Today’s challenges are straightforward:
1. Stay sufficiently hydrated in temperatures in the 90s and pay close attention to the body’s overall performance in the heat.
2. Avoid too many detours–today’s route already promises to be in the 20-mile range.
3. Be on time for the appointment with Drs. G. Nestadt, J. Bienvenu and OCD and Anxiety Disorder team at Johns Hopkins Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences.
4. Find a safe route to exit Baltimore on foot and be careful when traversing iffy neighborhoods to the west of downtown.
5. Think about why some parts of the city are safe and flourishing, while others aren’t
6. Even after a long morning appointment, cover the remaining miles quickly.
7. Consider a final destination beyond Ellicott City but before Columbia, MD. Since Friday’s destination is Sandy Spring for a 2:00 appointment, keep today’s mileage within a reasonable range.
8. Stop frequently at stores and fast food joints to escape from the intense heat before setting out again.
9. Have a Seven Eleven picnic lunch under the shade of a large tree across the way. If Mike, the sales clerk, pops up several hours later on the path further southwest, greet him warmly and explain to him what you are doing.
10. If an old trolley line trail appears, get off the main road and take it. It will definitely be cooler in the surrounding woods.
11. In Ellicott City, stop to rest for a bit before forging ahead to the final destination. Keep today’s miles under 22.
12. Find a reasonable hotel that isn’t too pricey and closer to Sandy Spring to make tomorrow’s walk more reasonable.
13. Have dinner in a restaurant close to the hotel so that the day can end early.
14. Take a warm bath to soothe sore muscles and revive the spirit.
15. Be in bed before 11:00, having blogged, answered emails, check tomorrow’s route, and done some laundry in the hotel room sink.
16. Keep today’s blog short and sweet and send it with photos to Judy before 10:30.
P.S. All of the above challenges/suggestions were successfully met today, so I end the day by simply saying thank you, dear friends, and good night.
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