Walk 7/23/11: Normal-Bloomington-Normal

From Curt’s house in Normal to my old apartment in Bloomington, then back again.

Started around 7:50pm. I waited until the sun went down, as it was very hot.

Called Justin and spoke with him for a bit. He was at some gallery in Philly where kids could come make comics.

Walked south along the Constitution Trail, through downtown Normal.

Read a plaque outside the City Hall. There used to be a large horse stable there:

After the Civil War, the Dillon family brought their horse business, E. Dillon & Co., to Normal. They specialized in importing, breeding, and selling Percheron draught horses.

The brick building opposite shares a foundation with that complex. Claims the plaque.

Lots of fireflies on the trail, but not as many as I remember.

Farther south, I passed an amphitheater, where a performance of Into the Woods was underway.

Not many people on the trail. Due to the heat?

Walked under the camel-back bridge. Walked over those two curvy bridges.

Passed Bloomington Cycle and Fitness, where I once bought a bike. I’d completely forgotten about that shop.

Arrived at my old place around 9pm. I couldn’t remember if the washer and drier there were free or coin op, so I peeked in. (Turns out they’re coin op.)

Someone else was living there now. (Of course.)

I didn’t want to head back along the trail, so I continued through downtown Bloomington.

That tiny, tiny post office.

Passed the Eaton Gallery. Was pleased to see that Common Ground is still there.

There sure are plenty of bars in that neck of the woods.

I was wearing red short shorts from American Apparel, plus a tight black tank top. I got lots of catcalls, mainly from kids in passing cars.

Skirted Franklin Square and headed north through Wesleyan’s campus. More people were there. One of the buildings was hosting some kind of reception.

I walked through one of the buildings for water and thirty seconds of air conditioning.

Remembered an ice cream stand west of there. Carl’s? Where they put eyes on the ice cream if you asked for them.

(Edible eyes.)

Crossed Emerson. Didn’t feel like passing the hospital. Walked on and turned north on S. Fell. Guided by that tower topped with the glowing blue cross, a thing out of J.R.R. Tolkien.

The nearby creek (Sugar Creek?) was bone-dry. The road was also very dark.

Passed the apartment building where many friends used to live—Joseph, Carmen, Tim, Erin, Gabe. It’s up for sale.

Continued north till I reached ISU, just south of Watterson Towers. Then reached the Marriott, then downtown Normal (which is now called “Uptown”?). Crossed through the circular fountain there and rejoined the trail. Even darker there.

Arrived back at Curt’s place at 10:10pm. 140 minutes, 7.5 miles.