This morning, after stepping out into the murky and sauna-like atmosphere, just for kicks I decided to visit the site of Lincoln Park Days at Youth Center Park. It was already warm and the humidity was off the charts, as the fog had finally burned off.  I knew I had arrived before the event would begin, but, for a change of pace in my daily walking routine, I decided to stop by and roam around the grounds and view the vendors’ stalls and various carnival rides.  This is Day #3 of the annual event.

I am sure the most-visited stand will be the vendor who is hawking tall, thirst-quenching cups of freshly squeezed lemonade interspersed with pulpy citrus bits and a slice of lemon rind plopped in for good measure.  In the past,  I know I’ve written about the elephant ears and cotton candy, standard fare at any carnival or fair, but it is no longer just all about those sweet and sticky treats; now, you can make an entire meal out of the goodies the various vendors are touting and the menu sure was making me hungry.  Good thing they had not fired up the grills yet!  If you don’t slake your thirst with a tart lemonade, it looked like the beer tent was another option.

There were still a few muddy puddles left over from yesterday’s torrential rain and Youth Center Park was lush and green, but the grass was soaking wet.  I quickly cut through the park, occasionally dipping below a shady tree to cool off, then headed back up to Emmons Boulevard to walk along part of my regular route.  I was home and in the cool house before the first screams were heard from the carnival ride patrons.

Nothing says Summertime like the thrill of carnival rides and sipping a tall and tart lemonade. Even though Summer is not on its last gasp yet, the fair in the park usually signals the end of Summer fun and is a reality check that Fall and/or school activities will soon fill our calendars.

Only a few more miles to go and I’ll reach 500 miles walked thus far in 2016 … if the weather permits, I may just reach that mile marker before Labor Day week, the intended goal date.  In that vein, I leave you with this quote I saw earlier today on a photo site … I think it was tailor-made for me.

“Not I, nor anyone else can travel that road for you. You must travel it by yourself. It is not far. It is within reach. Perhaps you have been on it since you were born, and did not know.  Perhaps it is everywhere – on water and land.”  ― Walt Whitman