Laughing all the way: Reflections on walking: It’s downhill all the way
April 2, 2010
By Pat Detmer
Our home is at the top of Olympus, so like others of you in Newcastle who use your feet to keep fit, we know that every meaningful walk that we take will eventually lead to a thigh-burning trip back uphill.
And actually, the downhill can be harder on your knees than uphill. I know that to be true, because I recently skidded down Southeast 76th Street, AKA the Double Black Diamond Newcastle-to-Seahawk run.One thing that we’ve learned after many years of walking is that untethered dogs have a tendency to follow you. I can’t tell you how many times we’ve pointed and yelled, “Go home!” to a canine shadow.
Once, while walking in the Juanita area, a dog followed us all the way back to our car in downtown Kirkland. Nothing we tried would dislodge it, and it trotted in and out of the street as drivers honked and shook their fists and suggested that we get our #!!!?&*%@?!! dog under control. Luckily, we had long ago perfected the pantomime of grimacing and shrugging while mouthing, “It’s not our dog!”
Another thing that we like to do is critique landscape designs as we pass homes, and get fresh ideas for our own yard. Spring is great for that. But nighttime winter walks also have their value: You can check out interior design. (Please do not report me to the authorities for window peeping.)
For the past year or so, I’ve walked to an evening yoga class at the Newport Hills Swim Club. Neighbors and acquaintances regularly stop to ask me if I’d like a ride, but I decline. It’s a little jaunt, probably just short of two miles, but the way that I’m greeted when I arrive makes it seem like I’ve just made the journey from Katmandu.
“You walked???” (General question, heard at least once upon arrival.)
“Oh, wow! In this weather???” (This in a torrential rainstorm.)
“Oh, wow! In this weather???” (When it was 27 degrees.)
They’ve begun to refer to me as “The Walker.” When I came into the yoga room last week, I heard, “Is The Walker here yet?” with an answer from the other side of the room: “I saw her back at the stop sign.”
Yeah. That’s me. They call me The Walker. I’m the one who wears the attractive reflective vest at night that can be seen from the Mars Rover, the one with the dog (and sometimes the cat) following me, the one who puts one foot in front of the other, over and over again.
Walking. It’s a good thing.
You can reach The Walker at patdetmer@aol.com.
Comments
Got something to say?
Before you comment, please note:
- These comments are moderated.
- Comments should be relevant to the topic at hand and contribute to its discussion.
- Personal attacks and/or excessive profanity will not be tolerated and such comments will not be approved.
- This is not your personal chat room or forum, so please stay on topic.
