Whew.....It is HOT!!!!

Hey there folks.

Okay......lets cut to the chase......Walking is lovely, walking is great, walking is good for us, walking is one of the best ways to see the world, walking is the ideal exercises.

Now that we have established how wonderful walking is, lets get down to business. Walking makes my FEET HURT!!!!! Did you hear me, whoops. I mean did you read that? Let me write it again....WALKING MAKES MY (MY) FEET HURT!!!!

I did some practice walking, I walked 10 miles here and there, I told folks "I am practicing for my walk to Sacramento." Everybody thought my practice was a great idea, and would be overall helpful. Wellllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll, the practice was good and all. Let me tell you a lil secret though, walking 20 plus miles per day in heat requires more than practice, it requires a tiny bit of..............lets say......ummmmmmmmmmmmmm "Are you out of your mind....????!!!!" (not a question, a statement).

all said with smiles and laughter

Gotta go walk for the next 4.5 hours....be back later.

me

Mid-day Phone Interview, Day 3

In this 22 minute mid-day interview with each of the walkers we hear a great run down about the people they've met along the way and their reflections on the state and country, and just what education means to everyday people around the state. We also hear about the physical energy levels of the walkers, who seem to be settling into their pace and feeling very good.

Click here to listen to the call.

New for Nike in 2009: the Ms.LeighAir

We catch up with Ms. Leigh on a short break from the morning walk where she tells us about her new Nike shoe. Will have a more in depth report from the road at the lunch break...

Listen to the report here.

Checking in with the marchers

The marchers are about to get back out on the road for their evening session, but I was able to catch up with them for a few minutes before they got on the road. Please listen in, as they wanted to share with everyone how it's been going.

Click here to listen to the call...

Keeping An Eye on The Weather

I've been using Wunderground's Google Map to track the temperatures through the day, as they have lots of personal weather stations showing current temps, thought others may want to follow along too. Looks like there may be a little rain on the walk today. I haven't gotten through to Ms. Leigh yet for the interview, but will post it as soon as I talk to her.

Work in Progress... Google Map of route

I've just added a Google Map that you can dynamically interact with and follow along with. I've only gotten the map through to Stockton, so will be adding more soon. Viewing the route with the satellite imagery gives you a great view of where they're walking.


View Larger Map

Day 2 update

I just spoke with Ms. Leigh and they report that all is well today. They are currently on Altamont Pass Road. They had a late night last night, not reaching their day goal until 11pm. So they had a late start this morning but are now on their way. I'll do a phone interview with them at 2pm during their rest period and have that up here for you this afternoon.

The Walk is On

It was an exciting morning at Harvey Milk Civil Rights Academy with numerous reporters, local dignitaries, friends and families coming out to see Ms. Leigh and Ms. Clark off on their walk to Sacramento. The interviews started before 6am, as the team did interviews for the various network morning shows.

We'll keep posting the various news stories as they go up on the web, and will have live reports from the walk as well.

NBC11 Part 2

See story and video of morning news coverage.

NBC 11 Coverage

See coverage from NBC 11 this morning.

KCBS Radio Spot

SF Principal, Supporters, Walk to Sacramento in Protest


LISTEN TO RADIO SPOT

SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS) -- Looming state budget cuts are forcing a San Francisco trio to hit the road in protest. One principal, one teacher and one parent are setting out on foot tomorrow to take their complaints to Sacramento.

Its 4.5 miles from Harvey Milk Academy in the Castro to the Embarcadero. From there, Principal Sande Leigh, along with her team, will ride BART to Dublin Station, then walk the 105 miles over the Altamont Pass through the Central Valley, with the hopes of arriving at the Governor's mansion on Saturday.

"I'm going to try my best to do this walk all the way from one end to the other. I'm 59-years-old and definitely not a fit person, but this is really important and I'm going to make it," said Leigh.

The group will carry a jar of $32 all in pennies, which she says will be left on the Governor's doorstep to illustrate the amount of money they have left in their budget to buy pencils,copy paper, markers and staples.

“Obviously the education crisis is not going to be solved by small donations to small schools, that’s why we’re trying to make this a bigger issue. It's not just a fundraiser for Harvey Milk Academy," said Leigh.

The group, supported by staff and parents will walk in the early morning and evening to avoid the 90-degree daytime heat. The walk is part fundraiser and part protest. They're hoping to raise at least some of the $35 thousand dollars lost in the last budget.

KCBS' Holly Quan reports

Ms. Clark and Ms. Leigh on the Radio

Ms. Clark and Ms. Leigh were on KAWL's Your Call talkshow this morning. You can listen to the edited version of the show here, or you can visit Your Call to hear the whole program.

Tomorrow, see kick-off coverage of the walk tomorrow morning on Mornings on 2 at 8:45am. KTVU Fox channel 2.

The WALK is tomorrow

WOW!!!! WOW!!!! WOW!!!! WOW!!!! WOW!!!! WOW!!!!

Tomorrow the walk begins, the "Trail of Broken Pencils" walk!

Tuesday

                                          July 29th

                                              8 am

me

Seeing as you Walk

This walk is wonderful for so many reasons, one being the ability to actually have the opportunity to intake how communities and landscapes change depending on what the main source of work people are doing to keep our society pumping along. 

If you decide to walk with us you will  have a chance to see farm areas, wealthy areas, industrial areas, impoverished areas, delta areas, suburban areas, and 'you name it areas'.  

One thing great about all the various areas is the sky above them is blue, the sun is bright-shiny-hot, the wind blows (although in the heat it is hard to tell), and all the people (self included) need one another in some way or another.  

Needing one another is kinda like this walk....it has taken many a meetings, lots of communicating, and lots of energy and time from lots of folks.

This ed-walk is about all of us.........your kids, her kids, his kids, their kids, every kid having a chance to get a solid public education.

me

Long walks and practice

Hey there folks....

Well today I decided to walk to do all my errands.  The walk was really nice, I had an opportunity to give a head nod and say hello to folks passing; I had the opportunity to actually see what some of the stores are selling, nothing interested me; I had the opportunity to think about some of the things I think are important, and why; I had the opportunity to listen to music on my $79 shuffle (it is now $49) and hear the actual lyrics of songs I have long time enjoyed; most importantly I had an opportunity to think about all the reasons I have to be thankful.

This evening I took a nice bike ride, maybe 4 miles (ish) give or take half a mile.  Anyway, the ride was just wonderful.  I smiled, people smiled back; I said hello, folks said hello back; no one tried to run me off the road, or honked their horns to hurry me along.  It was a nice ride, a very nice ride.

me

Thank you

THANK YOU

THANK YOU

Thank You

Thank You

thank you

thank you

thank u

thank u

!

 (to all those who care)

me

Feeling Fine Friday

Howdy Folks,

I am starting to get real real excited.  I mean here it is the Friday before the walk, the education walk.  I think this walk is a big deal, it is a beginning, it matters, it is telling.

We (teachers, parents, children, families, communities) are coming together to bring attention to the importance of public education.  

Get your socks, get your thoughts, get your sneakers.....oh yeah, get some water! It is almost Tuesday time, walk time.

me

Cities of Adventurous Walk Journies

Education Walk

"Trail of Broken Pencils"

San Francisco to Sacramento

These are the cities we will walk through

Oakland

Dublin
Pleasanton
Livermore
Tracy
Stockton
Lodi
Elk Grove
Sacramento

Pick a city, any city, come walk.  Can't wait to see you.  Can't wait to walk with you.  Can't wait to share this experience with you.  

Tuesday---JULY 29th

FOLKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WOW-O-WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  We are one week away from an awesome walk.  I am so excited.

Get your sneakers and socks out.....it is almost time to walk.

My walking

=======================================putting the steps on the pavement

So yesterday I walked, I walked maybe five miles.  

In my walking I am noticing things that I would and have otherwise missed.  My walking attention is most focused on people, people busy passing me, people sitting in cars at red lights, people hurrying along, people running, people talking, people jogging, people laughing, people on benches reading, people engaged in all sorts of stuff.

My walking attention is also very observant of people who seem to have been forgotten, ignored, not cared for, been given up on, and let go of.  Who are these people?  They are the people living on the fringes of our communities.  They are the people deserving of all life has to offer.  They are the people dealing with all sorts of life obstacles, some they created through making poor choices, some created by everything else.  

What can we do?  What can I do?  Well there are all sorts of things, starting with caring, which most everyone does.  Something more can be done too, something called EDUCATION.  The better everyone is educated, the stronger our communities, the better critical thing skills we have collectively, the better choices we make in our personal lives, the better our society.

Lets walk....walk in support of public education.

Supportive educators---Supportive people

------------------>>>>> Support...Supportive....Supporters....Support<<<<<---------------

Yesterday evening I went to a Teachers 4 Social Justice meeting, and what a great group of educators are involved in the collective.  The members are aware of our education walk, they have wonderful things to say, they care about what happens to children, they care about public education, they care about teachers, they think walking is great, they want to be in support of us.

ed-walker

Good Folks

Good Folks

Okay.....So I have been putting the walking time in, and it is such grand fun.  Honestly walking is great, it doesn't require lots of pressure on the joints, not a lot heavy labored breathing, and it isn't rushed tiredness.

What do I mean by rushed tiredness?  Well I mean.....of course there is some tiredness involved, but it isn't all at once, like running.  Also, red lights are a big help.  I have never wanted to see so many red lights....(ha ha ha ha).

The practice walking also grants me the close-up opportunity to see all the "good folks" that are all around us at every moment of every day.  Yeah, there are some folks that can allow us to believe there is little hope, but don't believe the hype....Be positive, spread positivity, stay positive....be a "good folk."

Later...

The Thinker

Mind on Walking....and coffee

Some seem the song.....

Well I woke-up this morning with my mind focused on walking.  I was thinking about shoes and practice.  I know I have got to be sure to get myself ready to do the walk......

Day---------Miles

Tuesday---- 15

Wednesday--- 20

Thursday--- 20

Friday--- 20

Saturday--- 20

All the distances are 'ish'

Now for some of you sporty-types walking long distances in the summer heat is no big deal, heck you probably do it everyday just for the fun of it.  But for this teacher-type.....uhhhhh, not!!!! (ha ha ha....hope you're having fun with me).

talk to you later.

Walking shoes

Well......

I have been walking in different shoes everyday trying to figure-out which two pairs will sustain the long daily walks best.  Well.......ummmmmm....I must say the pair of choice is still unknown.

Nike Air:----the air is okay, but my feet seem to slide forward. (4 miles)

NB:------okay, but seems more hike'ish-like. (6 miles)

Asics gel:----more of a running shoes.  (10 miles)

All of the above mentioned sneaks are some that I have owned, not newly purchased, yet not over worn.

I am thinking I may want to try NB992's, I know that I've heard good things about them over the years, but have never purchased.  We'll c, & I'ma let'cha know. (texttalk-style).

Walk-on.

Kelly

A BIG Thank You

Thank you 

Michelle made the contact to get us water-walking-backpacks, and Camelbak came through like champs.  

Camelbak donated two very nice backpacks, some water bottles, and some water soluble energy tablets.  

Thank you again Camelbak.

Kelly