Bridge

DH and I rolled out at 7 AM, had some yogurt and a banana, and made it to the starting line for the walking part of the Providence Bridge Pedal.  This is an annual event when all of the city's bridges are closed to vehicular traffic so that tens of thousands of bicyclist and walkers can enjoy the views from the bridge.    I also enjoy the view of pedestrians on the freeway.

This is the Fremont Bridge.  It looks sorta like the Sydney bridge, only smaller.  The walk goes over this bridge from West to East, then over a much more boring bridge back from East to West.  This is a wonderfully big viewpoint, and the views were awesome!  And we climbed the height of 26 flights of stairs to get to the top.

I I made it to the top!  Didn't realize I was standing with a marquee behind me so it looks like I'm wearing an asian hat.  It's my usual grass sunhat with a couple of pink leis bedecking the crown.

The crest of the bridge had  stations providing water, free Cliff bars, bananas, bicycle repair and first aid.  And Taiko drummers! They were freaking awesome!  

They were a whole troupe of drummers, just whaling away on these big drums, and the very air shook as they danced and played.  It's a coed troupe, and everyone has muscles and smiles.  It was so inspiring and energizing!  We could hear them from the second bridge as well.The walkers were a rather friendly group.  There were two guys walking alongside us who were very good natured.  They were taking a lot of photos of one another and after a while I teasingly started to edge into the shots.  They thought it was funny.  By the time we got to the top of the bridge, one beckoned me over for another photo op, so I bent over and kissed his cheek. He laughed and said, "I'm going to send this to my mom.  She'll be so pleased to see me with a girl."
The route back took us through a rather up-class urban neighborhood.  An older couple were sitting on their front patio, she enjoying a cup of coffee, he, watering the flowers.  I greeted them with a cheery good morning and complimented their potted plants. The guy sort of glared at me, as if I were a panhandler. DH laughed when we got out of range and said, "He looked like he was going to spray you with the hose."  Heck, I was hot and sweaty.  I had nearly asked him to do just that.  
About 5 blocks before the end, I hit the wall.  My yogurt was burned off and I had to do the very last of the 6 mile stroll on will power.  But the "One More Time Around Marching Band and Drill Corps" was there to greet us, blaring out "Louie, Louie" while the 50 year old baton twirlers performed and a trio of gray-haired angels with yellow pompoms  cheered for us.  That was SO reviving!  
As we crossed the finish line, there were young people handing out ice cream bars, energy bars, and bottles of vitamin water.  And then I saw it - three tables full of boxes of day-old doughnuts.  I considered grabbing one in each hand and racing back through the crowd screaming,"Donuts!  OhMyGod,they have do-nuts!"  But then I realized that could probably cause a stampede, and I still didn't have enough oomph to run, so I restrained my enthusiasm.  By the time we got there, only one apple fritter remained.  A guy and I reached for it simultaneously, then both snatched our hand back at the same time, saying,"Oh, you take it." I laughed and said, "It looks like more than I can eat.  I'll split it with you."  He grinned and grabbed one side, I grabbed the other, and we tore it down the middle.  
DH and I drove to Kornblatts Deli and celebrated our success with our favorite.  He had a pastrami reuben,and I had a bowl of matzoh ball soup.  It was HEAVEN!  Now we are home, playing on our computers,and basking int he feeling of a walk well done.  Now if I could just figure out how to make this screwy underlining stop . . .