Come on Irene!

My Challenge is to walk - Your Challenge is here!
Terrain: Road / Bike Path
Path: East Bay Bike Path, Prov. - Bristol, RI
Time: 5 hours, August 13th, 2011
Mileage: 14.5 miles
Blister Count: 0

I feel the need to title this walk as such because of the obvious storm and publishing coincidence, but also, I’ve been procrastinating the actuality of sitting down and typing this post. Plus, it’s fitting because Aunt Irene traveled with Becky and Baby A to Rhode Island to be our support through the almost 15 miles.

Up at 4:30am again! Within a half hour, Jill and I were on the road. We headed to Providence to meet Becky, Baby A, and Aunt Irene for a long training walk.

The plan was to meet at India Point Park, the start of the East Bay Bike Path, and walk to Bristol, just past Colt State Park. The bike path was measured at 14.5 miles from beginning to end. Most people do it in sections; we did the whole thing in one straight shot.

Becky, Baby A, and Aunt Irene beat us to Providence. That’s a first! Once we got situated and Aunt Irene figured out where to meet up with us, we were on our way. Or so we thought. We meandered around the park a bit and read the map before realizing that the bike path does not start in the park.

Once we found the path, we followed it across the Washington Bridge and through the streets of East Providence into Riverside. For a little while the path alternated between running along bushes and roadway.  Bicycles painted on the roadway helped us to know we were on the right path.

We knew we were definitely in the Providence / East Bay area when a guy on a bike on his cell phone passed us. He was having a loud conversation; we heard him coming a mile away. As he went by us, he tells the person on the other end of the conversation, “You know de motto, don’t be a dope ‘something’ hope.” We laughed for a while.

I couldn’t help but wonder if he was referring to our state motto, “Hope.” But then I figured that was too simple.

Just before we did a walk-by of Aunt Irene at the second parking lot, there was a mess in the roadway. Upon closer inspection we realized it was the remnants of an early morning car accident. My eyes went right to the NASCAR plate left on the front bumper. Irony that it was a black car with a #3 Earnhardt plate?

After passing Aunt Irene, the path turned off the road and ran down along the harbor. The path was scenic. The gas refineries provided a nice backdrop, along with the cranes and old train tracks.

A Mobil-Exxon screen blocked the view of a nice lighthouse. Signs were posted all over the place warning against trespassing. We wondered if instead of posting the fine, if they’d donate to the walk. Doubtfully. So I snapped a photo anyways of the lighthouse fortressed by their fences and signs. Prison can’t be that bad; we discussed the social implications and alternatives that would make time acceptable to serve.

Aunt Irene met us at Riverside Square. Unfortunately it was still early and no bathrooms in the area were open. Jill and Becky thought about going right in the square, but a cop was sitting on the corner. We continued down the trail until it was safe to use the organic toilets.

Maybe it was the green walls of the organic toilets that flushed Becky’s brain, but after we crossed one of the roads, she was admiring some houses across the water. We couldn’t figure out what mansions she was talking about wanting to live in. All we could see were run-down houses - because that’s what they were.

The East Bay Bike Path was quite busy this day. The weather was perfect to be outside, but not quite a beach day. Along our walk, we met two women whose lives were directly affected by multiple sclerosis. Jill was able to relate to their stories, and they were very interested in our training and walking. Each conversation lasted a few tenths of a mile.

I saw it as just a slice of what the Challenge Walk will be like. In a path filled with people, two people took the time to tell us their stories and share their hope. Next month, the walk will be filled with people eager to share their tales and motivate each other.

Speaking of tenths of a mile…None of us had a pedometer on us for this walk. But it was nice to have an idea how far we’ve been and had to go.

I noticed the mile markers on the path early. However, they were not consistent and it took me a little bit to realize they went both ways and were labeled ‘north’ and ‘south.’ Who knew?!

Apparently Becky did. She threw me for a loop when she mentioned the ½ mile markers also.  I didn’t believe her that they existed. It was a few miles later, she was finally able to point them out to me.

It made sense to me that the ‘north’ and ‘south’ markers did not line up. The path was 14.5 miles so there should be a mile marker every ½ mile, and thus there was no need for ½ mile markers.

Apparently I was wrong. I still (two weeks) later do not have a logical answer for this. Becky tried to explain it to me: “If you have a pizza and it’s sliced into 16 equal pieces, you take away 2 slices. How much pizza is left?“ Becky looked at me puzzled when I answered 1/8. “What did you want, 2/16?” She did.

In a grand epiphany on the car ride back to East Providence, Becky announced she was right. It was not the fraction that threw her off, but that I answered the question backward…or so she claims! Next time I’m bringing a recorder…

Last time we did a long walk, we had a dragon. This time we had pizza slices. I can only imagine what 50 miles will bring!

Dragon Delirium

My Challenge is to Walk - Your Challenge is Here!
This is part II of long walk
Terrain: Road
Path: Station 2 - Watch Hill loop - Misquamicut loop - Station 2
Time: 5 hours, 39 minutes
Mileage: 16.1 miles
Blister Count: 2 almost (one callused, one not popped) - 1

At the car we refueled. Trail mix, banana, granola bars, and ice gave us the push to finish the loop. Plus, the fact that we were at just over 10 miles helped. Well past half-way we might as well truck through the end.

And that we did. After helping some tourists out with bridge photos and giving parking directions, we marched on.

Over the bridge and around the corner we went. We kept an eye out for seals, but the water is just too warm. However, we did find another contraption. It took a minute to figure out what we were looking at. It wasn’t a seal, or any other animal we could immediately place.

In the midst of this appearance we were commenting on how we’ve never walked down Langworthy Rd. Driven and ridden down it many times, however, distance has a different perception on your feet. We had no idea how long, or short of a walk it was to Shore Road.

As we neared the end of the pond area, the snorkeler meddling on the surface became more apparent to us. Jill asked if I wanted to go clamming. No thanks. All set with sticking my feet in mud where animals might bite.

We got to the traffic light and ran out of sidewalk. Again. Though we decided the sidewalks on the Weekapaug side are much nicer than the Misquamicut ones; yet they are very much like the Watch Hill ones in that they start and end at their leisure. Shore Rd. has no sidewalks.

Unfortunately the winery was not open yet for refreshments. We misscheduled that pit stop.

I turned around to Jill and apologized for forgetting how many hills Shore Rd. has as we descended one and another faced us head on. She murmured something in the background.

As we approached the crest a loud noise shuttered through the woods across from us. I turned again to Jill with a questioning look. “It’s just the dragon,” she replied ever so casually. The dragon continued to rumble, and we continued to walk.

Shore Rd. is one of those roads that seems to never end when you are walking it. Or maybe that’s just the walking delirium setting in. Somewhere along the line we were spotted. A car bursting with excitement came up to us. It was our parents.

They had a cooler full of ice. I immediately asked if they had gotten it from the station. Mom looked puzzled and Dad chuckled. I explained that I could tell it was ice from the station because of the ‘cubage.’ The ice machine there produces ice shaped differently than that from the freezer. Simple.

They tried giving us directions to walk back. We declined and continued our walk down Shore Rd. with the dragon close by. When we came to Glacier Park, Jill decided we needed a pit stop. It was a good spot to turn off and explore a little.

I only went a few feet in. The trail was clear and the Land Trust has done a nice job with marking it. One of these days, I want to go through all the trails there. And find the two geocaches…

Once we were all set we continued on. A fox was in the preserve by Winnapaug Road. He scooted away before I could take a good picture. Meanwhile, we debated whether he was hunting the dragon, or prey for the dragon.

Jill was ready for more electrolytes. We stopped at the convenience shop where I bought her another Gatorade and she impressed the cashier with our walk. The shop was also air-conditioned. We didn’t want to leave right away.

After doing a few stretches on the sidewalk out front I was ready to go again. My hands were doing much better this time; I could move them and they looked normal, unlike during Beach Logs. (This was good and noticed in case I needed to fend off the dragon.) We were on our last leg. According to Jill’s pedometer we were at mile 14 or so. She doubted it but I thought it sounded right.

I told her Ocean View Highway was just around the corner and from there we had maybe a mile.

Yeah. And what a long mile it seemed! I thought Shore Rd. wasn’t going to end; then we finally came to a sign for a stop sign. “Look Jill! It’s our sign - we can stop ahead!” It was better though when we finally came to the stop sign.

We went island hopping across the intersection.

Watch Hill Road the second time, didn’t seem to end either. I kept waiting for my feet to pass me by the intersection with Winnapaug Rd. But, I swear the road got longer in the hours since we had last walked it.


It’s a busy road. One of us suggested crossing and walking against the traffic as we should, but Station 2 was on the same side as us, so we didn’t.

Once we came across the historical cemetery on our rights, I knew we were close to Winnapaug Rd. Thus, also closer to Station 2. I pondered whether there were any geocaches in there, but I don’t think so.

Again we went island hopping across Winnapaug Rd.. The walk from here to Station 2 seemed much, much shorter. We used the cross walk at the end of East Ave. and scooted down the hill at the triangle. Around the next corner, we found Station 2.

I had never been so relieved to return to where once I’d been.

Loop d'Loop

This is Part I of our longest walk to date. At just over 1K words, I thought you might get tired and need a break. I did!

My Challenge is to Walk - Your Challenge is Here!
Terrain: Road
Path: Station 2 - Watch Hill loop - Misquamicut loop - Station 2
Time: 5 hours, 39 minutes (July 31, 2011)
Mileage: 16.1 miles
Blister Count: 2 almost (one callused, one not popped) - 1

It’s not a typo. Jill and I walked just over 16 miles on Saturday.

We were inspired by an MS Challenge Training Walk held in Brockton the same day. However, Brockton itself is a bit of hike, so we stayed local and logged our miles.

I found the route on Runner’s World a few weeks ago. Someone had submitted it as a 15.2 mile route. Their start / end point was just south of where we started.

Jill parked her car down at the Weekapaug Bridge and I met her there with my cooler and snacks. We combined our goodies, dumped ice over it, and hoped to keep cool.

We shuttled to Westerly Fire Department Station 2. The sun was just breaking the eastern horizon. Our water bottles were full and we were ready to take on the miles.

Our town is filled with funny intersections. We encountered one in Walking Westerly and Saturday morning we crossed another one. It takes skill to master these forks in the road.

As we walked down Watch Hill Road, we commented how quiet it was. It was still early in the morning and very few people were out. Unlike the other night during our Watch Hill Walk , traffic was not an issue. Jill reminded me, though, that on the way back we’d probably be inhaling exhaust fumes.

I appreciated her positive attitude that we weren’t going to stop at her car and drive back to mine. But it was still early. The sun was still on the rise.

We crossed Winnapaug Road and continued down a section of Watch Hill Road that is barely car-friendly, never mind pedestrians or bikers. The road dips and turns, while a stream runs underneath. Fortunately, we were walking against the traffic and the road was desolate.

A flip flop was on the side of the road. I told Jill she could grab and switch if blisters started. It was a large shoe, so I also told her we could cut it in half so she could have two. She declined.

Places always seem closer when you drive. As we approached the intersection of Shore Road with Watch Hill Road, Jill realized that were here last week. Her comment, “Now we are where we were before,” made it clear.

We dipped into Watch Hill and passed a few runners, bikers, and families in the village. The sun was higher in the sky and people took to the streets. The village shops were closed up and the cafés were beginning their brews.

FYI the public restroom isn’t open at 7:30am and the horses are individually alarmed. We continued walking up Larkin Hill and past the Ocean House. The sun was just cresting its roof.     


No sprinklers were running this time on Ocean View Highway. Too early I guess. We didn’t realize Watch Hillians were such late risers. The temperature was rising with sun, but we were feeling good. Minus the bathrooms being closed.

The Misquamicut Club had their golf carts and tractors out manicuring the greens. It wasn’t too early for them. Nor was it too early for the power walkers. They passed by with their arms swinging, sweat dripping, and  a solid pace going on. Jill said that was how we should be walking. I don’t think they were doing the mileage we were.

We cut down Bayberry to get to Misquamicut. Some fast bikers and southern walkers passed by. Of course the southerners said hi, as is the general practice when passing folks. But the bikers were in their own world.

For the Misquamicut stretch, the last ones to say hi to us were a family leaving the beach on Maplewood. Jill noted we were apparently out of the HI-zone.

In front of the Pleasant View House, I tried posting on Twitter that we were almost half way through our walk. It was 8:30am. But our pace was too quick for my Ipod to latch their guest network and send the tweet out. I also failed to think of stopping in there for toilets.

Finally we came to the Misquamicut State Beach where we pit stopped and assessed our progress. We were at mile 7.something and it was 9:30am. Jill thought it felt later; I had no time concept.

We also assessed our feet. She felt a few hot-spots, and I was feeling good. The thong of my left foot was a bit raw, but not painful or hot. We continued on.

She was ready for some electrolytes. We stopped in the only open, convenience type store by there and they only had water. It was still warm so we kept walking.

The good thing is that while we are practicing our walking, our friends and family are practicing their support. Just after we passed the commercial east side of the State Beach, we hear someone yelling at us. “Move faster, what are you doing!?”

Jill was ready to turn around and start yelling at the rude pedestrian. But then it was Paula. She had her husband drop her off on our route to say hi. He didn’t loop around though like she suggested and just followed us conspicuously along the side of the road.

Paula’s visit added flavor and a break from the ‘zone’ we were walking into. She offered to grab us some Gatorades and anything else we needed. We would be good with the drinks. She and Pete disappeared.

They came back what seemed to be minutes later. This time Pete pulled over on the side of the road opposite us. Paula popped out with a drink in each hand. The Gatorade Fairy descended on us with sweet, refreshing nectar.

The bridge is just around the corner, maybe a ¼ mile, Paula claimed. Jill had noted earlier not to trust anyone who says ‘just around the corner’ because it’s always ‘just around the corner.’ I don’t think Paula was too far off though. I think were maybe ½ mile from Jill’s car.

Either way I was anxious to get there. I looked forward to a break, a chance to sit, and to eat.  It was just after 10 and though I had breakfast, my stomach was growling.