… I didn’t even ride the merry-go-round.

Well, I knew I was going to break that 400-mile barrier today when I set off on my walk, so I decided to just hang out close to home and scope out the 2015 version of “Lincoln Park Days”, an annual celebration in our City, which takes up residence for three days at Youth Center Park. There is daily musical entertainment, and, in general, a carnival-type atmosphere, complete with a midway with amusement rides and vendor stands of all the goodies you can grab and feast on, like corn dogs, elephant ears and cotton candy. The event is as old as the City and soon both will be celebrating their centennial year.

So, I left a little later than normal since I planned to visit the grounds and take a stroll and maybe get some pictures. But, when I stepped outside, it was very gloomy-looking, as if a second bout of rain threatened any moment, so I decided to leave the camera behind, just use a stock photo instead and capture the flavor of the fair with my words.

Unfortunately, there was not much to observe, because the third day of this annual event had not opened yet, though the carnies and vendors, as well as some other City personnel were already milling about the grounds. The vendors hadn’t fired up their grills and deep fryers yet, so the smell of sausages, corn dogs and elephant ears did not drift through the fairgrounds in the humid morning air. I pranced past the area where the ponies were stationed for rides for the kids, and, it was there I heard a snort or two from some ponies, perhaps disgruntled with their usual fare of oats and water and looking for something tastier … maybe a hot dog or a gyro with a brewski from the beer tent?

I did a whole tour of the grounds and perused the Las Vegas-style tent and stage, then decided to scurry home after a few large raindrops plopped down on my bare arm, and I had left home without rain gear.

Though I was way too early to “step right up and join the fun”, the flavor of the fair was still there – frozen in time, like a large cup of slushy lemonade.

Sitting down after this morning’s trek, I checked my log and confirmed that I have walked over 200 miles since July 2^nd! I know I have really pushed myself the past two months. I had been woefully behind and when we eventually got through all that rain, I knew I could finally make some progress. I have four months to walk 100 more miles to meet my 500-mile goal for the year 2015.  I don’t think I’ll have a problem attaining that end result.