as I walked and refill it at the spring on Lou Ambers Drive.  This is what I have been doing on most of my walks, although it cuts down on the variety of my paths.  However, since I seem to be in a dehydrated state most of the time these days, I continue to do it.

The birds were singing loudly.  I do like to hear that. I noted with gratitude every light in someone’s window.  I especially like the ones that look like flickering candles.  I also like to see the ones where it seems somebody is up and about, not just leaving a light on for security or other reasons (I don’t purport to know people’s reasons for doing things).  It is nice to think I am not the only one out of bed prior to 5 a.m.  Obviously I am not, as the occasional car drives by.

I turned up Maple Grove, so I could go up a little hill then across I think it’s Johnson and come down Lou Ambers to the spring.  As I turned down Lou Ambers, I saw a couple on the opposite side of the street walking a dog.  I thought to myself, “Left side, facing traffic!”  That is what I was taught in kindergarten, but it seems others were not or perhaps did not internalize the lesson.  Or maybe they are being rebels.  Again, I do not purport to know others’ reasons.  I did not catch up to them so could not ask to pet the dog.  That is all I would have asked them.  I think people might get defensive if I asked them why they were not walking the way I was taught to in kindergarten.

I ended up walking a mile and a third in about 27 minutes.  I thought vaguely as I turned up my driveway about continuing for another three minutes to make a half hour but was disinclined to do so.  For one reason, I had a blog post to make.  And I see I have made it to the tune of over 650 words.  Wow!  I haven’t blathered on that much for a long time!  If you have read till the end, I thank you.

 

Wayback Walk after Wuss-Out?

So yesterday was a true Wuss-out Wednesday as I neglected to post at all. In my defense, shut up, explanations are tiresome. I am sitting at the dining-room-tabletop prior to five Thursday morning, and my main feeling is gratitude for coffee. I went for a half-hour walk so am torn between making a Pedestrian Post and a Way-back Wednesday Post. Since I would like to retain the option of making a Throwback Thursday Post later, I shall attempt the former.

I do love flowers.

Full disclosure: I still have not upgraded my WordPress account so cannot add new pictures. Here is one from a walk I took in July 2017, making this a Way-Back Wednesday as well as a Pedestrian Post. This is the extent of my ability to multi-task (unless cleaning my oven while I sleep is still a thing) (older readers get that). Fuller disclosure: I did not see this on this morning’s walk, although I did walk by this building. For one reason, it was still dark. However, if I had troubled to look, I could probably report on whether the purple flowers are there once again. I did not. Judge me if you are so inclined.

Teehee!

Here is a funny from a walk in July 2018. It was actually a cool-down walk after a run, just to make me feel a little sad to remember I have not been running since May. I found it on the sidewalk and took it home, taking this picture, because it amused me so much. I told my husband Steve it was probably for him, and his girlfriend had left it there for me to deliver.

I see I have not yet said anything about today’s walk. Oh well, it wasn’t such a much anyways, and I am almost at 300 words (that sentence put it over). I feel oddly pleased with this post, but perhaps I flatter myself. No matter. It’s time to get myself a little more coffee.

PS. Now it is 5 a.m.

Walking into a Blog Post

What did I say yesterday about posting at night so I could walk in the morning? Well, I didn’t do it on Monday. However, I took a walk this morning and am now sitting on my couch, icing my elbow and wielding the stylus with my left hand, attempting a long-promised Pedestrian Post.

I have been walking almost daily since Memorial Day weekend, when something bad happened to my hip. My hip doesn’t feel so bad these days, so a run may be in my future. Still, walking is way easier: no wrestling into sports bras before or shower necessary after. It is certainly more conveniently fitted into my morning routine.

I try to get up around four. I go for my walk right away, while the coffee perks. Today I was on my way at 4:15. I used my Garmin to track the walk and carried my cell phone for security proposes. I sometimes use Map My Run on the phone. I like to post the map on Facebook and let my friends interpret the shape.

I like to carry a bottle of water and hydrate as I go. Then I like to walk by the spring and refill the bottle. I do that on my longer runs (if I ever work my way back up to longer runs). I find it works well walks, too. It ensures that my walk lasts a little over twenty-minutes.

My favorite thing about early morning walks is hearing the birds sing. I also enjoy watching the sky brighten as the sun rises. For some reason I feel a little more nervous walking in the dark than I do running. Maybe it is the thought that I can just run away from anything untoward. Or perhaps it is because it takes less time to get from streetlight to streetlight. However, I do not allow any feelings of trepidation to stop me. I’m sure there is nothing to worry about in any case.

Today I only walked straight to the spring and back, just over a mile in 23 minutes. I am now stylus-typing with my right hand (must faster for me) and I see I am over 350 words. Time to get on with my Tuesday.

Blogging Is Not a Walk in the Park

I wanted to make a better blog post today so thought I would take a walk with my Tablet and do a Pedestrian Post with Pictures. Only where could I walk and snap where I have not snapped before? Hoping to find an answer, I set out.

My first thought was my beloved .Herkimer Historic Four Corners. For heaven’s sake, how many pictures have I taken of that? I continued down Bellinger Street. If this was yesterday, I could have gone to the Downtown Chowdown in Meyer’s Park, an event with food trucks and music. Well, maybe there would be some photo ops in Meyer’s Park anyways.

First I saw something apparently under construction surrounded by CAUTION tape. What could that be? Probably something worth a picture! Um, it turns out not so much. I took a picture anyways. I would probably mention it in the blog post (I did!), and my readers might be curious.

I’m not sure what it is.

Then I decided to take a couple of pictures of the 9/11 Memorial. I think I have taken pictures of it before but not for a while.

I didn’t sit on the bench.

Walking around the flowers, I took a close-up of some roses, then a shot of the whole thing.

I think the buds are prettier than the blooms.
The bench is behind it.

Further on was an older memorial, to soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice. I should have run by that on Memorial Day. Once again, I took a close-up followed by a longer shot.

Having taken that many pictures, I felt free to continue my walk. I am trying to walk or run every day, because my legs seem to prefer it. Exercise is supposed to be good for one’s disposition as well. Is it good for my blog? I’ll let my readers be the judge of that.

No Lilacs, But a Nice Visit

I have been wanting to be more consistent about getting exercise, so was determined to walk or run today. My preference was to walk and take pictures for a Pedestrian Post. After I got home I finished a couple of letters so I could multi-task by taking them to the post office. Full disclosure: I noticed a third letter I had meant to finish but decided to leave it for tomorrow. I am such a one for starting things and not finishing them!

I had seen a Facebook post from Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast reminding us to stop and smell the lilacs. They have lilacs? I thought. It was very little out of my way to go by the Grand Colonial. I like to smell lilacs. I smelled some in a neighbor’s house but did not take a picture.

As it happens, the person who made the post was just speaking in general. The Grand Colonial has no lilacs. However, I was glad I stopped by, because I had a nice chat with one of the owners, who happened to be outside at the time.

I took a picture of the flowers they did have.

They are planning some major landscaping in June. I was invited to return and take more pictures. I will certainly do that. Additionally, I am trying to talk my husband Steven into going to the Colonial to stay a night, just for something fun and different. I took a picture of the side porch to entice him.

Picture it: relaxing on the porch!

I don’t know if I ever mentioned that I wrote an article about the Grand Colonial for Mohawk Valley Living magazine. At that time they showed me around the place, and I was enchanted.

Yes, we could be sleeping here.

The Grand Colonial Bed and Breakfast is located at 112 W. German St., Herkimer NY, phone number 315-982-5004.

I shall write about the rest of my walk tomorrow.

Two Walks, a Few Pictures

I just took a short walk to the post office, to mail a letter to a friend but also to wake myself up. I had my phone with me and took a couple of pictures. I did a similar thing yesterday, so how about a Sunday Snapshot Post. I just made that category up. Do you like it?

I gotta plant a flowering tree in my yard.

I hadn’t meant to take pictures, but then I thought, blog post. Then I saw the flowering tree. I also tried to get a shot of the delicate green tree behind it.

I love trees.

It was on my way home that I went for a shot of a downed branch.

We have had a few windy days.

Further down the street I admired a magnolia tree.

I want one of these, too.

My other two pics are from yesterday’s walk. Again, I had not meant to take pictures, but the lone dandelion among the growing cultivated flowers caught my eye.

This guy has more peonies than I do.

Another flowering tree caught my eye too.

It’s pretty!

I like making these Pedestrian Posts with pictures. And I L9VE going for a walk. It certainly brightens my day.

Springy Sunday Stroll

I went for a short walk today, mostly to mail a note to a friend. I had both my phone and my Tablet with me, because I was not sure where else I might want to go. Soon I found a photo op.

I love a magnolia tree.

It seemed way easier to whip out my phone than my Tablet. I continued my walk.

Not such a good shot.

I love the delicate green when the trees are beginning to get leaves. It seems it is not so easy to capture that with my phone. I had better luck with some daffodils I saw a couple of houses later.

So springy!

I need to get a shot of my own daffodils. Continuing my walk, I saw some violets I admired.

Nice!

I tried for one more picture of the green I love.

This shot seems a little better.

As I walked on, I took a few pictures with my Tablet. I think I can make this. Two part blog and use those pictures in part two.

Mid-Week Walk

I decided to enjoy today’s warm weather with a walk. For one reason, I thought I wou.ld take a few pictures along the way for a blog post (this one). I also wanted to go to the library. I set out almost as soon as I got home from work.

There are a lot more bare sidewalks these days. I always prefer to use the sidewalk. However, right away, I saw some stuff I was not inclined to plow through in sneakers. I took a picture, though, just for the blog.

It’s getting there!

In boots, I sometimes trounce through such a path, to make it better for the next person. Today I went into the road for a bit.

I soon realized I had forgotten a mask so could not go to the library. That was OK, though; I was more into the walk. I wanted to get a picture of a new addition to the neighborhood: a refrigerator with free food for the needy, in front of Herkimer Reformed Church. This also gave me a good reason to walk by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners.

And it is artistically painted!

People helping people is my favorite! I backed up to get a shot that included part of the church.

You can also see the graveyard!

I continued toward Main Street. I wanted to eventually go by Saint Francis Catholic Church on Bellinger Street, to get a picture of the statue of St. Francis wearing a mask. I decided to walk by the Methodist Church on Prospect Street to take a picture of the Blessings Box, a non-perishable version of the Free Food Fridge.

However, before i started down Main, a sign in front of the Herkimer County Historical Society caught my eye. I jaywalked right over to get a picture. I should totally join the race!

A run? Count me in!

On down Main I went and soon turned onto Park and got to Prospect. The Blessings Box has been in place longer than the refrigerator. I should make a donation to one or both of them.

Very nice!

Once again I backed up for a wider shot.

I stood in the muddy lawn to get the shot.

It was a short jaunt through Myers Park to get to the next church.

St. Francis could have gone to the library.

I did not back up for a wider view this time. For one reason, I was afraid the sun would be right in my eyes. For another reason, I was ready to get home. I enjoyed my walk, but you can have too much of a good thing.

I Should Have Listened to Al

This morning on Today, Al Roker was doing some feature about taking a walk. I did not get to see it, because I had to get to work, but I thought, “What a great idea! I’ll go for a walk after work and make a Pedestrian Post!”

Alas, I did not.

However blog post must be made, meaning, as usual, mine by me. Additionally, it is Lame Post Friday, so the bar is not high for a respectable post. Perhaps I could share a few pictures of walks I have previously taken. It could be a Flingback Friday, to follow my Throwback Thursday. Is flingback a word? My autocorrect seems to think so.

A great view for a number of reasons.

When I went running on Wednesday, I ran by my beloved Herkimer Historic Four Corners. The above is a shot of the 1834 Jail. This is where Roxalana Druse spent what she said were the best two years of her life, waiting to be hung after murdering her husband. Regular readers may remember I played Druse in the play Roxy at Ilion Little Theatre in 2015.

Or I could have gone uphill.

This is upper Main Street in Herkimer, a hill I sometimes run up. I’m afraid not lately, but I am ever hopeful of improvement.

I personally am looking forward to snow free sidewalks.

I was over 200 words before this, but I like to use three pictures. I took the recently when I was walking home from work. Plowing through the snow burns more calories than prancing down bare sidewalks. However, you can have too much of a good thing.

Can I have too many blog posts? I hope not. Happy Friday, everyone!

Sunday Stroll with Snow

I did not go running this weekend, because I feared the roads would be slippery. However, I took walks both days. Today I took a few pictures for blogging purposes.

It looks a little mysterious to me now.

Years ago, when I did not have a car and walked everywhere, I hated the snow, because it seemed to take so much longer to get anywhere. Now that I walk for exercise and entertainment, I embrace the extra effort. I walked to Main Street, thinking to take pictures of an area I sometimes run.

Yes, I run right by the sign that says “Road closed.” They don’t mean middle-aged pedestrian ladies, do they?

Not the best shot.

The reason the road is closed is that part of it collapsed, I believe as a result of the flooding in 2013. That is how quickly they get to fixing things around here.

See? Others have been there.

I saw footprints, both human and canine, and knew I was not the only one. I tried to get a couple shots of the damage, but the snow hid most of it.

I have to admire the persistence of vegetation.
You can just see a crack.

I took a picture of where the road keeps going up, but I went another way today.

It really is a good run.

I kept walking and soon came to a street I like to take, because it says “Do not enter.” I like to feel like a rebel.

I do not always follow directions.

It was a very enjoyable walk, trouncing through the snow and pretending to be a rebel. I have not been running enough lately, but at least I got some exercise. Additionally, I think this makes an OK blog post. Or do I flatter myself?