Phatmass Walks Across America Thread - California To Maine!

[AnneLine]

Some of us on the Lameboard Exercise thread were exploring how to motivate each other to get a little more exercise.  

 

I mentioned that a friend and I have several times done 'pedometer walks' across America.  We calculate our mileage, map it with Google, and then look around the internet to see what is there!  It's a lot of fun, and it is motivating!!!!!  

 

Several of the Phatmassers got intrigued!  And we have agreed -- it's time for us to go on a journey together!

 

If you want to join us.... just tell us you are coming along!  You can carry a pedometer, and it will calculate actual mileage you travel... or you can make a good estimate of mileage (or convert other kinds of exercise or movement into 'walking' miles) by figuring 15 mins of exercise = 1 mile.   

 

I'll plan to update where we are on Saturdays.  It would be nice if people sign in with their mileage, but it is NOT a requirement!

 

The hope is to travel at least 100 miles a week together -- and maybe more if there are a lot of us moving around!  We might move slower through some of the more interesting areas of the US... and probably will hop a little faster over the middle of the country where the space between towns can seem to go on forever.

 

We're going to start on the 4th of July at 2 PM wherever you are!  

 

We will all recognize each other!!!   We know each other well!!!!

 

   :welcome:  :blowkiss:  :rabbit:   :kitten:   :guitar:

      :photo:   :o)    :bananahi:   :eat:   :lol: 

 

We'll be gathering at the San Diego Mission in San Diego, CA, right in front of the Chapel!!!

 

 

 

 

So.... get your gear together, and let's get started!

[maximillion]

:cry: Me no can walk...... :cry:

 

Unless I enter my meagre 40 daily steps in the flat.......seems very tame.

[AnneLine]

YOU can calculate mileage with wheels!   YOu can get your mileage by getting out and enjoy all those great paths you talk about!!!   AND... if you can't get out on the paths, you can do any other kind of exercise you want (and I'll even make it mental exercise... we want your company!) and every 15 mins is worth a mile!   

 

YOU CAN COME WITH US!!!!   :please:

 

AND... you can enlist the help of a friend if desired from time to time!

 

Edited July 3, 2014 by AnneLine

[AnneLine]

Proposed Route for the walk (or roll, or bike, or swim or whatever!):

 

 

We will be traveling from San Diego, California to New Brunswick, Maine in the USA.  The route we have chosen is about 4064 miles, and we will be traveling in a more or less northeasterly direction.  

 

We'll be going through some breathtaking (and not-so-breathtaking) places in California, Arizona, Utah and Wyoming... through the middle of the country -- South Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin... and then we will start to head East through Illinois, Indiana, Ohio and across Pennsylvania to New Jersey and New York... and then up through the Eastern Seaboard states into Maine.  

 

Along the way we will see some famous places (Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Gettysburg) and some fun but little known places (If we time it right, maybe we can greet the Groundhog in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania!)... and see some parts of the USA you have never even heard about.  Maybe visit some special attractions and/or see some videos!

 

Perhaps some of YOU would enjoy taking us around an area that you know well -- either because you live there, have visited there, or just have an interest in the place!  And... yes, we might even take some side trips!  So let me know if you have some ideas or want to play tour guide!!!!

 

[AnneLine]

 

 

Google Maps will only let me plot the 10 major points... but we have some other stops in mind -- and more than a few surprises!!!!  Here's a link to our proposed route -- yes, it isn't the most direct one, but it will be more interesting!

 

San Diego, CA

Grand Canyon, AZ

Moab, UT

Salt Lake City, UT

Yellowstone National Park, WY

Wall, SD

Minneapolis, MN

Salem, OH

Gettysburg, PA

New Brunswick ME

 

 

I hope this link will let you look at the map.  It has the main points of roughly our proposed route.

 

Google has been shifting their software a bit, and it is more temperamental than in the past!

 

When the map opens, you will see a list of places.  Highlight the last location that says 'Brunswick ME' and replace it with "Maine" and hit the 'enter' key.  Then select the option for walking at the top. (It looks like a little person).  

 

Use this link:

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mission+Basilica+San+Diego+de+Alcala,+10818+San+Diego+Mission+Rd,+San+Diego,+CA+92108/Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ/Moab,+UT/Salt+Lake+City,+UT/Yellowstone+National+Park/Wall,+SD/Minneapolis,+MN/Salem,+OH/Gettysburg,+PA/New+Brunswick,+ME/@41.0077854,-95.0909453,5z/data=!4m61!4m60!1m5!1m1!1s0x80d955b929b46621:0xdb11c96aebf0b00e!2m2!1d-117.106001!2d32.784635!1m5!1m1!1s0x8733174f95ffe325:0xb8ccc2749a229ea1!2m2!1d-112.1401108!2d36.0544445!1m5!1m1!1s0x8747e1e59ab82d8d:0xb32b17af1d5c42d!2m2!1d-109.5498395!2d38.5733155!1m5!1m1!1s0x87523d9488d131ed:0x5b53b7a0484d31ca!2m2!1d-111.8910474!2d40.7607793!1m5!1m1!1s0x5351e55555555555:0xaca8f930348fe1bb!2m2!1d-110.588455!2d44.427963!1m5!1m1!1s0x877da9f1895e0f97:0xda3c92aa56a2d05!2m2!1d-102.2415477!2d43.9924889!1m5!1m1!1s0x52b333909377bbbd:0x939fc9842f7aee07!2m2!1d-93.26667!2d44.983334!1m5!1m1!1s0x883155ab83c1c471:0x9dd0076f706d2804!2m2!1d-80.8567501!2d40.9008923!1m5!1m1!1s0x89c854bb6968cbb9:0x76e0a9410973efbe!2m2!1d-77.2310955!2d39.8309293!1m3!2m2!1d-69.4454689!2d45.253783!3e2!4e1

 

Now... if you are REALLY curious (and have a few minutes) select the option for 'Google earth' in the lower left corner.  you can zoom in and out and you will see photos of high points along the road!   It will give you some ideas of what to expect... but remember, the actual places may move around a little bit!

 

 

So.... who is gonna come with us!!!!????

 

Edited July 3, 2014 by AnneLine

[Spem in alium]

Count me in. :)

[CrossCuT]

Ive got my running shoes on

[AnneLine]

YAY!!!!    Tigger60 let me know she's on vacation and away from internet, but she is aleady starting on walking and will meet us in San Diego!!!!   Anyone else????

 

 

(Others can always join us as we walk, of course, but it will be nice to have a few of us start together!)

[maximillion]

I'll be there in spirit.......and rolling!

[AnneLine]

Well... it's not too much longer until we start ....  Maybe you'd like to take a look around Mission San Diego while you wait?

 

Mission San Diego was the first of the 21 California missions that the Franciscan Friars established in California.  Bl. Junipero Serra, OFM, whose feast day was celebrated just the other day on July 1st!

 

 

Here is some information about him....

 

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=401

 

And here's a little info about the San Diego Mission, which was the first one that he founded, and from which the modern city of San Diego takes its name.   (Many of the cities and towns in California owe their names to the Mission friars and others who named them after Catholic saints and festivals).

 

http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-missions/21san-diego.html

 

http://www.mtycounty.com/pgs-missions/the21missions.html

 

(You can also read about all the California Missions through the link if you want to do so!)  

 

Mission San Diego is one of the missions which are still practicing Catholic Churches, so feel free to go in and say hello to our Lord while you wait!

 

[AnneLine]

Section I:   

 

San Diego, CA to Grand Canyon, AZ                                                     

 

July 4, 2014  

 

Beginning at San Diego, California

 

Weather:   80 degrees F to 69 degrees F

Partly Cloudy

 

Mission San Diego

http://www.missionsandiego.com/

 

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Mission_San_Diego_1987.jpg  

 

 

http://www.wildnatureimages.com/Mission_San_Diego_Pictures.htm

 

 

Link to a short video about the Mission

 

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pm25d2519OM[/media]

 

 

And there are LOTS of interesting things to do in the San Diego area while we are here!

 

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=202026524933285013783.0004c0c0baad67504ef33&msa=0&dg=feature

 

 

 

A detailed Map of the first stage of our walk -- Mission San Diego to Grand Canyon -- coming up next....

 

and then our first STOP:  San Diego Safari Park in Escondido!

[AnneLine]

First Leg of our trip is from Mission San Diego to Grand Canyon:

 

Mission San Diego

Escondido, CA

Palomar Observatory, CA

Palm Desert, CA

Twenty Nine Palms, CA

Bill Williams River National Wildlife Refuge, AZ

Kingman, AZ

Prescott National Forest

Flagstaff, AZ

Grand Canyon Village, AZ

 

The link to the map will let you look at the route and also explore along it.  Be sure to select the little 'walking guy' every time you open the map.  You can play with the map a little bit to see what the features are.  It will let you open pictures and videos and other details of the route if you click on the blue and white dots.  You can always use the back arrow to go back-- or just close the map and come back in again if you get lost or the map gets confused (it does seem to happen!)  You can also select an option to see the terrain if you like to see if you are in a flat or hilly area.  The white dots indicate our major stops.

 

You MAY want to try the 'google earth' feature -- it is fascinating but sometimes makes me feel a little seasick!  Use it if you like it!

 

AND... could you please confirm that you are able to open the maps?  Thank you!!!!

 

Here is the map!

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Mission+Basilica+San+Diego+de+Alcala,+10818+San+Diego+Mission+Rd,+San+Diego,+CA+92108/Escondido,+CA/Palomar+Observatory,+35899+Canfield+Rd,+Palomar+Mountain,+CA+92060/Palm+Desert,+CA/Twentynine+Palms,+CA/Bill+Williams+River+National+Wildlife+Refuge,+Lake+Havasu+City,+AZ+86406/Kingman,+AZ/Prescott+National+Forest,+Prescott,+AZ/Flagstaff,+AZ/Grand+Canyon+Village,+AZ/@34.3994964,-116.5927575,7z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m62!4m61!1m5!1m1!1s0x80d955b929b46621:0xdb11c96aebf0b00e!2m2!1d-117.106001!2d32.784635!1m5!1m1!1s0x80dbf35e81c2437b:0x1d1c80f7796c5df!2m2!1d-117.086421!2d33.1192068!1m5!1m1!1s0x80db96e7d65e3475:0x9602e5fc88fa56e6!2m2!1d-116.864932!2d33.35625!1m5!1m1!1s0x80dafc2ef2a5c237:0x2eb9468f86af4675!2m2!1d-116.3744556!2d33.7222445!1m5!1m1!1s0x80dac726c25e7ecf:0xec37eb42c963a3fc!2m2!1d-116.0541689!2d34.1355582!1m5!1m1!1s0x80d22f27f1ed66e3:0x25f16b3f0ecc4aa2!2m2!1d-114.045828!2d34.272715!1m5!1m1!1s0x80cddc1300936035:0xa6accfbcff04a560!2m2!1d-114.0530065!2d35.189443!1m5!1m1!1s0x872cff89b05a6035:0x4cec87316208159b!2m2!1d-112.572188!2d34.576674!1m5!1m1!1s0x872d8ef7da2e2631:0x8e1f3ca1cedbb300!2m2!1d-111.651302!2d35.1982836!1m5!1m1!1s0x8733174f95ffe325:0xb8ccc2749a229ea1!2m2!1d-112.1401108!2d36.0544445!3e2

 

 

When you have finished playing with the map, come back in a while and we will visit the Safari Park in Escondido for the rest of the Fourth of July Holiday!!!!  Have a good time, and feel free to post your weekly mileage or any comments as we go along.

 

 

[AnneLine]

While we are walking this week, you may want to spend your off hours at the

 

SAN DIEGO ZOO SAFARI PARK!!!!

 

Check out all there is to do and see here!

 

http://www.sdzsafaripark.org/

 

 

[media]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5i-dkmRDJ4[/media]

 

These little guys were born last December!

 

http://blog.pe.com/family-fun/2013/12/16/san-diego-zoo-safari-park-lion-cubs-on-display/

 

 

And.... for all you gamers......  A Safari Game from the San Diego Safari Park!

 

http://www.sdzsafaripark.org/game/

 

 

OK, time for bed now!  

 

Remember to eat, sleep and hydrate yourself each day so you will be able to contribute mileage for our journey each week.  While we are trying to encourage ACTIVITY and EXERCISE, if for any reason you can't walk or do some kind of exercise, you can contribute other kinds of activity.... including mental and spiritual!

 

 

Time for bed... we will be sleeping HERE -- AT the Safari Park!!!

 

Fortunately dUSt has agreed to pay for us (hehehe just kidding) - but virtual sleepers can pay with virtual dollars!!!!  

 

Enjoy the video and look at the fantastic accommodations!   Don't get to used to this... it will be different very soon!!!

 

http://www.sdzsafaripark.org/safaritickets/roar_snore.html

 

 

Good night everyone!!!

 

 

http://authenticcaliforniavacations.com/San-Diego-Vacations.php

 

 

 

 

Edited July 5, 2014 by AnneLine

[AnneLine]

Hi, fellow travelers, armchair or otherwise... can someone please confirm if the links are working?  Can you open and follow the maps?

 

And it would help me if you are enjoying this, if you would share what you are enjoying... will help me to give you 'stops' that will be of interest to you.  

 

Thank you!

 

Edited July 5, 2014 by AnneLine

[cartermia]

I am in, but mine will be for biking and volleyball practice (which involves running, lunges, etc).