fifty shades... of pink and purple

This weekend has so much walking goodness, I'll split it into two big, bad posts. First, Saturday's amazing "tour de la cite."

What a terrific day for a BIG booty kicking 16 mile training walk. We met at 6:30am at the Arguello Gate of the Presidio. It was foggy and damp and cold but you wouldn't know it by their smiles!

Oh, and just to reinforce how early we get up on the weekends, Peggy showed up wearing her stethoscope like it was a work day. Ooops! How about that for a "get out of the house habit?" I guess being a nurse for 30 years you don't leave home without your stethoscope.

As we were walking through Golden Gate Park I noticed everyone had on shades of pink and purple (except me and Nasi who wore all black, must not have gotten the memo!) Had to have everyone get in a rainbow!

After a quick break at the UCSF Parnassus Student Union we took off for the first magical part of this walk. The Historic Trail around Mt Sutro. There is a sneaky entrance off Stanyan between two houses.... it is like a rain forest there.

Sandy getting her hike on.

Maybe not the best day to break in new shoes! One side of Mt Sutro is like a rain forest - wet and drippy. The trail there is awlays muddy. Makes for a great adventure.

Oops, the trail got the better of this to remain nameless walker who slipped climbing over a tree. Score one for the trail!

Ah,  the pink/purple crew found their motherland.

Onward to the second secret destination for our walk: Glen Canyon Park. Such a special place with trails up and down the canyon.

Using our teamwork to get down a rocky section. Safety first!

It's a rough and rocky and super cool trail.

Then in the center of Glen Park in the little section of shops there were these great signs posted on a fence. This one I love.

And, in the parking lot there was this super creative pallet painted with words and planted with succulents. How cool is that for vertical gardening?

Oh, and did I mention the purse tree?

That had succulants planted in the purses? Seriously coooool.

Walking along Chenery I spotted these funny squirrel finals on a fence. Hello!

And then this wacky, whacky  yard. I see something new every-time we walk by.

Hard to believe we had been up at Sutro Tower just a short while earlier in the morning. The sun was starting to come out as we walked up and over Noe Street headed on our way back. This is somewhere near mile 11.5 of the walk.

Some lego art in Duboce Park. Amazing what you see when you travel on foot in this fine city.

And, right toward the end of our epic 16 miles we walked past the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. They had a huge semi-ring of gorgeous foxgloves, one of my favorite garden flowers.

And the ever changing flower planting clock.

Summer time in the city. 

We walked in at least 15 different neighborhoods and two amazing trails on this route! Presidio Heights, Presidio, Inner Richmond, Golden Gate Park, Inner Sunset, Cole Valley, Forest Hills, Midtown Terrace, Diamond Heights, Glen Park, Bernal Heights, Noe Valley, Castro, Duboce, Haight Ashbury.  Phew!  No wonder I am bushed. 16 miles in 4 hours of walking time. Not too shabby!!

It was a walk where we saw so much, had such great conversations and lots of laughs it sort of flew by! Now don't get me wrong, our feet, hips and legs sure felt every one of those miles, but everyone did SO great for a long, challenging walk like this. HOORAY everyone on such a amazing day.

Tomorrow we walk another 12 miles with a very special site visit to our event beneficiary, Breast Cancer Emergency Fund. Should be another terrific adventure!

TODAY'S MAP QUOTES

And as I saw more light in everybody else, I seemed to have more myself. Victoria Moran

For every beauty there is an eye somewhere to see it. For every truth there is an ear somewhere to hear it. For every love there is a heart somewhere to receive it. Ivan Panin

coastal walk

Hello Summer in San Francisco! We had a terrific 14 mile trail walk planned for this day. It's along the Costal Trail from Fort Baker to Rodeo Beach and back with MASSIVE hill climbing.

Looking ready to walk 14 hilly miles!

Stopped before we even really got started!

Heading out the trail in the shroud of fog - so magical.

This part of the trail is well marked. Other parts, not so much, as we learned later.

As we came to one area by a parking lot we found these guys snuggled up in the sleeping bags!

Such beauty, on this trail.

There goes Sandy zooming ahead. It's one of those walks you can really stretch your legs

The rest of us, slowly walking downhill to keep from slipping.

Ah, yes, remember how I mentioned the trail is not well marked in a few spots? Well, here we all are trying to figure out where we are and where we are supposed to be going! Thankfully, our intuition was correct.

We stopped halfway on the walk to take a longer break and poke around the Visitor's Center. Love all of the park posters lined up in a row!

Hmmm, maybe this should be my new response when I get lots of questions. 

Wise guy, that Irving!

Welcome to my hut! Thanks for the great photo Trina.

photo by trina

The group looking pretty great & all smiles at the half-way point at Rodeo Beach.

Lizelle and Beatrice bringing up the caboose. Slow and steady wins the race.

Gorgeous Rodeo Beach with the lagoon. The buildings on the right are our camp for the event weekend at NatureBridge. Such a special spot! We can't wait to spend our nights there during the event.

Trina looking strong and walking steady.

This trail has lots of uphill climbs but the stellar views make it all worthwhile.

photo by trina

As we crested the top of the last ridge we were greeted with the most spectacular show on the bay! Gosh, do I love this place I get to call home.

photo by trina

My battery died near the half-way point because it was constantly looking for reception on the trail. We finished the walk in great time and everyone felt really good, but tired. we walked over to Farley Bar at Cavallo Point for burgers and virgin Bloody Mary's to refuel and replenish. GREAT cap to a great day!

photo by trina

it's extra special when it is friend to friend

Another Sunday early rising for 12 miles in the cold and fog but we had a really special field trip planned for today during our training walk. It was guaranteed to be great day because I had my new Jolly the Green Giant pants on!

A wee banana slug family on the trail as we were getting started.

Yes, it was just as cold as this photo makes it look along Crissy Field.

It's a good thing we warm up pretty quickly once we get going!

Yarn bombing on a tree.

Today's route is fondly nicknamed the "Butt Buster" because we walk up and over Divisadero!

And, then going down into Noe Valley. Sleepy Sunday morning.

 Such pretty colors. Summer zinnas are one of my favorites!

Peggy multi-tasking at our break at Whole Foods - snacking and clipping coupons!

On our way back we stopped by our event beneficiary, Friend to Friend for a site visit! Such a special treat. The shop is located in the lobby of the UCSF Helen Diller Comprehensive Cancer Center.

The shop is little oasis in the middle of a medical center nothing like a typical hospital shop. Clients are greeted warmly and helped with great discretion and compassion making the experience of selecting a wig, bra, prosthesis or head scarf. as positive as possible.

Chris Whilite, the shop manager, giving us a tour, telling us all about what they do in the shop, who they help & answering our many questions. Clients are referred by hospital social workers, city social workers and now, our other event beneficiaries. They help everyone who walks in the door in need.

 

A wall of wig options. The SF Opera Wig Master gives free wig trims once a month to clients free of charge. Shaping a wig to a person's features really helps it feel just a little more "normal" than one off the shelf.

Chris showing us a breast prosthesis. The weight and feel  of silicone is more natural versus foam inserts.

Yes, that price tag is what a good quality silicone prosthesis costs - $337.50. For many clients, this would simply not be affordable and some insurance does not cover them (or the replacement.) Friend to Friend gives these items to women in need free of charge. A quality prosthesis makes a huge difference in how a woman feels post-mastectomy - they have the weight and feel of a natural breast. 

They also offer so many bra choices for mastectomy and post-surgery.

 

Special cream to help ease pain and scarring from radiation. Many of the volunteers at the shop are also cancer survivors, so they can talk openly and honestly while sharing experiences, and listening.

 Our event flyer is featured on their Upcoming Event board!

Such a gratifying visit. We learned so much about the shop, what a sanctuary it is, how caring the people are who work and volunteer there and that the money we are raising will truly help people in need. We are so proud of partner with you, Friend to Friend and share your vision that no woman should go without items to help her regain a "whole sense of self" during (and beyond) her treatment and surgery. Thank you for all you do everyday to help make this world a little brighter!

Our new fundraising mantra: every dollar = care! 

And then we wrapped up our 12 mile back to back walks with our new favorite post-walk treat: Off the Grid Picnic at the Presidio! We have started meeting at the Transit Cafe and Off the Grid is across the street! 

Too many yummy options to choose from when you are hungry after a training walk!

I opted for fried chicken AND pork tacos AND a Bloody Mary! Get in my belly.

TODAY'S MAP QUOTES 

It is not selfish to pour into your own cup so that you can pour into others. It is not just a luxury. It is essential. Linda Wagner

The most precious gift we can offer anyone is our attention. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers. Thich Nhat Hanh

WEEKLY INSPIRATION

I spied this frame at the Friend to Friend shop... kindness changes everything.

At the Immediate Impact Walk we are big on kindness. It is one of our core principles. And it is a practice, being kind, to others and to ourselves.

• Notice your self-talk (how you talk to yourself about yourself). If it seems negative, ask yourself if you would say this to a good friend and notice what happens.

• Practice treating yourself as well as you treat your friends, co-workers or family members.

• Sometimes, when we’re off or having a bad day, we start judging ourselves.  Practice letting your experiences, thoughts and feelings in, whatever they are.

• Take a break when you need one.

• Engage in basic self-care. Get enough rest, eat when you’re hungry (and stop when you’re not) and exercise when you can (be sure to pick something you like to do).

1. Practice being kind to yourself. This is very important because we’re often less kind to ourselves than we are to others—even strangers! Think about what kindness to yourself would look like, then try it. Need ideas?

2. It’s easy to be kind when were in a good mood. When we’re struggling, not so much. So next time you feel frustrated, angry or hurt, refrain from speaking or acting immediately. Take a moment. I help myself to remember this practice by using an acronym a teacher once gave me: S-T-O-P: S for stop, T for take a breath, O for observe what’s happening in and around you and P for practice responding rather than reacting.

3. Incline your mind toward kindness (and the positive emotions associated with kind action) by practicing “lovingkindness” meditation (see resources below). If you are skeptical about meditation, you can think of these exercises as practicing affirmations to bring kindness into your daily life as a way to increase well-being to the benefit of yourself and others. 

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