Walking, Walking, Walking

I think facing my first 15 mile walk has been my most daunting challenge to date. I didn't get out as early as I had planned, because, quite frankly, my dears, I wasn't prepared. My pack wasn't ready, my food and water weren't prepared, even my clothes hadn't been cleaned. These I had to do before I took the first step out of the door. I ended up getting on the road about 9:30 am.

And it was the first day of fall, and it was gorgeous! Maybe just a tad bit warmer than I really like, but hey, I'll take it. I brought my camera, and took some photos of my sights along the way.

I've lived in the Westerville area for nearly twenty years, and actually worked at the Friendly Ice Cream that opened there in '74. But I've never got out and explored. Like the sign at the Stoner House, I've passed it I don't know how many times, but never stopped and read it. It was part of the underground railroad!

I got to Max & Erma's at 8 miles and stopped there to have my lunch break. I got the half sandwich, and salad combo--turkey club (yes, I was good and took off the cheese) with a field greens salad, that had roasted tomatoes and balsamic vinegarette. It was soooo good. And it was very relaxing to sit in the coolness in the dimly lit restaurant. I was facing the Nutts sign and it just struck my funny bone.

After I finished my lunch I hit the pavement again. On Cleveland Ave. I passed a farm (yes, we have farms in the middle of Columbus!) with a huge field of corn waiting to be harvested. It would have been perfect if Ray Liotta, as Shoeless Joe Jackson had emerged, looking for a game.

Then it was back to downtown Westerville, and then west on Main towards home. I stopped at Astronaut Grove, a memorial to the Challenger and it's lost crew. It's a beautiful little park.

Nearly home, I stopped to stretch at the little bridge that goes over the creek. This little swamp looked so pretty, and you'd never know there were houses on either side, and the elementary school in front.

I was so relieved to walk through my front door! I walked in at 3:3o pm, 6 hours after I left. Actual pavement pounding was 4 hours 59 minutes. Not bad, about 3 miles an hour, though those last three miles were slow and really killed my average.

So, what makes up that 15 miles? Well, according to my pedometer, that's 39,906 steps and I burned 1,548.5 calories. That's right, 15 miles only burns 1548.5 calories. That will certainly make me think the next time I order the Flourless Chocolate Cake at Claddaugh!