Server Not Servant

#WalkingBoston – A Marathon in every Boston Neighborhood: East Boston Part 2

By: Patrick Maguire

Book Chapter: Human-to-Human Service

Posted: 09/5/2022

Thank you for joining the adventure. To learn more about the inspiration, mission, goals, and updates on this project, please see the #WalkingBoston launch blog post.

For information on East Boston Part 1, click on this link.

The second 13.1+ mile walk, ‘East Boston Part 2,’ is happening on Wednesday, 9/7, leaving from the Wood Island T Station on the Blue Line at 8am. All are welcome to join, even for a portion of any walk. We will meet at the Bennington Street side at the bus circle. Eastie Part 2 will head through Eagle Square to Condor Street Urban Wild and beach, explore the coast down to Nay Street, then zig zag south through the neighborhoods ending in the Eastie Shipyard. Below is the map of the area that will be covered, excluding Bremen Street Park, Eastie Memorial Park, and Logan. Those areas will be covered in the third, bonus Eastie walk.

[Please note: Post-walk pics, videos, summary and reflections can be found at the end of this blog post.] 

In preparation for Eastie Part 2, I walked 9.59 miles on Sunday, 9/4, including Section 1 of Boston’s Walking City Trail by Miles Howard. I really enjoyed the adventure, discoveries, and exercise and encourage you to research and support the great work that Miles is doing:

Miles Howard website: Miles Howard | Journalist, Author, Storyteller

Boston’s Walking City Trail: Walking City Trail (bostontrails.org)

Google Photo Album in chronologic order of my adventure.

This map and artwork on the side of an old, abandoned Orange Line trolley was one of the best finds of the day:

Please consider a donation inspired by #WalkingBoston:

#1- Make-A-Wish MA & RI is the primary beneficiary of #WalkingBoston. As most of you know, the mission of Make-A-Wish is to create life‐changing wishes for children with critical illnesses. I love the work that they do and am honored to partner with them. Thanks to Hillary Muntz for her professionalism and attention to detail. Please consider a donation inspired by #WalkingBoston by clicking on this link.

#2- Stride for Stride is also a beneficiary of #WalkingBoston. Stride for Stride is a non-profit running organization that buys race bibs for immigrant, BIPOC, and low-income runners – the goal is to make races more accessible, inclusive, and diverse for everyone. Stride for Stride founder, Tom OKeefe, aka @BostonTweet, “Our logo signifies equality. It’s simple, bold, and shows that you support running for all. Our goal is a simple concept too, but one that changes lives. Having a race to strive for keeps you focused and healthy, while crossing the finish line is pure joy and empowering in both sport and life – it proves that you can accomplish anything you set your mind to. Never give up!” Donations inspired by #WalkingBoston can be made to Stride for Stride by clicking here.

#3- Several folks have reached out asking how they could sponsor/support my #WalkingBoston project and expedite the publication of my Server Not Servant book. A grassroots fundraiser of small donations has been set up to keep me walking and writing. Donations can be made here.

#4- Additional, local beneficiaries may be added if they can provide a dedicated link for donations inspired by #WalkingBoston. Please email patrick@servernotservant.com for consideration.

Post ‘Eastie Part 2’ Walk Update, 9/15/22:

To map the course of the walks and confirm distance, I’m using MapMyWalk and All Trails apps. I’ve also ordered a Samsung Galaxy Smartwatch 5 as a 3rd way to verify distance and map the walks. One of my biggest concerns is losing the data of each walk and not being able to report and verify the course. Using 2 apps and having an independent (of my phone) GPS and tracking device should alleviate this concern.

For maps to verify the distance walked, please click on the highlighted links below.

MapMyWalk = 15.23 miles

AllTrails  = 16.2 miles

I’m not sure why there is a discrepancy between the 2 apps – I started them at the same time, paused and restarted them simultaneously at lunch. I’ll use the lesser of the 2 as official total distance moving forward.

Google Photo Album: I encourage you to view the 234 pics and videos in chronological order of the adventure from home (6:32am) to St. Mary’s T at the Green C Line, to Wood Island on the Blue Line as the starting point. This was a solo walk departing Wood Island at 7:29am.

Summary, observations, and reflections from Eastie 2:

• No problem getting up at 5:30ish. I love #GameDay.
• I had plans for my first walking companion to join me to stretch at 7:30 at Wood Island, then join me for a portion of the walk. She messaged me shortly after 6am to let me she couldn’t make it because her daughter was up all night with anxiety about her first day of school. Wishing her, and all parents and students a fulfilling school year. My niece, MaryKathryn Conceison, is a teacher and shared her thoughtful reflections on the new school year in this Medium post.
• Cereal w/fruit consumed, and detailed checklist studied before leaving the house at 6:32am.
• 61 degrees when I left the house-crisp, cool, perfect day.
• Departure from Wood Island was scheduled for 8am. Because my walking companion cancelled, I started walking at 7:29.
• Loved discovering Urban Wild, a very cool view, and great example of the importance of recommendations from residents of each neighborhood I explore.
• Todisco Towing, ah, that’s where they take them… $$$
• Great views of the Tobin.
• Multi miles of multi-families…
• Satellite dishes on the front of homes in Boston neighborhoods is something I’d like to know more about. So far, I only remember seeing them in Brighton, Allston, and Eastie.
• ‘Band Saw Zen’ is a thing on city walks. (See the video in the Google Photo Album.)
• LOTS of neighborhood markets deep in the residential areas.
• Very cool, interesting, diverse, old architecture and craftsmanship.
• Loved the “Welcome to Paradise” sign w/parrot on the fence leading to a backyard pool.
• Very gritty area beyond the “Keep on trying, you’ll get there” sign. I don’t advise traveling there alone.
• One of my favorite pics is from that “off road” adventure, w/boat in the foreground and Boston skyline in the distance.
• The water is a lot cleaner in that industrial area than I would have expected.
• I love the tiny Mom & Pop shops, like the one selling only mattresses, Lolly’s Bakery.
• Rino’s (famous Italian restaurant) location, in the middle of a non-descript residential location, reminds me of where Sarma is situated in Somerville. Embarrassed to admit that I still haven’t been there…
• As I have often stated, the Boston skyline views from Eastie are stunning.
• I LOVE city murals and old buildings.
• Note to self: Don’t walk on trash pick-up days… Rookie mistake.
• The pizza slice and hospitality at Dirty Water were very good.
• “A city is not an accident, but the result of coherent vision and aims.” -Leon Krier Architect and Urban Planner.
• If you haven’t been, you must visit the Eastie Shipyard & Marina, Piers Park, and Navy Fuel Pier.

Despite the attention/’traction’ that the walks are receiving, a major challenge ahead is inspiring donations to Make-A-Wish MA & RI and Stride for Stride. I’m going to make a concerted effort to reach out to businesses to pledge minimum donations tied to the total number of miles walked. There are a lot of creative ways that walk sponsors can get involved, including matching pledges, grant money, and product & brand endorsement. I’d love to hear from everyone who wants to be part of supporting #WalkingBoston and my non-profit partners. Email: patrick@servernotservant.com.

Please subscribe to future blog posts for scheduling of upcoming walks by entering your email in the blue box on the upper left side of this post. Follow along via Twitter and IG: @PatrickMBoston

Grass-roots donations to support #WalkingBoston and keep me walking and writing can be made by clicking here.

I included a few favorite pics from the ‘East Boston Part 2’ walk at the bottom of this post.

Thanks to everyone for your support and for following the #WalkingBoston journey. I hope to see you #ontheroad.

Cheers-Patrick

Share this post

---

Permalink | Posted in Human-to-Human Service | No Comments »

Share this post