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Monday, April 4, 2022

Let's Go For A Walk


 This year's National Walking Day is on April 6th. 

 This sentence is really all it takes for me to have The Brady Bunch stuck in my head: "I think I'll go for a walk outside now, the Summer sun's calling my name..."  

Walking is one of the greater forms of exercise because it in no way requires gym memberships, crowds, or skilled athleticism.  It does require a bit more physical capability than I generally have. Before my body opted to wage all kinds of war against me, I walked and walked and walked. All I needed was my CD walkman and I was off, whether to Walmart, the park, or just circling my block over and over again.  It provided a bit of escapism with a soundtrack by Aerosmith.



"52 Ways to Walk is a short, user-friendly guide to attaining the full range of benefits that walking has to offer--physical, spiritual, and emotional--backed by the latest scientific research to inspire readers to develop a fulfilling walking lifestyle"--. Provided by publisher.



Add structure and variety to your walks with specific programs and 60 workouts to use on your path to improved fitness and health. Fitness Walking offers a full menu of walks from which you can choose the duration, distance, speed, and nature of the walk you prefer each day while staying on track to meet your overall fitness goals.



"With this newly updated guide in hand, visitors and locals can walk the streets of Chicago and discover why the town that brought us Michael Jordan, Al Capone, and Oprah is anything but a "Second City." Chicago's diverse neighborhoods represent a true melting pot of America--from Little Italy to Greektown, Chinatown to New Chinatown, and La Villita to the Ukrainian Village. It's also the most walkable city in the country, with flat streets laid out in a sensible grid and 21 miles of stunning lakeshore. Here you can get ethnic culture in Andersonville or high culture at the Art Institute, listen to the blues on the South Side or catch a ballgame on the North Side, and marvel at the Frank Lloyd Wright architecture in Oak Park or at nature's masterpiece along Lake Michigan. In Chicago, every neighborhood has a unique past, every character an intriguing story, and every side of the city is covered in this newest addition to the award-winning urban Walking series".



Whether you're a local looking for new places to explore or a visitor to the area,60 Hikes Within 60 Miles: Chicago provides plenty of options for a couple hours or a full day of adventure, all within about an hour from Chicago and the surrounding communities.




"Star-shaped flowers, short-tempered snapping turtles, and clusters of chicken-flavored mushrooms are just a few of the many fascinating things awaiting discovery just beyond the typical North American backyard. In Heartland Habitats: 265 Midwest Nature Walks, Mary Blocksma guides young readers through North American terrain, introducing them to the land and its thriving wildlife of Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.. From birds of all kinds to fungi of both the tasty and deadly varieties-Chicken of the Woods, Death Caps, Jack-O-Lanterns-Blocksma gradually uncovers a world rich with breathtaking beauty. Adventures filled with swan-on-goose battles, squirrel squabbles, and forays into forests all lead to a deeper understanding of the world around us. A lively and detailed guide in befriending the great outdoors, Heartland Habitats showcases the natural wonders thriving just outside our homes with full-color illustrations and vivid descriptions"-- Provided by publisher.



"Rail-Trails Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio covers more than 70 trails in the region. Many rail trails are paved and run through the most scenic parts of towns. Others, such as the 20-mile Sam Vadalabene Great River Road Bike Trail, travel along lush waterways, dramatic bluffs, and steep hills. The Monoon Trail in Indiana highlights the best of midwestern rail trails by stitching together neighborhoods, recreational facilities, schools, and cultural centers between Indianapolis and Carmel. Rail-Trails Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio lets readers enjoy the serenity of the rural countryside along the Midwest's many great multiuse trails. This full-color book includes succinct descriptions of each trail from start to finish, plus at-a-glance summary information indicating permitted uses, surface type, length, and directions to trailheads for each trail. Every trip has a detailed map that includes start and end points, trailhead, parking, restroom facilities, and other amenities." --Amazon.com.



In July 2019, Nick took a hiking trip to Glacier National Park with his friends Jeff Tweedy and George Saunders. The trip, and the conversations between the three men, began a study and exploration of both the American West and its National Parks that addresses so many of the important issues that affect America today. This book both maps out the group's travels and dives deeply into subjects such as: the history and geology of the National Parks of the West; farming, animal life, and conservation; the importance of outdoor recreation, including hunting and fishing; and building both local and national communities across party lines.



Bryson share his experiences hiking the Appalachian Trail with a childhood friend. The two encounter eccentric characters, a blizzard, getting lost, and rude yuppies along the way.
Following his return to America after twenty years in Britain, Bill Bryson decided to reacquaint himself with his native country by walking the 2,100-mile Appalachian Trail, which stretches from Georgia to Maine. The "AT" offers an astonishing landscape of silent forests and sparkling lakes--and to a writer with Bryson's comic genius, it also provides endless opportunities to test his own powers of ineptitude and to witness the majestic silliness of his fellow human beings. For a start there's his gloriously out-of-shape buddy from Iowa who accompanies the similarly unfit Bryson on the trail. Mile by arduous mile these latter-day pioneers survive the threat of bear attacks, the loss of key provisions, a gang of Ralph Lauren-attired yuppies, and a security guard who, for no reason, impounds Bryson's car. But Bryson's acute eye is a wise witness to this fragile and beautiful trail, and as he tells its fascinating history, he makes a moving plea for the conservation of America's last great wilderness. An adventure, a comedy, a lament, and a celebration, A Walk in the Woods is a modern classic of travel literature.--Adapted from book jacket.



"On his regular walk one morning, Spike Carlsen realized there was an entire world outside his front door that he knew nothing about. How does that fire hydrant work, he wondered? Why are street lights shining more brightly than ever before? And, on a more personal level, why does an easy stroll around the neighborhood always leave him feeling more creative and spry, better able to take on the day? A simple walk around the block set Carlsen off on an investigative journey to discover everything he could about everything we take for granted in our everyday life, from manhole covers and recycling bins to pedestrian crossings and bike lanes. Leading readers on a spirited adventure through his hometown, and other environs, Carlsen explains with wit and erudition the engineering marvels, unheralded utilities, and secret economic and health benefits hiding in plain sight. Like how the addition of a front porch reduces crime and increases property value. And how planting a $10 boulevard tree cuts air-conditioning costs by 20 percent, while generating approximately $30,000 worth of oxygen and $31,000 worth of erosion control. Or how a simple walk, in addition to reduce your chances of a stroke (20 percent), cardiovascular disease (30 percent), and broken bones (40 percent), can increase creativity by 60 percent. Engaging, entertaining, and informative, A Walk Around the Block is a narrative celebration of all the seemingly random stuff we encounter at any given moment"-- Provided by publisher.


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