WOW! I even found a website with pictures of Draper Field so I can see where I am going LOL! This is great! I am impressed by all the stuff about Hopedale on the Internet!

My warm-up walk has taken me from my old house in Mansfield to the intersection of 495 and Hartford Ave... 15 miles... I am about 5 miles short..

So... someone pick me up.. I'll be the one standing on the side of the road with a big smile on her face.

Really if I could do five more and get there on my own I would.. but hey.. someone is going my way, aren't they?

I'll be starting out a 5 am in the morning, so for all you that sleep in.. you can catch up later in the day!


Dee

Jayde, I would be glad to pick you up but I got a direct airline flight tonight from Seattle straight into Hopedale! I was amazed that there was an airport there big enough to land a jet, wow! But I would think surely there is someone here who could spot you and give you a lift on in. Bailey said she is driving so maybe she could stop for you.

Dee I often start around 5 AM too but I can see you are going to have me beat... because that would only be 2 AM if I was back in Seattle, and I will probably have jetlag so it will SEEM like it really IS 2 AM!! So you will probably be in Milford before I get started (assuming that is the town we are going to LOL I don't know that area at all and just looked at Mapquest). Also tomorrow I work at a food bank part of the day so may not be able to get off to a very good start on the miles.

By the way there was one drawback to the direct flight... it doesn't actually LAND in Hopedale but in Boston. So if you see a jet going over Draper Field, look up and wave... I will be the one jumping out with the parachute. They promised to drop me right over the field!!!

Oh... and since I do not really like to be called Dance4Joy but prefer "Misti" I will sign myself as that... somehow the other got started from my sign in name which is old old old LOL. I am sure I will get addressed as both but here among friends I would rather be Misti. (As in Misti in Seattle).

Misti

Hey this is great!!!!

http://www.hopedale-ma.gov/Public_Do...A_Parks/photos

Be sure to click on "Draper Field Today"

See you there bright and early tomorrow LOL

Here is the starting lineup so far:

HealthierMe - Hopedale MA
Michele - Iowa
Jayde - West of the Atlantic
Lydia - San Antonio TX
Kathy - ?
Bailey - MA
No Spring Chick - ?
Apple Blossom - Sacramento CA
Dee - Florida Keys
Lala - Central Florida
Misti (aka Dance4Joy) - Seattle WA

Misti

Well guys... the heel pain is really getting me today, but I got 1.5 miles in, and plan on doing more later today. I guess I'm going to have to get a cortisone shot in that heel after all, OUCH! Hope everyone has a great morning and a great day.. I'm going to be at my kid's hockey games this morning, but then I'm going to attempt to walk home.

Dee
3/25- 1.5 miles so far

OH, and Misti, good luck on that parachute landing.. if it is as windy in hopedale as it is in the keys today, it may be a rough one,

Great start, Dee! Hope your heel gets better! I understand, as I have plantar fascitis (sp?) and bone spurs... not always easy to get these bodies i shape!!!

It is 4:40 back home Seattle time and I just landed safely in Draper Field... whew you were right; that wind was rough!!! I am just now changing into my walking clothes and ready to hit the streets!!!

Will meet up with the rest of you a bit later!

Misti

The first thing that I should tell you is that Joe Perry from Aerosmith is from Hopedale. They played their first gig at Nipmunk Regional High Scholl, up the road. When they were inducted into the MTV Hall of fame they actually wore Nipmunk shirts. So it's befitting to listen to a little Aerosmith music if you'd like. Now the historians would argue that this fact is not the most important one.

Today Hopedale is a small community with about 6,000 residents, it is 31 miles SW of Boston. The first recorded settlement was based around a mill that was set up to grind corn in 1669 by Benjamin Albee. Then in 1842, followers of Reverend Adin Ballou, would were looking to combine christian values with relgios freedoms, formed a community. They combined farming and manufacturing and took strong social stands again on many pressing issues such as women's rights. The area was called Hope Dale, it had formerely been called just The Dale.

Sadly, there were disagreements that ended in bankcruptcy in 1856. Two followers of Ballou, George and Ebenezer took over the land and eventually started making textile machinery. These machines were sent all over the world, and many believe that those shipments by the Draper Mill were what resulted in the textile industry moving to the South.

The mill has long since closed, so Hopedale does not really have an industry. In fact there is no bank, no supermarket and but one gas station. We do have a small airport and a small golf course. Other things you need can be found in nearby Milford or Bellingham.

So, we are walking out way to I-90, which is about 11 miles away

Glad you made it Dee and Misti!

More to follow.....

Wow thanks for all the good info, HM! It is neat that I am also learning about the country. In researching Hopedale I found it fascinating! It sounds like a wonderful place to live!

I am logging in my first 3 miles!!!

I will be looking for a church to "attend" tomorrow so am hoping we can make it to Milford in time LOL

Misti

This sounds like fun! What a good idea. A great incentive for me to get off my butt and go for a long walk or job. I'm going to go and sign up!

Misti, you forgot about Lena!

I'm off to a slow start already. I blame it on jet lag!

Welcome, Odaley… so this makes us 13 now, doesn’t it? Or did I miscount?

Days that the steps or miles were logged: March 25
Steps/miles for that time: 3.2 miles
Total number of steps/miles, to date in the challenge: HM… we are putting cumulative miles for the whole group here, right? If so, it is 7.2..counting what I just logged in.
We need 3.8 more miles to get us to I-90..

HM thanks for all the info on Hopedale. It seems like a peaceful place to live. I saw a picture of part if the old mill wall… buried in the woods.. it reminded me of an old house foundation I came upon as a child wandering in the woods..

I am absolutely sore today.. last night I could barely move.. so I am surprised that I got on the treadmill.. let alone stayed on it.. after the first half mile I was ready to quit.. I kept the incline as usual.. but think my next spurt might be a walk on flatter terain... But I feel great.. sore but great.

I am confused... I thought we were starting to count the miles for the coast to coast today, 3/26. I only show 4.5 miles... but LOL, HM is keeping it all in a database so will see what she shows and make mine match it. Good thing we have an official milekeeper since we (or at least I) are confused before we even get out of town... LOL poor HM!!!

Yikes, how did I miss Lena?? LOL sorry Lena... I did know you were here!! Humbly begging your forgiveness!

LOL Jayde that is one thing about living in Seattle... I can forget about the idea of walking on flat terrain. There isn't any!!! When I first moved back from Fort Lauderdale (flat flat flat) it took me a while to get my "Seattle legs" back LOL

Misti

Good Morning! Just stretching and getting ready to get started but...did you all leave without me? I am walking right now will be back with miles..Did we start today Saturday or Did I miss it yesterday...Oh well I could maybe run a little and catch up.....Blyn