Where the Sidewalk Ends

I had a Shel Silverstein moment on my walk yesterday. I came to the point where the sidewalk ends. Really. The sidewalk was there, and then it wasn't.

Given that walking along the gravelly shoulder of a busy road didn't seem appealing or safe to me, I had to do something I haven't yet done this training season: abandon my plans of reaching the destination I had in mind. But I'm getting ahead of myself. Let's go back to the beginning, and I'll tell you the story of how this weekend didn't really turn out the way I'd hoped, at least not in terms of my training for the 3-Day.

I didn't feel like walking yesterday. I didn't feel like walking today. It was just one of those weekends. After the excitement of Race for the Cure and a visit from Mom and Dad last weekend as powerful motivators for walking, my motivation was completely lacking this weekend.

But I'm nothing if not stubborn, so in spite of myself, I managed to walk 11.25 miles yesterday. The walk didn't go exactly as I had planned, however, as I alluded to above. I was sort of ambivalent about what route I should take, given that I had no plans to meet up with friends along the way. Initially, I thought I might head up to Bethesda and part of the way back, but I wasn't super excited about that. I then contemplated walking out to Vienna and back, but that wasn't compelling, either. Finally, I decided to walk to the Italian Store to pick up lunch and then decided I'd wing it from there.

I left home at about 11:00 and walked eastward along the Custis Trail, once again, passing some pretty early summer magnolias and tiger lilies along the way.

Although yesterday was quite hot, it was also very sunny, which meant that I wasn't the only one out on the trail.

Much to my surprise, as I walked between the two ponds located just east of Ballston, I saw a great blue heron hanging out on the edge of the pond to my left. What a fun surprise!

Across the way, the other pond was full of water lilies, and I had a flashback to my lovely visit at Giverny eleven years ago as I took this picture, although there was no Japanese footbridge to be found here in Arlington.

Continuing east on the Custis Trail, I soon arrived at the Italian Store, where I bought a Milano sandwich and a bottle of Orangina, which I drank right away. I hadn't had an Orangina in years, but it was such a deliciously refreshing treat on an increasingly hot day that I think there may be more bottles of Orangina in my future this summer!

After my short beverage break, I headed back toward home along the trail. I saw the great blue heron again, and this time, he had a turtle friend hanging out with him!

I also took a picture of this stone fireplace, located just beyond the pond. I've long wondered about its history. Is it all that remains of a house that used to occupy this site? Is it an old barbeque pit? I haven't been able to figure it out, which is frustrating to me!

By the time I got back home, I was so hot that I really wasn't very hungry, so I had a glass of water and one bite of my sandwich, and I hit the road again, heading north on Glebe Road. My destination: the Chain Bridge, which I thought would give me a lovely vantage point on such a sunny, clear day. As I continued along Glebe toward Lee Highway, I saw many pretty flowers along my way. I took a picture of the Lee Highway sign for Mom, because we joke that the road is everywhere in Northern Virginia, and many times when we talk on the phone, it seems I'm walking along one part of Lee Highway or another.

After crossing Lee Highway, I walked by Marymount University, a university of about 3600 students from 70 countries. This campus, which is the main campus, is considerably prettier than the ugly two-toned blue building that comprises the university's satellite campus about two miles south of here.

From Marymount, I continued my route north along Glebe, enjoying even more pretty flowers and spotting a sign pointing me in the direction of the Chain Bridge. (Note to Self: It would have been smart to notice that there was just a bicycle on the sign, not a walker, and that the sign specified "bike route," not "walking route" . . .oh well!)

So, I walked along my merry way, heading ever northward, stopping to admire this lovely purple coneflower along the road. Did you know that purple coneflower is the common name for echinacea? I had no idea until I read about it online. Now you know, too!!

A little farther up Glebe Road, I passed by Walker Chapel, a Methodist church whose congregation was first established 140 years ago.

After taking the two above pictures, I kept going on my way, looking foward to arriving at the Chain Bridge and taking some pictures of the Potomac. But all of the sudden, I reached the place where the sidewalk ends.

I was really disappointed and surprised to see this, given that Arlington County was recently designated a Gold-Level Walk Friendly Community by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center. How could it be that there was no sidewalk along this busy road connecting North Arlington to the District? Well, it turns out that this neighborhood (Chain Bridge Forest) is the least walkable neighborhood in all of Arlington County!!

I like a walking challenge, but I like preserving my ability to walk even more, so I decided to turn around, rather than trying to avoid traffic on this gravelly shoulder. Retracing my steps for part of the route, I then veered southwest on Williamsburg Boulevard, where I took a few more pictures.

At the end of my walk, I went to hang out with my sweet friend, Eli, patiently recovering from surgery he had a few days ago.

Today, I only walked a mile, and then I rode several miles on the exercise bike at the gym, on the hilly program. A little cross-training is good now and then! Oh, and I haven't forgotten about getting to the Chain Bridge to take some pictures of the Potomac. I have a bold new action plan. Stay tuned . . .I may operationalize it next weekend!