Innocent Bystander

100 Walks: #s 96-100 (Goal Achieved!)...

Even though I've been slowing a bit down in my walks (and my blogging, evidently), I have reached my year-long goal of 100 walks, about six weeks before the end of the year. I walked my 100th walk yesterday, an uneventful 8.5 mile stroll through really beautiful San Diego weather (as opposed to just normally beautiful). That 100th walk brings my total mileage up to almost 643 miles for 2012, about 143 miles above my 100 walks/500 miles goal.

I haven't been walking as much in November so far (only 3 walks this month), due to work committments and the time change. But yesterday's walk was a lovely one...here's a few photos:

The clouds were extremely dramatic this time out, as the local weather people kept predicting rain that never happened, at least in the downtown area. They also kept saying it was going to be cool, but it reached at least 70. That's the Coronado Bridge under that impressive cloud deck off in the distance in this photo taken from Seaport Village.

Another view of the bridge from Seaport Village with the apparently low-hanging sun photobombing its way into the picture.

This storybook-looking photo shows one of the parking lots south of Petco Park, the San Diego Padres' baseball stadium. The dome on the left is the new San Diego Public Library, opening any day now; the castle-like tent on the right is the home of Cavalia, the "equestrian ballet" that is here in town through the end of the year. Think horses meets Cirque du Soleil. Still, it makes for a nice little fairytale realm over the old, boring parking lot any day.

The fountain in Balboa Park, looking its finest. If I had realized this was going to be my 100th walk this year, I might have dressed in a tux and picked a more festive trail to walk upon, but in retrospect, the fact that the 100th one was along one of my tried-and-true walking routes just shows how much this walking thing has become part of my daily life, not to mention how much I love doing it. Now I just need to keep doing it more.

 

 

100 Walks: #s 92-95-Walking New York...

For the most part, I lucked out on my short (3-day) trip to New York City. The weather was nice, but fall-like, even if most of the trees in Central Park still had their summer green. Once the sun went down every day, it was definitely sweater-weather and the clouds and sky reflected a change in the seasons. Fall has always been my favorite time of year, especially back east, and that's why I love to go back to NYC in October.

Over my 3 days there, I walked a total of just slightly over 30 miles. Walking in New York is always an adventure, not only through Central Park, where at times it seems you've been transported into another world altogether. Here's some photos I took while walking. BTW, all of these--and the San Francisco ones--were taken with an iPhone 5.

My first morning (the red-eye got in at 5:30am) was bright, sunny, and cold. Here's one of my favorite NYC landmarks--the Chrysler Building--gleaming in the mid-morning sun.

I love the history that Grand Central represents and the fact that it has become both indestructible and a time capsule of the city. They wanted to tear it down in the 1960s and put up something most likely ugly and charmless, like Penn Station, 9 blocks south of this beautiful landmark. One word of advice, though: don't go here at 5:30pm like I did. You'll get run over by herds of people. Like I did.

No matter how many times I visit NYC, I can't miss going to Central Park. Here's one of my favorite parts of the Park: The Mall, a long, tree-covered passageway that reminds me of Paris, for some reason (a strange reason, I guess, since I've never been to Paris). On any given day, this passageway deeper into the Park is filled with people. And dogs. In sweaters. (Not just the people, but the dogs, too.)

Here's part of Central Park that looks like it could be a river or lake anywhere in the world. These three French girls had a time rowing their boat, merrily, merrily...well, you know the rest. Actually, only one of them was rowing, but I could hear their French from the shore.

From summer in the Sheep Meadow...

To fall just across the street. There were strange pockets of different seasons in the Park that revealed evidence of the impending change in seasons.

This one, though, is pure fall. I love this shot. Not just the colors of the tree, but the body language of the woman under it, alone in the Park, probably checking her cellphone for some urgent message that she can't live without, all the while lost in the glorious wilderness of New York City.

I went to see this play (Chaplin: The Musical). Kind of disappointing, actually, because it deals more with the psychological problems of Charlie Chaplin and less about his body of work. I would have loved to see star Rob McClure do the earth balloon dance from The Great Dictator, but it's not a part of the show. Still, seeing a show--even a mediocre one--on Broadway in NYC is unlike any other theatrical experience you'll ever have, and I always try and see one each time I visit, despite how pricey they are ($90 for nosebleed heaven). But, oh--that sky while waiting to get in.

The view from my hotel window on a cloudy night. I love the way the clouds lock in the light. After a two-year absence, I went back and stayed at my favorite hotel, The Belvedere, on 48th and 8th. The rooms there are bigger than most NYC hotel rooms, and extremely comfortable, not to mention it's a great central location to get anywhere in the city. I've stayed other places the past 2 visits and hated them both...so while pricey (there's that word again, but what do you expect for NYC?), I think I'll always call this hotel home when I visit.

Every year I tell myself this is the last year I'm coming back to New York City. I think part of it is that killer red-eye flight I seem to always convince myself is going to be fine. It never is, and this year's was the worst I've ever taken. In the row of seats in front of me was the cast of The Young Sopranos, a murderers' row of stereotypical New Yawkers who were returning from a trip to Vegas, with a stopover for the San Francisco Giants playoff game, complete with one scrawny guy who you just know they called Ratzo. Behind me was the cast of Dazed and Confused, a bunch of neo-hippies who looked like they just escaped the commune. Luckily they all slept through the extremely bumpy ride. I didn't.

New York always calls me back. It's the season (although I'd love to visit at Christmas), it's my dear friend Laurel, who I almost always get to spend a day with, it's the bookstores and the Park, and the plays, and Nathan's hot dogs (which I can buy at Ralphs grocery store here in San Diego, but it's not the same). If I only go to NYC for those simple things--and blow a ton of money doing so--it's worth it, because I love them all equally. Well, maybe some more than others:

I mean, what's not to love? Look at those french fries!

 

100 Walks: #s 84-91-Walking San Francisco...

I have spent the last week and a half or so away from home, in two of my favorite cities: San Francisco and New York. The San Francisco leg of my journey was work-oriented, and two of those days were spent walking the exhibit hall of APE, the Alternative Press Expo. But the rest of the time, I was pretty much on my own (except for a delightful walking companion on one of those days, a former resident of the city who knew her way around quite nicely). I walked a total of a little over 35 miles on my 5 days in the city. Here are some photos from along the way...

This rather idyllic shot is from the base of a giant set of stairs that leads down into the Marina district from up on the hill in SF. It looks much more like a quaint little European village than somewhere in the City by the Bay, if you ask me, and that's why I snapped it.

I was walking back from dinner on Saturday night when I came across this trumpet player in Union Square. Sadly, he was not playing the appropriate "I Left My Heart in San Francisco."

A Sunday night shot also in Union Square, as I was walking to dinner. I love these hearts. Evidently the city does, too.

Monday morning was an extremely foggy day in the city and I was able to catch some of it as it burned off. Here's what used to be called the TransAmerica Tower (not sure if it still is named that) and the funky Zoetrope Building sorta side by side, with the fog wrapping itself around the former.

One of the great bookstores in SF--City Lights--and the Tower. I love that I can still go to that city and find at least five great bookstores to explore, all within (somewhat reasonable) walking distance of each other.

The Bay Bridge (from San Fran to Oakland and the East Bay) was definitely the "bridge to nowhere" on this foggy morning.

But it's okay, because if we couldn't get there via the bridge, we still had the rocketship. I don't even know what this is, or why it's where it is, but I do like it.

Finally, it was time to go to the airport and the dreaded red-eye flight to New York. More on that city in my next post, with photos, of course.

100 Walks: #s 78-83...

Despite a heatwave that just won't seem to quit in San Diego, I managed to walk over 50 miles in September, and have already reached my mileage goal of 500 miles this year. In fact, this month put me well over that total with a current tally of 543 miles. I think I'll easily hit 700 miles by year's end with 3 months to go. And October will be a big month for walking as I travel a bit and walk a lot.

Beyond my walking, there's not much to report, but here's some (hopefully) fun photos with commentary...

As usual, Balboa Park figures prominently into my walks. Pretty much every one I've taken in September included the park. I've gotten tired of dodging bikes and bums on the Embarcadero leading to and from the airport, so I stick to my bridges (Quince St. and Spruce St.), Balboa Park, Hillcrest, and Park Blvd., with the occasional foray into Seaport Village. Here's one of the many arches looking into one of the many smaller garden areas in the park.

And here's that same area. Now can you see why I LOVE walking here?

These two guys are standing near the Laurel St. entrance to Balboa Park, right before the Prado bridge. I'm not sure who they are (no, it's not Mr. Balboa and Mr. Park). One of them might be Alonzo Horton, but there is a third statue not so far away from these guys who might also be the prolific Mr. Horton. This area (according to the photo) is called Founders Plaza.

This is a new park down at the north end of Seaport Village, which is known as "Tuna Harbor." This used to be a restaurant complex which stood empty for many years, with a parking lot. Now it's this little park which is named after someone, whose weird name escapes me. It's nice, but not "must-see" nice if you're visiting. But it sure beats empty buildings and a metered parking lot!

Here's my favorite bridge again (Quince St.), with some cool fall afternoon shadows. I know...don't say "fall" when you're looking at this bridge.

And here's my first attempt at a panoramic photo using my new iPhone 5. It gets a little funky on the edges...probably because I should be trying to move it on a flat plane instead of a rounded one. Still, it's a pretty neat effect for a camera phone.

100 Walks: #'s 73-77...

I have recaptured a bit of my walking mojo, after a downturn in the month of August due to heat and illness. In the past 9 days, I have walked 5 times for a total of almost 34 miles. And while it's still hot, it's not as humid and the walking is actually enjoyable again, if a little...moist.

As usual I have taken photos on my little hikes and I will share them with you now (lucky you!).

Here's an old school One Way sign I discovered on my walk home today, way up on Bankers' Hill. San Diego doesn't seem real big on actually replacing signs like this, which has apparently been bent by either wind, neglect, or an accident. I find it kind of charming, though.

I'm not sure what is happening now, but I was sufficiently alarmed enough to stop and look around a bit, just to make sure I wasn't missing something. The "in love" part threw me a little...maybe some hopeless romantic wrote this in the throes of obsession. (No...it wasn't me.)

My favorite San Diego freeway, the unimaginatively named State Route 163, winds its way through Balboa Park into downtown. It's beautifully tree-lined and in the fall some of the trees actually shed their leaves. This view is from the El Prado bridge that runs from Laurel Street into the park, and looks south towards the city.

One of my walks the other night took me down along the Big Bay (as they call it here) and past these ships, which were anchored awaiting the Labor Day weekend Festival of Sail. This festival included ships like these shooting at each other and a stretch of closed off street which you had to pay to get into, and which housed funnel cakes, shaved ice, and bacon-wrapped hot dogs. I mean, who wouldn't pay to walk down that street, right?

Near the Festival of Sail was this sand sculpture, part of an exhibition that was taking place on and near Broadway Pier during the same time period. Technically not a sandcastle--built more like a shit brickhouse, I'd say--this...ahem...piece of work caught my eye. In fact, both of them.

And finally, there's this sunset in Balboa Park, looking towards the Museum of Man. I don't have any words that can compete with this photo, so I'll shut up now.

100 Walks: #s 66-72: A Bridge Too Far...

My walking has slowed down post-Comic-Con for a number of reasons. First I was sick for a week with a nasty ear problem and a full-on summer cold that I caught on top of it. I missed a whole week's worth of work (well...I didn't exactly MISS it, if you know what I mean, Office Space fans). And then San Diego got smacked with a heatwave, which is still lingering after one week. Let me stress that this is nowhere near the kind of heat and humidity my East Coast friends have been battling all summer. We're talking mid-80s at the coast, 90-100 inland (where I work), and high humidity, for here, at least (but nowhere near the 90-100% back on the other coast). Still, it's very unusual weather for us, even in summer, and even more unusual to experience it for more than just a few days. It appears to be breaking a bit, so today was the first day I actually got out and took a long walk, starting earlier in the day to avoid the heat a bit.

I took my favorite walk again this time, which involves the bridges near me at Quince Street and Spruce Street. Here's some shots of the Spruce Street one, which shimmys back and forth while you stand on it (not so bad while you're walking).

The Spruce St. bridge itself from about halfway across.

The  support tower at the far side of the bridge.

The Quince Street bridge is actually a little scarier...it's a wooden structure and it pops and gives a bit as you walk across it, plus some of the planks have missing knotholes through them, so you can see right through to the ravine below. I tend to walk even more gingerly across that one. It's not a place you want to be when an earthquake hits.

Today was the first day I actually felt like a long walk and it clocked in at 7.06 miles. For the month of August, I am woefully behind in walking (especially compared to July's 102 mile-total, which included a 70+ mile week at Comic-Con). I'm barely at 20 miles, but I have about 13 days left, so I should at least top 30 miles. The good news is my goal for 2012 was 100 walks (hence the title of these posts): I'm already at #72, with four full months left (and trips planned, which will increase my walking greatly). I think I'll hit #100 sometime in early/mid-November.

My walk today was complicated by a whole mess of other people running and walking, too. Balboa Park was the scene for some kind of half-marathon & 5k walk, so by the time I reached the park, most everyone was heading back to finish. I snapped this photo (directly above) walking over the bridge to the cactus garden across Park Blvd. from the park entrance. I loved the juxtaposition of the banner images and traffic, as if they were passing judgment on it all.

Finally there's this photo, which I offer as a bonus. It required no walking at all on my part, just a glance outside my apartment window on a warm night last week. The photo faces southeast, so that's not the actual sunset you're seeing, but a reflection of it in the sky. The heat and humidity has offered some beautiful sunsets, so we can be thankful for at least that part of it. But I could really go for a good, old-fashioned, Eastern-style thunderstorm, one of those sky-darkening, torrential downpours that are such a part of my memories of living back East.

 

 

100 Walks: #s 55-65, including Walking for Work...

And lo, the clouds parted, and there was sunshine again across the land, and the walks took place once again outside, instead of on carpeting and concrete and on a schedule.

Yes, it's the Tuesday after Comic-Con, and while I walked every day last week (a total of over 70 miles, an average of 8.75 miles per day over 8 days), it was with a purpose, traveling from hither to there-ther, usually lugging an award or two to give out. I won't lie to you, it's still walking as far as I'm concerned. A LOT of walking. (Okay, my longest walk was on Wednesday, and that's because I went book shopping at Comic-Con. So sue me.)

So since we last met, I've walked 11 times for a total of just a little over 90 miles. Let's see what we saw, shall we?

Here are a couple of new shots of my favorite bridge, the Quince Street overpass which, well...passes over (no relation to the Jewish holiday) a ravine that runs by 4th Avenue and Quince Street.

 

I love this bridge almost as much as I love the Spruce Street one, which bounces as you walk and is not for those faint of heart who are easily bothered by bouncy bridges that feel like an earthquake has begun.

This shot better shows the length of the bridge and how deep the ravine is.

Here's where I did the bulk of my walking last week: the beautiful San Diego Convention Center. I must have seen these things a 100 times if I saw them once. Oh well...it's a living.

We pause for this commercial message:

This was a nice view, both at daytime and at night.

On Saturday night, the fog rolled in and these spotlights caught it best.

But then my ride came and I had to leave.

It's nice to be back to "normal" and to be able to stop and photograph the flowers, if not smell them.

Stuff I've Learned by Walking...

If anyone would have told me just a few short years ago that I'd be walking an average of at least 40 miles each month, I would have done a spit-take in their face, even if I wasn't drinking anything. The idea--the very concept--was something so foreign to me it would have to take place on an alternate world, maybe the one where Olivia Dunham is a sexy redhead with no inhibitions and a penchant for wearing black. But I digress...

After the great health scare of '11 (April, to be exact, in which it was revealed that my flirtation over the year with diabetes was blossoming into a long-term relationship with messy consequences), I started walking. I started slow. In that first month, I walked less than 10 miles, and was shocked when my very first walk came in at 3.8 miles. "I can do that?" I asked myself. "I can walk 4 miles at one time?" It was a revelation.

From there I just started walking more and more, eventually logging over 400 miles in 2011. In 2012, I'm already up to over 50 walks so far, and over 320 miles. If I don't walk for a period of time (5 or more days), I miss it. I even sometimes long for it. In short, I like it. I really, really like it, and it doesn't even involve Sally Field.

I've learned some things while walking, some momentous, some amusing, some just plain awesome. Maybe it's not really what I learned, maybe it's more what I've experienced, but herewith is the sum total of my accrued knowledge gathered while walking:

1. My philosophy on walking is very simple: One foot in front of the other. Eventually, you'll get to where you want to go. I have tried to carry this over into everyday life whenever possible. I'm not always successful.

2. I'm constantly amazed at how sensitive the foot is. I can feel things through a thick layer of shoe and a secondary, thinner layer of sock. The difference between dirt and grass, concrete and asphalt. The nubby rubber streetcovers on disabled ramped corners. The soft, disgusting squish of dog poop.

3. There is a lot of dog poop. This whole "clean up after your dog" thing isn't working really well.

4. I walk in one of the most beautiful cities in the country, if not the world, and I am incredibly thankful for that. My favorite walk involves Park Boulevard, and there is a stretch that borders the San Diego Zoo's parking lot that has a sidewalk that is boredered by honeysuckle bushes, making the walk a fragrant treat. On this walk, if I'm heading down towards the city, I can see planes coming in low for landing at nearby Lindbergh Field. If I walk in the opposite direction, towards Hillcrest and cross the street, it's a whole different walk.

5. Walking really clears my head.

That's pretty much it...if I learn anything else, I'll let you know. In the meantime...get out there and start walking!

 

100 Walks: #s 50-54, including walking San Francisco...

Since my last entry in this ongoing Captain's Log of my great adventures in walking, I've walked 5 more times, for a total of over 40 miles in the month of June so far. Three of those walks took place in beautiful San Francisco last weekend, where I slipped away for a little birthday break. (You MISSED my birthday? Shame on you!) In fact, over 25 miles of my current total took place up there over three glorious days, weather-wise.

I love San Francisco, and really missed it this year when I didn't make my usual job-related trip there in the spring. I wanted to take a short break from work, partly to celebrate my birthday, partly to get out of Dodge, and partly to "reward myself" for completing another mammoth work project, a 200-page book for an upcoming event, which I signed off on, proof-wise, on June 7, after more than a solid month of solid work (some aspects of that book I've been working on since BEFORE CHRISTMAS). My original impulse was to drive to Los Angeles and stay at my usual favorite hotel in Santa Monica, but checking the rates revealed that for $100 bucks more, I could fly to San Fran and stay there. So I jumped at the chance.

My walks in San Francisco took me pretty much everywhere in the greater downtown area, and averaged over 8 miles each day. I avoided Fisherman's Wharf, which is a bit too touristy for me. But anywhere else was fair game, as long as a bookstore was involved. And that's probably the real reason why I went to SF: it's still a city with a fair amount of great bookstores in it, unlike downtown San Diego, which has ONE, and that one is half tourist/tsotchke shop. I visited seven bookstores while in town: two Books Inc. locations (Van Ness and Chestnut St.), Alexander's downtown (never even knew this store existed), Book Passage in the Ferry Building, the legendary City Lights Bookstore in North Beach, Booksmith in the Haight, and Pegasus in Berkeley, plus two comics book stores, Comix Experience in San Fran and Fantastic Comics in Berkeley. That's my idea of a fun trip, and--come to think of it--probably the reason why I always travel alone. Sigh...

But all in all, it was a great weekend. And oh, I took some photos. Look:

That's one big-ass flower, and I'd hate to have to water it! Actually it's another "art installation" near City Hall, the building in the background.

I love the fact that they change these hearts each year at all the entrances to Union Square Park. This is one of my favorite ones that I've ever seen.

The park next to the Metreon (the new and improved Metreon, I might add) on a perfect summer afternoon (even if summer doesn't officially start for a few more days).

This collection of motorcycles and scooters, which is always parked off Fourth Street opposite the big Marriott hotel, always fascinates me.

Obligatory San Francisco streetcar photo, this time with the added value of attractive young women posing for a photo on the other side. (Trust me, ladies...this side is better.)

And finally, this lovely piece of street history that I couldn't resist snapping and had to strongly resist trying to steal. Do you have the key to fit this lock?

100 Walks: #s 44-49, including walking Coronado...

It's June 1, so it's way past due for me to write something on here. Life has been tied up with books (making them, not necessarily reading them) and the occasional walk. A few weekends ago, I drove over to Coronado Island (it's not really an island, but the easiest way to get there is over a big, beautiful, and somewhat scary bridge over San Diego Bay) and decided to walk around. I love Coronado...it would be the place I lived if not for some obvious setbacks (that bridge twice a day, every day is daunting, especially in a region that is prone to the occasional earthquake, and it's a pricey place to live). But the island itself (really a large land mass on the end of a skinny little peninsula), is wonderful. It's been kind of preserved as a perfect little seaside resort, minus the boardwalk and amusement park vibe I'm accustomed to in my childhood vacation days. There's very little commercial franchises (there's a Starbucks, but no Gap, etc.). There was a Wendys, but it's been replaced by a great little restaurant/bar called simply The Tavern (I've eaten there twice and loved it both times).

Coronado has a main drag (Orange Avenue) and two sides of beautiful views. The east side looks towards the incredibly impressive San Diego skyline; the west side has majestic views of the Pacific Ocean and Point Loma, bordered by a wide, sandy beach.

As picturesque and beautiful as the views are, the really interesting part of the island is the side streets where people live. For the first time I walked those streets, starting with Glorietta Drive, down to the eastern side of the island (with the above view), then back up one of the streets to 7th Street, where I cut over to Orange Ave. and had lunch at the aforementioned Tavern. I didn't take very many photos of the houses, as I felt weird taking pictures of peoples' homes and posting them on the Internet (I know I'd hate that myself), but I admired most of them. Succulent plants in front of houses, however, were fair game. Here's one now:

I just love the texture and forms in that photo. It's so...organic. (Duh, yeah...it's a PLANT, asshole.) I'm starting to sound like a Photography 101 major, aren't I? But I digress...

Back to Cornado. This is the boathouse, opposite the famous Hotel del Coronado, and its little sister when it comes to architectual style.

Below is the Hotel del, so you can compare. Discuss amongst yourselves. A trip to Coronado means a visit to the Hotel del, and picture-taking is recommended if not compulsory.

Finally, there's this little gem tucked in the middle of Orange Ave.. The Village Theater was shut down for a while, but it's been majorly renovated and reopened. I've always loved the sign which has been lovingly restored and actually improved. The theater is now a 3-plex, with two small screening rooms and a larger auditorium (it used to be a single screen house). I haven't seen a movie there, but I'm tempted....this photo sure makes it seem inviting.

And finally there's me walking (sorry, no photos, please...I just cleared up that whole paparazzi mess). In May I walked a total of 11 times for total mileage of 56.5 miles. Your mileage may vary, but I can pretty much guarantee you won't have as beautiful a place to walk around in as Coronado.