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BEACH NOTES ... 11/20/2011 ... Ocean City, New Jersey

By
Real Estate Agent with Goldcoast Sotheby's International Realty License # 9481514

Walking the Longport Bridge in the Gardens in Ocean City, New Jersey

 

It has been a lovely day here on our barrier island.  I worked for about 4-5 hours and decided to take a long walk.  Generally, I walk about a mile along the Gardens Parkway to the Longport Bridge, go across the Bridge, and today all the way to the red light for the turn to Somers Point.  Back on the other side (I always walk into car traffic) and back across the bridge to the Ocean City side, and back to our house.  It's about 3-4 miles depending on the way I walk home.

It's was a warm and sunny day when I left, and it appeared that I had too much warm clothing on.  But I knew that crossing the bridge brings a good bit of wind.  And you can never count on the sun staying out.  It didn't.  The cars were even putting on their head lights about 2:15 PM.  So it was just good to get another long walk in before the really cold weather arrives.

I've been seriously walking since about five or six days after June 2, 2010.  That's one of the more important days in my life.  That was the day I was helicoptered from Shore Memorial Hospital in Somers Point to Presbertyan Hospital in Philadelphia and operated on the next day ... a quadruple bypass surgery.  Wow ... I didn't even have enough time to be too afraid.  A short five-day hospital stay resulted in a return to our home in Ocean City.  I recall the day after my arrival home that I could barely walk the length of our driveway.  I decided to add one house more a day, until I could add two or three, until I could add a half a block, until I could add an extra block.  I've been walk ever since ... almost every day, occasionally missing a day here and there.  Obviously, it did the trick.  I lost 40 pounds, and I am certainly in better shape than throughout my 50s. 

I just had my six-month check-up with my heart specialist, and I received the best birthday gift that I could get (November is my month) ... I don't have to return for an entire year.  Wow!!

So let me expand on my walking.  I leave Cape May County at the bridge and enter Atlantic County on the other side.  One has to be alert walking the bridge.  Clearly, it is certainly dangerous.  Why do I walk the bridge?  It is the only outside location where I get some height.  I'm as careful as I can be.  I watch each driver as they pass.  I try to be nimble in case they tend to move across the white line into my walking space.  I have had to swing my arms into an "x" motion many times.  I also have a plan to climb on to the railings to avoid getting hit.  I've worked it out in my head quite a bit.  But I haven't practiced at all.  I'm afraid someone will think that I'm getting ready to jump. 

Overall, the walking has gotten me back into shape.  About March, 2011 I began to play some indoor tennis.  I played tennis at least one time a week all through the spring and summer.  And my game level remained about the same ... I can still move quite fast to get to the ball.  So recovery is an ongoing thing.  I tend to watch what I eat - another crucial factor.  And my weight has stayed off.  But overall, the walking has done a lot for me in many ways .. good thinking time, probably good for my lower blood pressure, no real stress except for the occasional car situation.  I enjoy walking the bridge!!!             dap

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Comments (1)

Rene Fabre
ARFCO Media - Renton, WA
Practicing Philosophical Eclectic of the Arts

Good for you, Dustin! Glad to here you keep improving. I love to go for walks yet I haven't been too regular at it lately. One of my favorite walks is our Cedar River Trail. It goes right through town all the way to Lake Washington. It's a lovely path and a great place to run into locals. I love walking to think. It's great to be in motion and not connected to any technology of any kind. Take care...

Nov 20, 2011 07:25 AM