DAY TWO!!!!

Please note...this photo was not taken by me. I "borrowed" it from some who posted the pics elsewhere.




Day 2 started out with a "full" night's sleep (from 10:30 til about 5:30.....2-3 hrs short of what I normally need to function). Got dressed in the dark and then headed over for breakfast. I also put bandages on the areas of my feet that I felt were prone to blisters.


Within a mile or 2, we were walking through a beautiful park near the Belmont Plateau. There, a group of girls (guessing early to mid 20s in age) started celebrating when they saw a sign. I guess someone put it up to cheer their team on. I offered take a photo of them all standing around the sign and found out that they were all walking in memory of their friend, Carolyn. She died from breast cancer a few years back, at the age of 26. It's hard to imagine someone so young being taken out by this disease.


We walked past the Philadelphia Zoo and into University City (near University of Pennsylvania and Drexel). We walked along "Greek Row", where the frat and sorority houses stood. I was extremely surprised to see many of the brothers and sisters cheering us on (whoduthunkit? College kids awake before 10:00 on a Saturday?!?!).


Our first cheering station was in a shopping center in the Gray's Ferry section of the city. There, Kimm and I met ZIM, an absolutely gorgeous pit bull who gave lots of wags and kisses. PUPPY LOVE!!!!


We walked into South Philadelphia, past the famous cheesesteak stands of Pat's and Geno's. I really wanted to stop for a mushroom whiz steak, wit' (meaning, with peppers and onions) but figured that woudn't sit so well in my belly while walking. We walked along South Street, where we came across our 2nd cheering station. We had actual cheerleaders standing on the side walk, complete with pom-poms!!!


We walked into the Historic District, past the Liberty Bell. I got to kiss a few of the carraige horses. The drivers all told us that they "weren't allowed to let us cheat' by giving us rides. One tour guide was nice enough to point out that we had missed an arrow and were walking in the opposite direction of everyone else (I was too busy kissing ponies to notice!).


Towards the end of the day, our final pit stop was at the foot of the Art Museum stairs. I was tempted to go up and get a pic of me at the top of the stairs but Kimm was in no mood to walk up with me or even stop to take my picture. I decided that I would go back another time, when my legs weren't already ready to shoot me.


After the pit stop, we walked down West River Drive and back to camp. At camp, they were wrapping up their "3 Day Idol" contest. A young man, by the name of Charles, took home the prize. I had met Charles on the shuttle from the hotel to opening ceremonies. He was by himself and had traveled from Brooklyn to do the walk. I was impressed with him on so many levels. First of all, he was an opening and warm spirit. Secondly, he was a man.....a definite minority in this event. Thirdly, after a full day of walking, he still had enough energy to get up on stage and sing "I Feel Good" as well as DANCE to the song. He needs to bottle some of that and sell it. I'd be first in line!!!



After dinner, Kimm and I checked for mail at the Post Office (friends and family can mail cards and letters a few weeks before the event). I received a nice card from some friends from church as well as many letters of support from team captain Sammy (who ended up back at camp early b/c of her previous leg problems). Kimm got an amazing letter from her mom, a 5yr survivor. After that, we treated ourselves to the foot massage machines and then hit the showers.



Sleep was not high on the list this night. My ankles were throbbing despite the ibuprofen I took. I woke up a few times to pee. And in the distance, despite having earplugs in, I could hear the lovely sounds of Philadelphia at night (gun shots, sirens, people racing in their japanese motorcycles, police or news helicoptors flying overhead).



Day 2 is probably the absolute WORST. Day 1 is long, but you are full of adrenaline and have lots of bystanders cheering you on. On Day 3, you are tired, but you know that the end is near. But on Day 2, your feet want to strangle you because of Day 1 AND you know that you still have another day of walking ahead of you. Mentally, physically.....it is a struggle. I lost track of how many people were taking sweep vans or riding the bus back to camp. Thankfully, I had my "little engine that could", Kimm, walking with me (and of course, YELLOW CAR GIRL, Lisa, cheering us on), or else I may have been one of those who did not finish out the day.

Tomorrow...Day 3!!!