[Ed. Note: After last issue's article on Traffic Court walkers, Ed. Board member Len Armstrong was berated by CJC co-workers for not reporting their daily treks, then cajoled into joining them for a lunch time walk. This is his report.]

The Expedition Team (l-r): Len Armstrong, Bruce Brown, Bill Gallagher, Jeanie Purtell, Harry Peterson, and Peggy Stewart. photo by some guy from Baltimore

It was 1:05 p.m. on a hot and humid Friday afternoon when walkers from the CJC set out on their lunchtime expedition to the Art Museum. With Criminal Listings staff on the point, I was trailing with Bill Gallagher and Peggy Stewart of Active Criminal Records when, out of nowhere, a SEPTAsauras came roaring on top of us. I yelled an expletive and ran as quickly as I did the day back in `65 when the railroad cops chased me along the Schuylkill River. My heart rate had just returned to normal when we came upon a Crossing (Mace's Crossing to be exact). In keeping with such grueling expeditions, I became disoriented and veered toward the Crossing, the thought of a cold brew sucking me in like an invisible force. Fortunately (NOT), Peggy and Jeanie Purtell came back and led me onward.

The air was thick, hushpuppies were burning, and eyes were sore, but our group's spirits remained high. At 1:25 p.m., our fearless leader, Harry "Road Warrior" Peterson, who led us courageously through oncoming traffic, reached the summit of the east face of the Art Museum's steps. The group had a good time taunting me as I struggled to scale those daunting steps. I should have stayed at the Crossing.

When I did reach the top, our co-leader, Bruce Brown, was commandeering other climbers into taking our pictures. Those who refused were thrown off the steps or forcefully separated from their water bottles. As the weather conditions began to deteriorate and the spirits to decline, I tried to regain our focus and shouted, "To Hell with Rocky, Long Live Joe Ortlieb" and challenged the group to a footrace to the Crossing for drinks on me. I knew these health nuts would refuse or only drink water, so I would get off cheap.

At 1:55, we arrived back at base camp after a 2.7 mile walk. As my grandmom Payne would say, "I'm glad I got this trip over with!"