Council Bluffs by daybreak
I did something in Council Bluffs, Iowa, I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I went walking at daybreak.
I did this more out of necessity than anything else. I had been at a conference and knew I could get two walks in – one in Nebraska and one in Iowa. I got Nebraska in upon arrival; and Council Bluffs I put off until I got ready to leave. That’s why I scheduled a late flight out –late for me, leaving Omaha at noon.
I arrived at the start point at 6:30 a.m. I had picked up the directions the day I arrived so I was set. I’m not sure my legs were awake for what I was going to put them through. The first direction was to walk up the ramp that crossed the highway. That was the first hill of the day.
Council Bluffs is on the east side of the Missouri River, across from Omaha. I encountered a little of everything. Up and down hills, on brick streets, over flat land, beautiful views.
One street I climbed was named High School. Had a high school sat at the top of that hill? Were the students in good physical shape?
After climbing a few hills through a residential area, I arrived in a commercial section, apparently downtown. I strolled out the flat land toward the train station, taking in the smells of grain. After all, this is agriculture at its best. Grain must have been stored in buildings for shipping.
Working my way back to residential life I passed old homes. Really old! All I could think about was the house where Judy Garland’s ‘family’ lived in the movie “Meet Me in St. Louis.” I wasn’t on Fourth Street where Amelia Bloomer and her husband had lived (I learned about her in a women’s rights rally vintage 1873 staged at our conference. She said their home was at 123 Fourth Street so her husband would know where to come to after work!).
And in contrast to the old homes was a new park or perhaps new additions to a park.
I still had one more hill to climb and I’m glad they saved the best till last. It was a steep hill and took me up to the cemetery and an overlook where President Lincoln had once visited. It gave a fantastic view westward.
You don’t have to go to conferences to take a walk. Leisure walks are mapped out in thousands of towns great and small throughout our great country. To find one near you or where you are going to be, visit www.ava.org and click on Find Walking Events. Walking is free.
When you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask me at sandlot17@juno.com.
See you on a trail.
I did something in Council Bluffs, Iowa, I’ve wanted to do for a long time. I went walking at daybreak.
I did this more out of necessity than anything else. I had been at a conference and knew I could get two walks in – one in Nebraska and one in Iowa. I got Nebraska in upon arrival; and Council Bluffs I put off until I got ready to leave. That’s why I scheduled a late flight out –late for me, leaving Omaha at noon.
I arrived at the start point at 6:30 a.m. I had picked up the directions the day I arrived so I was set. I’m not sure my legs were awake for what I was going to put them through. The first direction was to walk up the ramp that crossed the highway. That was the first hill of the day.
Council Bluffs is on the east side of the Missouri River, across from Omaha. I encountered a little of everything. Up and down hills, on brick streets, over flat land, beautiful views.
One street I climbed was named High School. Had a high school sat at the top of that hill? Were the students in good physical shape?
After climbing a few hills through a residential area, I arrived in a commercial section, apparently downtown. I strolled out the flat land toward the train station, taking in the smells of grain. After all, this is agriculture at its best. Grain must have been stored in buildings for shipping.
Working my way back to residential life I passed old homes. Really old! All I could think about was the house where Judy Garland’s ‘family’ lived in the movie “Meet Me in St. Louis.” I wasn’t on Fourth Street where Amelia Bloomer and her husband had lived (I learned about her in a women’s rights rally vintage 1873 staged at our conference. She said their home was at 123 Fourth Street so her husband would know where to come to after work!).
And in contrast to the old homes was a new park or perhaps new additions to a park.
I still had one more hill to climb and I’m glad they saved the best till last. It was a steep hill and took me up to the cemetery and an overlook where President Lincoln had once visited. It gave a fantastic view westward.
You don’t have to go to conferences to take a walk. Leisure walks are mapped out in thousands of towns great and small throughout our great country. To find one near you or where you are going to be, visit www.ava.org and click on Find Walking Events. Walking is free.
When you have questions, don’t hesitate to ask me at sandlot17@juno.com.
See you on a trail.
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