It was an interesting walking day.

First came an unexpected nap under an enormous shade tree while we waited for an incredibly delicious veggie meal to arrive (not sure what it was exactly but it was yummy. Chopped bits of this and that served in a lettuce leaf and topped with guacamole and salsa).

Then we walked to the highway where we caught a ride due to construction that made walking simply unsafe. After we meandered through some cool neighborhoods until we somehow found ourselves walking past a small airport. Next we arrived in the cute town just north of Half Moon Bay. There were lots of enticing smells from restaurants full of people enjoying the warm and sunny Friday afternoon. After a short rest, I finished the not-sure-how-long-but somewhere-around-fifteen mile walk with a fellow walker who’d had a tooth pulled that morning due to pain! (and an infection, I imagine).

The last five miles were on a level path that ran parallel to the expansive beach just north of Half Moon Bay. A black bird with orange coloring along its wings kept us company the entire way.

After four Popsicles! (Yum!!! Thanks Caroline!) and a shower, it’s time for din-din. No electricity available (unless I want to hang out at the bathroom, which I don’t!), so it’ll be a rest night. They’re all set up for a camp fire which sounds like the perfect thing to enjoy and give my dogs a rest before another long walk tomorrow.

Signing off with a wave and a kiss.

;-)

-Sj

“To bed, to bed!”

said Sleeping Head.

“Let’s wait a bit,” said Slow.

“Put on the pot,” said Greedy Gut.

“Let’s eat before we go.”

Here it is the end of just two days walking, and those are the words running through my head.

: ) (My Dad used to say them; I found a site with the “original” version, if you’re interested.)

I just had a most wonderful shower at Oceana High School’s Jean E. Brink pool. Ate a very delicious and healthy meal prepared by Chris and Rachel, two volunteers who will be will us for a month. And am sitting nice and cozy in my private tent with (for real!) an ocean view. I can see the sun in the distance, and by my guesstimation, it’ll set in about 30-minutes. We’ve set up camp in a ball field and will be leaving here bright and early to walk around 17-miles tomorrow (we’re heading to Half Moon Bay).

“Enough about all that!” I hear. “What about the walk?”

I’ve only walked about 17-miles with the group so far and already so much has happened. We started at Ft. Baker in Sausalito, crossed the Golden Gate Bridge, and then walked on down the road, paths, and beach to the San Francisco Zoo (around 10-miles total). At times we were in a mini-forest and at others we were passing mansions. The weather has been absolutely perfect and we all have the sunburns to prove it (despite applying and reapplying sunblock!).

Today, we walked from the San Francisco zoo to the aforementioned school, around 7-miles total. We discovered Doggie Disneyland (my name, I’ve never seen so many dogs in my life! It was wonderful!), walked along a beautiful, rugged, wide stretch of beach with high, high cliffs as the eastern border. There are SO MANY wild flowers everywhere I look. Sorry, I don’t know the names. Marty, you probably know them!

And then after leaving the beach today, we passed the most highfalutin trailer park I’ve ever seen! We weren’t on the main highway but rather walking along a neighborhood type of road that runs parallel Californina Highway 1; we’re staying in the cute town of Pacifica for the night.

“How many people are walking?” you ask. It varies. We started out with fifteen, but then one of the organizers needed to organize, so she’s been riding in a car. Then a few others had sore feet, so they’ve been taking a break. It’s not a race but rather an e v e n t; so it’s pretty nice how relaxed they are about that. It’s about the cause — supporting American Sign Language — and not about who gets somewhere first. We ALL want to get there one way or another.

Speaking of ASL, I started a list in my iPhone yesterday while walking, a list of the new signs I’ve been learning. It’s LONG. Here’s the unedited version taken directly from that note pad. There may be some mistakes; I haven’t had a chance to check it out. So why send it? Just to give you an idea of all the things we’ve been talking about already. Yes, most concepts are fairly simple; they’re being “gentle” with me. : ) At least that’s how it feels to me.

Here goes. SJ’s list of new signs from day 1 of the walk:

Interview
communicate
monologue
funny (2 fingers on chin)
Fun (same as above and the bring two fingers if right hand down on two fingers if the left)
Seal (palm side clap)
Curious (finger at throat, different from thirsty)
Joke (Both hands in a fist with index finger out and bent. Move right hand out away from body over the left hand with index finger bent)
Hard (1st two fingers if each hand bend, one on top if the other)
Fake (1finger on chin)
More
Idiot (an I on head like stupid)
High (an H goes high)
Low (an L goes low)
Middle (touch in middle of hand)
Ready (2 r’s, left one moves left, Right to the right)
Volunteer (pull shirt away from shoulder)
Fresh (a lot like new) right hand scoops up what’s on left hand
Right (R finger moved to the right)
Left (L finger moves to the left)
West, south, north, east, are similar (W to left, E to right, etc. )
Fix (2 F’s touch and twist at end of thumb and index)
Hurt (the 2 index fingers touch)
Poop (thumb if right hand comes Dow out of left fist)
Dirty old man more or less (Hold for fingers up in my right hand. Bump the index finger on my chin. Stick part of my tongue out. Then rub a C on the top of my left hand.)
But others said NO on this one. But rather DIRTY which is the right hand top under the chin, palm down and wiggle the fingers)
Favorite (tip of Middle finger right hand touchrs the chin)
Which? (Each hand and assist with the thumb up. Alternate one up and one down.)
First (#1 hand palm out, turn it counter clockwise so fingers come toward the chest)
How many? (Top of hand out with fingers up And together. Open them once.)
People (P/K hand with Fingers up. Move them in mini  circles)
Bright (Both hands open like jazz hands)
Butter (the index and third finger if right hand stroke palm of left hand)
Delicious (thumb and third finger touch snap after touching the lips going out and up)
Smell (right hand moves towards nose like you’re smelling something. Kind of like when waving over a cooking pot to smell it)

I’ll post loads and loads of photos next . . . until then . . .

I’m W A V I N G goodbye!

-Sj

Next week I’ll be joining around 20-people to walk from San Francisco to Los Angeles over the course of 30-days.

Why are we doing this?

To raise awareness of American Sign Language and how vital it is to our shared culture.

But Sj, you’re not deaf; why are YOU doing it?

Because I want to. I love language and have always wanted to learn ASL; I even took classes with my dad when I was in high school.

But the real reason? My heart practically leapt out of my chest when I learned about the walk last Fall. My new friend Sharon and I were exploring a few Kaua‘i hikes when I caught the bug, the ASL bug. Be careful, you might catch it too. : )

Sj and Sharon are both walking from SF to LA.

I’ll post when I can; we’ll be in remote areas and most probably will have limited access to electricity and wi-fi.

It’s going to be an amazing experience. I know a l i t t l e sign (yes, I know how to sign “little” : ), but only a little. I’m literally jumping off the cliff of communication and will be flying with my wings of love, hope, and optimism. Yes, I have 3 wings. Only 2 just doesn’t cut it.

Drop me notes when you get a chance. I’d love to hear your stories of deaf friends or family who you adore. Yes, I only want to hear about people you adore. : ) I want to hear your passion . . . no, not the sexual kind, but the kind that pulls at your heart strings. The kind that makes you smile when you’re alone. Hmm, I can hear the chimes already.

Toodle-oo for now!

-Sj