Semi-permitted?

Today I walked in not one, but two places that technically weren't unauthorized but felt like it.

The first one was at a strip mall. Walmart is one of my least favorite stores to shop at, but sometimes it's the best option. This afternoon I needed a roll of package tape, and "Club Wally" has one that's inexpensive and easy to unroll.

The closest Walmart store is at the south end of a large big box shopping center that has two buildings separated by a road that leads to store loading docks. Sunday is a horrible day to hit this shopping center. Traffic is difficult to navigate, and there are a lot of shoppers crossing between the parking lot and the stores. 

To avoid the mess I decided to park in the northernmost section of the lot and walk to my destination. That turned out not to be the greatest idea; I had to maneuver my way around cars pulling in and out of spaces and trot across parking lanes to avoid oncoming cars.

Once inside the store I found what I was looking for and got out quickly.

I wasn't looking forward to the return walk, but as I crossed between the two mall sections I noticed the wide road behind the northern building and realized I could use it to bypass the parking lot. There was a sign that indicated it was only for commercial traffic (i.e., trucks with merchandise for the stores), but I guessed that there would be no unloading happening on Sunday afternoon and it would be safe to walk back there.

My assumption turned out to be correct. However, the loading dock road eventually dumps out onto the main road and I observed that a fair number of vehicles were ignoring the commercial traffic notification. They were also ignoring several stop signs, but the rubber speed bumps just after each stop sign slowed them down.

When I got to the main road I walked on the sidewalk to the parking lot and back to my car.

Later in the day I talked Hubby Tony into another uncertain activity.

Just to the south of our condos a new subdivision is going up. Right now there's just a street and the beginnings of three houses at the top of a hill. I've been wanting to see the lot layout, and because it was Sunday there was no construction work going on. There weren't any No Trespassing signs, so off we went.

I found out that the subdivision is one winding street with a cul-de-sac at the top. It was interesting to observe the sizes of the new builds and see how they integrated with the neighborhoods on either side. After we saw everything Tony and I walked back down the street and over to our street.

Five weeks ago today: A Cat's Bedtime Prayer