The walks in February focus on Fulton , so for Walk #140, we explored the new Fulton Street—walking from Inyo and Fulton almost to the Tower District. On mindfulness walks, we don’t talk to each other; instead, we attend to the sights, sounds, smells, and feelings of the present moments and places. Each walk offers peace of mind, exercise, and an opportunity to be a traveler in our own town. After each walk, I type the reflections shared by the walkers. Here are a few comments from the twenty walkers on Saturday morning on Fulton Street:
- Fulton artwork is just so beautiful. I’ve been reading and hearing about it, and today I’m so happy to see it.
Sights and sounds of Fulton St. - I feel like coming back here now that I’ve seen it.
- I noticed details like pegs and patterns on buildings–details I’ve never noticed when driving.
- By walking (instead of driving) this route, I realized the distance between downtown and the Tower District is not that far.
- There’s so much potential here!
- The new Fulton Street is very clean, with beautiful landscaping and new trees. The pea gravel may need to be filled in again to be maintained.
- I loved seeing the old homes, colorful paint, and large porches.
- I’m glad to know where some of the non-profit organizations are located. We saw Catholic Charities, Hands-On Central Valley, Reading and Beyond, Valley PBS, and the Salvation Army Citadel and Silvercrest Senior Residence Center. Seniors chatting on the patio greeted us and one gentleman in a wheelchair introduced himself.
- I was glad all the sidewalks have slopes for wheelchair access.
- There was quite a bit of activity on Fulton St., and it felt good to see people enjoying the beautiful morning.
- I loved the wide sidewalks – plenty of room for outdoor dining.
- The sounds of fountains were so pleasant.
- Fulton Street and downtown are great places for photo shoots.
- We saw and heard dogs. I even saw a hawk and heard lots of birds all along the route.
- It was cool to look up and greet people who were having their morning coffee on their second floor patios – looking out over downtown.
- I loved the moments we spent inside Dianna’s Dance studio. The dancing couples were so graceful and beautiful.
- I wanted to come back to some of the restaurants we saw along the way.
- Arte Americas had so much going on, getting ready for the hip-hop competition. I was glad we could help lay out the cardboard dance floor. I would have never guessed I’d be doing that today.
- I had never seen the mural district park until today. We met the instructor and students finishing the outdoor yoga class. When the yoga class ended, some people just rolled up their yoga mats and walked back home. I’d love to be able to walk to places.
- I enjoyed seeing the dress shops with so many formal dresses. The ‘young girl in me’ wanted to buy a really fancy one and find a time to wear it.
- I saw the old tux shop. Back in the day it was the only tux shop in town. Proms, dances, everything. I rented my wedding tux there many years ago.
- Fresno is a pretty city but could be cleaner. Trash and overflowing trash cans are an eyesore
- One thing I really like about walking with FMW is that it feels safe to walk with a group, especially as a woman. I get to see things I wouldn’t venture out to see by myself.
- We saw some people living in desperate circumstances out in the open, carrying belongings, or camped out in an alley, a corner, or along a fence. One woman in a parking lot was talking loudly to no one in particular.
- Fulton Street had so many thrilling moments, but like every Fresno walk, there is also heartbreak. I snapped a picture of a billboard with the words “We’ve got issues.” And within sight of this sign was a women sitting on the ground in a gravel lot unpacking a plastic bin.
To conclude the post-walk conversation, I offer this – from Copper River Country Club to Calwa, from West Fresno to the Fresno airport, the people in these neighborhoods are our brothers and sisters, and our lives and our futures are tied together.
To see the photo album from Walk 36, Yr 3 on Fulton Street:
Google photo album: https://photos.app.goo.gl/hTBhPP4hPZklwAvC2
or
Facebook album: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2102733646680045.1073741986.1429474537339296&type=1&l=057344dcfd
