48th Birthday at Panhandle Trail

For my 48th birthday, we went to Panhandle Trail and walked three miles.  It was long time ago when we last walked  there, eleven years ago I think.  My children were just 5 and 3 years old when we went there with Jen's family.

Now, 15 and 13, it's been a long time, really so I am so glad that we went.  It was a special birthday treat.  

My husband took a day off which was a real nice gift.  A time spent with your love one is better than any expensive gifts you can ever received.  I love this because we seldom get to go for a long walk as he is always working and the kids are busy with school stuff as well.

The modern Panhandle Trail spans 29 miles from Walkers Mill in Collier Township, traversing through the Northern sector of Washington County, to Colliers, West Virginia. 

This Panhandle Trail is now part of The Industrial Heartland Trails Coalition, as well as the Great American Rail-Trail that spans from Washington State to Washington, DC.

There were few joggers and walkers there.  It's an overall relaxing place to unwind and enjoy the nature while burning some calories.

I would love  it if we went earlier but the kids overslept so the sun was out already when we went.  It was still relaxing because the trail is surrounded by trees and bushes.

We stopped at the stream and listen to the  sound of the water while catching our breaths.

In two years time, I will be in golden age, yay.  If it weren't for my knee injury, I would still be running.  I love to walk but sometimes I love running as well.  

My little guy is always ready to explore.  He went down and check the water.  I was a bit scared that he would fall and end up wet but thank goodness, he did not.

He saw the tree swqing and wants to try it as well.

I thought he would be able to swing but the rope is too far we couldn't reach it even  using a wooden stick.

It would have been nice if he was able to do it.

I am guessing that this part of the trail is a party place for some.  The smell of urine was very strong and there were camp fire traces in there.

We only walked up to 1.5 and we came back as the sun was already up and it was hot.

That's how I spent my birthday, out in the nature with my loves.  

To my children, I am grateful for the time you took to spend time with your mama.

To my husband, thank you very much for taking a day off.  I know that you are very busy with work but I really do appreciate that you spend a day with us.

I definitely want to go back there again.  I hope we can all go again as a family.  A walk with my husband would be great as well.

Our 9-MIle Journey to Fitness Last Part - Going Back

Going back is the hard part  especially if you have rested your body already. The kids were a little exhausted although they were  very  glad that they get to rest their feet and legs for another half our 9-mile walking journey.  

 Going down Marland Heights was the easy part for the kids.  They were not complaining but I can tell that they were getting wore out.

 The sun was starting to unleash it's heat so it was hard on the kids but they were   real troopers.  They just continue without whining.

 Even the boys have slowed down so I took the chance of  taking photos of them as e move on.

 Weirton is a small city  that boarders three states, PA, WV, and OH.  The steel mill used to be the booming industry here but  according to what I've read, the Union ruined it.  Small part of the mill is still operating but the huge part is no longer inoperation which is sad.  You can see the steel coil onthe background.  

 You can tell my daughter was already wore out by the time and we still have like 2.5 miles to wlak  hat's why  we di  a short stop and let her rest.

 Our son on the other hand wasfull of energy.  He didn't slow down a bit.

 I keep motivating my daughter that  we are almost home but she knows that we arejust halway home.

 Thi is a natural spring water.  Ihave drink   a couple of times here already and  I didn't get sick.  We didn't let thekids drink here because I am not sure if their immune system can tolerate it.  Even my husband is afraid to take a drink.  Hesaid that his Dad used to get gallons of water from this  place when his grandma is visiting them because  she didn't like city water.  

 Reaching the top of the hill was a big relief for my little lady, she was otired already.

 Wehad to stop again and let her rest for a while before takin the last one mile of our walk.

 This is the house that we love along the way.  The front yard is huge.

 This is part of St. Paul Cemetery.  We bought three plots on this which will be another post next time, lol.

 We finally reached the Pennsylvania Avenue.  The sun was sointense by this time as it was non time already.

 I think the last one mile was the hardest for the kids to finish because it was too hot.

We are so thrilled that our children did it without compaining, not even a slight whine came out from them.  We are so proud of them.  Not many kids do this kind of activity especially  at their age. I am so glad we are raising  some real tropper individuals.  It's been 4 days since our long walk.  We have been going for  walks around the neighborhood but no long walk so far.  We might do it again before the summer is over.  

Our 9-MIle Journey to Fitness Part 4 - Marland Heights Hill

To continue my post about our 9-mile  family walk journey, I am showcasing the   hike  we did to the steep Marland Heights Hill.  We thought of  showibng the trail to the kids but since it was muggy that day, we were worried that there wil be lots of mosquito in the woods so we choose to take the  short but tought route.  It's also a scary road with kids because  there are parts where there is no  space for walkers.

Here pushing their best to reach for our detination, their Pap's house.

They were so releived seeing Dad's street lol.

They couldn't wait to get inside and  take a rest while visiting Dad.  He was  in bed when we arrived, it was around 10:30  and he was already drunk.  He fell from the bed when he tried to get up.  Hubby and I had a hard time picking them up.  It is very sad seeing Dad turninginto alcoholic.  He is  almost 93 and  drinking shuld not be part of his daily routine.  I wish I have the voice and tell the rest of the family to stop giving him whisky.

Anyway, we had fun visiting him.  He was ornery because he was drunk.  My husband made him  some potatoes for breakfast because he said that he  can't figure out how to  turn the oven on.

We let them eat and he kept asking me for a drink so I gave him water but he did not want that.  He then told me what kind of "grnd-daughter" I was  for saying no to him when he ask me for a drink.  I told him that I care for him that's why I don't want him to drink no more.  Besides he was already drunk and I was worried that when we leave, he is going to fal and his  his head somewhere.

After an hour or so, we  got ready to head head back.  He then told us that we only visited for 5 minutes.  Oh boy. Nevertheless, we had  fun visiting and I am sure he was   also glad that we came.  He might not remember it but that's how itgoes now that he can barely remember things.  I will be posting the last part of our journey, let us see if  thekids still have the strength toclimb the steep Greenbrier Road.  Find outhow they did on the next post.

Our 9-MIle Journey to Fitness Part 3 - Downtown Weirton

Even though we have  walked around in downtown Weirton for several occassions, there are parts also that we  have nevered  explored  yet.  Just like the Millsop Community Center, we have never walked  on the other side of it so we never knew that the  wall there has a neat design.  They designed the brick like the Steel Mill.    See what we are mssing by driving all the time? 

Beside the  train track is  the water treatment facitlity.  It stinks   but the sound of water   somehow relaxes you when you walk beside the facility.  It's one of those weird places where you want to  hurry up and pass it because it stinks but when you are so tired, you want to slow down and enjoy the  relaxing sound of the water.

I told my husband that it would be neat to walk beside the train track but he said that he isnot sure if people is allowed there.  He is also very cautious when the kids are around.

Approaching the Muinicpal Plaza building.  The place where you take your driving test, renew license and  other stuff.

See the boys went ahead of us  so I just  took pictures of my willing subject, lol. She even jumped for me, yay!  By this time, we have walked 3 miles already and look hhow much energy she still have .

We finally caught up with the boys, they were waiting for us at the bench.  So this was our  short   stop.

We took some phots in front of the Millsop Community Center since we never had  a picture there.

Our son keep asking "Do we really have tio take pictures?" It cracks me but I told him that  we never did this  before so  I wanted to really document it.  I told him thathe would appreciate  these photos  later on.

Here's a reflection photo f us to end this part 3  post of ourjourney.  The part 4 will be the climb to Marland Heights hill.  You can check the Part One and Part Two of our 9-mile journey.  Tune in and thank you for being part of our journey.