As we headed to the start of the walker's course, we became aware that a lot of people were walking. Many had small children or strollers with them. Quite a few were seniors. I know I am not in the best shape, but I take a lot of pride being able to keep up toe to toe with a septuagenarian.
The obligatory crunchy volunteer got up with a non-functioning bull horn to give us a low down on the course. The walk would be 2 miles, beginning 1/10th of a mile down the road and would resume at the actual Peace Pagoda, which I had not seen at this point.
I took issue to the fact that the starting line was 1/10th of mile from our current position. Shouldn't that make the course 2 and 1/10th miles long? I had signed up for 2 miles and now there was a pre-walk walk. We were all gathered listening to this guy. Why not just start here and end all that much sooner? It is misadvertising like this that gets me going....but I digress.
The crunchy guy then introduces Brother Toby, who is to be our leader for the walk. Brother Toby is a monk from the Peace Pagoda. Brother Toby is white man, about 50 years old, dressed in robes to form what can be most closely described as a toga. He has a shaved head, thick glasses and is wearing high end hiking shoes. He is also carrying a drum.
Brother Toby bows deeply and leads us to the starting line. Now my spirits soared when I saw the ederly participants; The sight of Brother Toby truly inspired a sense of confidence. I mean I was just sure there was an inhaler tucked into his robes. Greg and I would stay a few paces back from the lead and when the finish line was in site, make our move to finish first, trying our best not to knock Brother Toby and the seniors over in the process (although thoughts of being compared to George Costanza and the fire alarm episode of Seinfeld did put a smile on my face!)
To be continued...
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