COVID Life at 6AM

Part of my physical therapy has been to get up each morning, head out at 6AM and head out for a walk around Bernal Hill.  My ultimate goal is to walk up this hill on Bocana Street without hiking poles, which I accomplished a in late May.  

Many of you wonder, "don't you usually do your workout at 6AM?" And yes, I would like to, but the home workouts wake up Onions, so I've moved those to 4:30PM in the afternoon.  I started these morning walks back in early April and here's the view at the first bench I hang out at at 6:10AM.  

The 6AM view in early May.  In my almost three months of 6AM walks, I've come to recognize the same people who are out at the same time.  One of them always says hello and she runs with a yellow safety vest.  She (alas, I forget her name) appears to be the 6AM welcoming committee because talks to EVERYONE.

6AM in early June.

6AM with some fog

Sometimes, the entire city is socked in with Karl the Fog!

By the middle of June daylight views were available at 6AM

I throw on the mask when it feels crowded on the hill, which for some reason is Tuesday and Thursday mornings.  Otherwise.....

From my first bench I head down the north side of the hill in a clockwise fashion.  Right now, the writing on the pavement spells out "The Future is Black"

On that north side is the memorial to Alex Nieto, who was killed by police on this spot in March 2014.  In 2019 a memorial was approved by the city and fundraising is happening.

I also pass the famous Bernal Boulder, which is a neighborhood landmark.  People decorate it for different holidays and events.  Here's how it was decorated for most of the month of April

Then the George Floyd murder happened on Memorial Day and the protests around the country began and this showed up.  Drama ensued!

The BLM theme was spray painted over a few times and someone called into Public Works and reported it as graffiti and DPW came to spray over the "graffiti" without consultation of the community.  The person who kept spraying over the rock came to become known as "Pizza Patty" (because she thought the boulder shouldn't be political and have fun themes like pizza).  So for a few days after the controversy, I would walk by and there would be someone sleeping by the rock to guard it.  And somedays, there is someone hanging out serenading us with a guitar and singing.  When that happens I just think, "so Bernal."

Here's the latest incarnation of the movement!

After passing Bernal, I have a spot where I can duck in the bushes for a quick pee (yeah, I know) and then comes the long not too steep uphill along the south side.  It used to seem long but now I just count out the fire hydrants.  Then I get to this spot on the western slope.  Sometimes the fog is amazing to watch as it rolls in or out over Twin Peaks.

TEXAS FOREVER!  I know the walk so well, I recognize all the cracks in the street and notice all the things that I see on the ground!

Looking to the southwest, is home.  Just over the yellow house in the center of the photo is some trees.  Those are the trees in our backyard!  From this spot, it's all downhill home.  I get home with a good sweat and having gotten my heartbeat up.  After breakfast, three times a week, I do yoga.