Walking groups, Mindful Walking | Fresno Mindfulness Walks

  • Home
  • Videos and Podcast
  • Contact
  • Resources
  • Previous Walks
  • Privacy Policy
  • Prev
  • Next

Reflection Walk 48, Yr 2, (Walk #100) from Sunnyside Country Club

November 6, 2016November 6, 2016 By fmw
Reflection, Walk 48, Yr 2, from Sunnyside Country Club.  Four mindfulness walkers met on a lovely cool morning in southeast Fresno on Butler in the heart of the historic Sunnyside neighborhood, under towering trees and to the sounds of birds and golf carts.  Walkers met Debbie in her beautiful front yard that was full of her artwork, handmade stepping stones, glasswork, moose carved bench, large dragonfly made from ceiling fan blades (see photos).  Walkers met Elaine Bowlin inside her home during her estate sale.  Elaine’s husband, Glenn Bowlin, passed away in August.  Glenn was an irrigation expert and water conservationist.  Glenn had an amazing collection of antique sprinklers (see photos).
Walkers said, “seeing these homes makes me curious about the history of Sunnyside.  I’ve driven in but never noticed the homes behind the gates.”  Walkers strolled along the tracks at the backside of the golf course with old houses to the north and west and new homes to the east and south.  Walkers noticed the towering trees above the roof lines compared to the sparse green above the roof lines in the new neighborhoods to the east and south.  Walkers talked about walking on the edge of old and new, and at the intersection of Fresno, Clovis, and Sanger.  Walkers were greeted by 3 or 4 neighborhood people willing to chat and recommend places to walk.
Walkers wondered about the the story/history behind the train tracks.  It’s narrower than the Amtrak lines and looks maintained.  Is it used?   Maybe we should ask Paula Lloyd who writes the history column in the Fresno Bee.  Paula?
Smells:  wet mowed grass, woods, dew/wetness, dryer sheets, cigarettes, garbage or rotten fruit, burning debris….Sounds: train in the distance, distant roar of military jets from National Guard base at Fresno airport, frequent barking from large dogs, birds chirping, three occasions of loud music blaring from car windows (rap, deep base, country music)  loud motorcycles, blowers, mowers, golf carts.  Many moments of relative quiet under the trees and along the dense foliage of the track trail with just birds and crunch of our steps.  Greetings from residents sweeping or drinking coffee on the porch.  Sounds of people talking from a backyard morning gathering.

Sights:  big trees, citrus trees with ripening fruit, front yard art (Debbie came out to greet and check on us), fountains, only one house with bars on porch or windows, walkers only saw 2 kids in back yard, big/deep yards, lady running with her dog, variety in architecture, really cool unique architecture and landscaping, one house had a pool that seemed to be in the front yard.  Many houses with solar panel.  These homes seem inviting.  Unique and varied architecture.  A more welcoming feel with deep yards and landscaping and no chain linked fencing.  Newer developments in the city vs. county islands.  Walkers talked about the mix of campaign signs since we are at the intersection of Clovis, Sanger, Fresno.  The worn path along the tracks.  Some graffiti on the walls along the tracks.

What walkers didn’t see:  few if any sidewalks. (Walkers thought this was county island.) No homeless people, but did see signs of belongings, bedding, and trash along the tracks.  No kids out playing/riding bikes.  A runner recommended we walk along the canal and said, “it’s late enough the hobos should be gone.”  No abandoned shopping carts.  No front yard dogs running along barking at walkers.  No razor wire.  Walkers did talk about the cacti planted at the back fences of homes along the tracks.

Walkers talked about the recent news of gang arrests in southeast Fresno.  Walkers felt comfortable walking in this area without noticing criminal or gang activity.  Walkers talked about the extreme contrasts that can exist even within one section of Fresno.

Walkers imagined more walking paths, maybe along the railroad tracks.  This track/trail could connect to canal trail.  Walkers saw the entrance to a canal walking path at Butler and DeWitt with many walkers and cars parked at the entrance.

Who decides about county island areas?  It’s really weird where city and county stop and start.  What’s the benefit or costs to living in city vs. county.  Police?  Fire?  Garbage pickup?  Voting?

Walkers discussed how enjoyable it is to walk in these neighborhoods, beautiful inviting homes, serene, mature trees are so inviting.

These are our brothers and sisters in Fresno.  All of our lives and futures are tied together.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/fresnomindfulnesswalks/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1850012098618869
This entry was posted in Uncategorized

Related Posts

  • Discover or rediscover Fresno by walking mindfully

    September 5, 2019January 16, 2022
  • Fresno Mindfulness Walk — September 21, 2019, 10 a.m.

    August 16, 2019September 7, 2019
  • The Design Cycle – everything begins with empathy.

    September 23, 2018September 25, 2018

Post navigation

  Mindfulness walks are a breeding ground for insight!
Mindfully Walking as a way to healing  

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

UPCOMING WALK: Saturday, January 29, 2022, 10 a.m.

Fresno Mindfulness Walks will lead a Saturday morning walk on January 29, 2022, beginning at 10 am. at 271 N. Glenn Ave., Fresno, CA 93701 (the home of Craig Scharton).  
 
The walk will be about 3 miles, at a stroll to medium pace, occasionally on uneven ground, and take about an hour and a half. By walking mindfully and without talking, we will experience the Lowell neighborhood in new ways. At the conclusion of the walk, we’ll gather back at Craig’s yard and spend a few minutes talking about what we discovered about ourselves and the neighborhood. 
Walks are free and require no RSVP. Look for the Facebook event to share with your friends. For email notifications, sign up in the yellow bar at the top.
Lori Clanton
Lucky Leader to Fresno Mindfulness Walks

How FMW works —

Fresno Mindfulness Walks are weekly opportunities for people to walk together for a 4 mile route through a different Fresno neighborhood each week. Walkers practice active mindfulness by attending to the sights, sounds, smells, feelings.  Walkers do not talk to each other on walks, but we do greet people we meet along the way.  The walk location and exact start time are posted just a few days in advance. All walks are free, require no RSVP, and anyone is welcome to join one walk or many. To learn about upcoming walks, you can sign up for a weekly email in the yellow bar at the top of this website and/or LIKE and follow the FMW Facebook page.

 

To learn about the routine that begins each walk and read some of the resources that have inspired FMW, check out the resources page.

 

Weekly walks are about 4 miles and take about an hour and a half. Walks are at a medium pace, often on uneven ground, and sometimes take longer than expected because walkers see themselves as curious travelers lingering to observe or going around a different way.

Check out our Facebook page

Newsletter Signup

Archives

  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • October 2015
  • August 2015

Recent Posts

  • Discover or rediscover Fresno by walking mindfully
  • Fresno Mindfulness Walk — September 21, 2019, 10 a.m.
  • The Design Cycle – everything begins with empathy.
  • Better than Zuckerberg’s virtual reality – ‘real reality’
  • The FMW Story

© Fresno Mindfulness Walks "Breathe - Walk - Observe" Privacy Policy