January 2 is Kirk's birthday and he invites his friends to walk the bridge with him. Mike is still too injured to walk but Geoffrey agreed to walk with me. With the little exercise I've gotten in the second half of the year, I wondered if this was possible to go all the way across and all the way back. Going was a little challenging because we shared the walkway with bicyclists. Part of the appeal is the beauty of this bridge and the inevitable desire to stop and take photos. It was nearly 4 by the time I made it across, and the sun was going down on the walk back. But amazingly, the bicycles had disappeared. They had opened the other side for bicycles and we were free to walk at our pace, take photos, and enjoy the scene. Walking the bridge each year is a validation for me that I can still do it. And a great way to greet this beautiful city that is my home.
