Walk Until Your Day Becomes Interesting

Mile Marker 9393:

What's interesting about your walk?

Ok, go.

Got nothing?  

Nope.  Me either...

After a year of circling the same city block, it feels like I'm on a treadmill.  If a treadmill had cobblestones and coffee shops.

Not that I'm complaining.  More than anything, I'm thankful to be healthy and safe, even if it means staying home for now.

After my amputation, I worked hard to become a good traveler again.  (Starting way back at Mile 132!)

These days, I miss traveling -- and the surprises that happen along the way.

Like discovering a scenic spot to adjust my leg...

Or hiking up 145 steps just for the view...

Or hanging with climbers from around the world!

Traveling as an amputee isn't always easy.

But it's always interesting!

Today as I head out the door, I've got a line bouncing around my brain:

Walk until your day becomes interesting.

It's a quote from adventurer and travel writer Rolf Potts.  (He wrote the book Vagabonding and hosts a podcast called Deviate - both good remedies if you're feeling stuck at home!)

That's where my mind is at Mile 9,393 -- when I veer off route.

Instead of down Arch Street, I head north under the shadow of the Ben Franklin Bridge.  A train screeches overhead.  My heart jolts, and then settles.  It's just the PATCO line.  I've been this way before.  Really, I'm less than 4 blocks from home.

And yet, I spy something in the distance.  

A splash of color that's not usually there.

My day just became interesting.

I walk another city block.  Zoom in closer.

Wend my way along the path. 

 

I marvel at this narrow stretch of spring that has somehow popped up between downtown Philly and the Vine Street Expressway.

It's refreshing.  Like a mini-vacation from my usual route!

City blooms aren't your thing?   No worries.  

Three blocks west is Chinatown.  Five blocks east is the Delaware River.  Across the bridge is New Jersey, and who can resist that? (LOL)

You get the idea.

The best thing about "interesting" is that we all see it differently.  

April is Limb Loss Awareness Month.  

A time to be grateful for each step.  No matter where I walk.

So as we turn the calendar...

Here's the challenge:

30 walks.

In 30 days.

With 30 travel companions.  (Masked or virtual - pandemic style!)

And I'll write 30 postcards along the way.  Get it, post cards?

You can find them here -- or sign up for email delivery.

Like a good traveler, I'll keep the notes short and the adventures sweet.

I don't know what'll happen or where we'll end up.

But I'm sure it'll be interesting!

P.S. Want to be part of the challenge??
Leave a comment or contact me!