Walk 10: Pedometer

I found a pedometer "among my father's effects". I am in the final stages of cleaning out my parents' house. We're down to the nitty-gritty - the boxes of jars in the basement, my mom's odd collection of laundry detergent scoops, a litany of lawn chairs...and the pedometer. I remember my father used it quite a bit at one point. I think it amused him to know how far he had walked. And sometimes reassured him.

He was one those rare "men who don't drive". He did drive at some point but quit. He opted out. He bummed rides and took buses but mostly walked. Sometimes, for old times sake, he'd back my mom's car out of the driveway or drive around the block. He did that with our bikes too. He never actually rode just test drove.

He never talked much about the walking but I definitely got the sense that it was private time for him. I use walking in that way as well. And I have started to wear the pedometer to try it out. To see if it alters the walking experience. It's a bit bulky and it has a dorky belt clip. I put it in my pants pocket one day and it seemed to work. I tried putting it in my purse but it didn't budge at all.

Here are the results of one recent day's walking (according to the pedometer):
morning 2.75 km. loop to downtown and home
afternoon 2.75 km. downtown and back again
running total 5.6 km.
evening 1.5 km. leisurely stroll up to the park and back with photo stops.
so..about 7 km. in one day.
That is a high standard as I don't usually walk downtown and back twice in one day...it was a day off and the weather has been very fine...

Walk 9: Walking and Waiting at Pearson (March 24)

The new terminal is highly entertaining. I walked around in loops and circles constantly while waiting for the luggage.