A week of slacking and 11 miles down

Mix a bitter cold Saturday, the tail end of the flu, a piece of glass in the foot, and a nasty medical procedure, and you get a week of little to no training. I did READ the intro to the Callanetics book. . .




















These are the last of the tulips. Mad asked if she could pinch one of the bleeding hearts. Of course! I think she was disappointed. . .

And these are the irises that I put in last year, courtesy of my sister Jo's neighbor Margo. I have no idea what color they will be. I am looking forward to the blooms.

This view of downtown, from the top of the high bridge, never gets old for me.

I was surprised to see how many rowers were out yesterday morning. I had an 11 mile walk on deck. I spent some time considering whether I'd enjoy rowing as cross training. See the boat to the far right? That would be where I'd likely end up. I decided no rowing for me!

Saint Paul's version of Stonehenge. . .

This is the old power plant. They are slowly tearing it down. S-L-O-W-L-Y. The fact that I think it would be fun to explore, by definition, makes it an attractive nuisance. I can't be the only one.

My walk had 2 purposes. 1. get in 11 miles. 2. Go to Run-N-Fun for a shoe workshop. The shoes I have been walking in are old and in need of replacement. I walked down 7th, debating the merits of a bacon egg and cheese biscuit. I opted not to indulge. Yesterday. Today, that may be my walking destination. I'm just saying. . . .

Ahh, the brewery. First, Schmidt's, then Pigs Eye. It's for sale. What a cool group of buildings to own.

This place used to be a restaurant called Phil's. That was about 20 years ago. I know Phil's because it was one of the few restaurants open past bar time, which was important, because I worked in a bar when I was in college. After the bar closed, we'd go have a meal - either here, or the Mad Mexican, or Market Barbecue. Good times.

Here is Run N Fun! A fine footwear establishment. The help here are first rate. Yesterday, they did a shoe clinic for the 3 day. I arrived late! Thus, I missed the speech in its entirety.

I wore my new shoes out of the store. And for the balance of my walk. Which was another 8 miles. I didn't realize the Run N Fun store was so close to my house.

I walked back down 7th into downtown. Resisted the urge to stop at Dairy Queen. Back when I was pregnant with Mad, her dad and I used to go to this Dairy Queen, which has a drive thru, and was open in the winter. He'd get a blizzard, and I'd get a chocolate sundae with whipped cream and pecans. Still my favorite. I suppose it is no wonder 1. Mad loves ice cream; and 2. I gained 70 pounds when I was pregnant with her. . .

I went through downtown and back over the Robert Street bridge. I was surprised at the fishermen. . .

Coming up Robert Street, I found this memorial for someone who presumably died in this spot in 1990. Someone is still grieving the loss. . .

Cool mural.

Pretty Irises. . .

I miss Morgan's. It has been a west side staple for me since I first learned of the west side. The smell inside that place was a fabulous mix of spices. You could buy tamales and stuffed grape leaves from the same deli case. Excellent combination if you ask me.

If you'd like to donate in support of our walk, please go here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=2668769&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

or here:

http://www.the3day.org/site/TR/Walk/TwinCitiesEvent?px=3237566&pg=personal&fr_id=1302

Thank you for your support.