And We’re Walking……

(TUMWATER, WA)  The only thing we missed during our babysitting days was our early morning walk.  We enjoy getting exercise by walking, preferably before breakfast.  Since our “summer job” is now over, we’ve been able to get out for our 1 hour walk each day.  At the pace we walk, we go about 3 3/4 to 4 miles.  It’s good for our health and if we walk 6 days a week, that adds up to about 90 miles in 4 weeks.  Not too shabby.

Here in Tumwater we can just head out of our RV park and into the town.  It’s an easy walk.  In some places we stay the safe walking opportunities are limited.  Then we are stuck just making loops within the campground or park….boring!!!

Costco is right across the street (Littlerock Road) from our park entrance and we cut through their parking lot to the street behind it.  Now the view is quite different as the trees have been cut down to make way for the new Walmart store. 

                                                           It has taken years to get approval for this store.

A lot of citizens here in Tumwater waged major protests when Walmart began the permit application process for this store.  Funny though, I don’t remember much protesting at all when Costco, Home Depot and Fred Meyer were being considered.  Just as many trees were knocked down (if not more) to make way for those 3 big box stores as is going on now with Walmart.  Small local grocery stores and the Ace Hardware were hit hard by those stores opening, yet I don’t remember a majority of folks sticking up for those smaller businesses.  Whatever.

Anywho….we walk down behind Costco and Home Depot to the pedestrian bridge that goes over Interstate 5.  We may see one other person out walking at this hour of the morning (6:45) but normally it’s just us.

We were too late for any good sunrise photos today, but sometimes when we get up on this bridge the sunrise is beautiful.  Most of the time, I don’t walk with my camera so I’ve missed those opportunities.

                                                           Up and over the interstate we go.

Once we get over the interstate, we walk through a residential area.  We go by one house with a lovely yard and during the summer there are a lot of flowers there.  By this time of the summer the blooms are beginning to wane, but there were many good lookers still flowering.

                                                          Even with my limited knowledge, I believe these are dahlias.

A few weeks ago this garden had many sunflowers in perfect bloom.  Today I had a difficult time finding a good one to shoot.

 

                                                           Some days I feel like this sunflower looks.

We continue walking east on Dennis Street toward Capital Blvd.  Today there is little traffic and the walk is nice and quiet.  The state workers are off today for the Labor Day weekend holiday.

                                                          It’s not raining, we’re dodging a sprinkler system.

Continuing north on Capital we pass our favorite McDonald’s hang out when we are here in Tumwater.  We can’t stop now, but we’ll be back in a couple of hours for some English muffins and coffee. 

We get to Trosper Road and make a left turn heading back toward our RV home.  But first, we have to cross back over the Interstate.  It’s been a good walk and we haven’t had to wait for any red lights. 

                                                           See….light traffic flow just like I told you.

In just short of an hour (54 minutes exactly) we got back to our motorhome.  Not a bad walk even though I slowed us down by taking a few pics.  Thanks for walking along with us and I hope you enjoyed your exercise.

We have a few plans for our remaining days here:

Today:  a few small errands, Annie gets a haircut, Bruce sees the ear doctor

Saturday:  house cleaning, early prep for “blast off”, a trip to Costco for supplies

Sunday:  church and then ?????

Monday:  last minute errands, family dinner over at Stephanie and Darin’s house to say good-bye for a while

Tuesday:  dentist appointments, and then “blast off” for Wilsonville, OR and the Camping World store

Until next time…..so long for now!