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.
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