Excitement on the Trail

I commuted in to work today, but nothing photo worthy happened on the ride in. It was kind of a grey morning, heavy cloud cover was making me question my decision. But as the day went on it turned into a gorgeous fall day, and the ride home was very nice in the high 60's. Things were fairly uneventful until I neared the Carroll Park Golf Course on the Gwynns Falls Trail (about mile 13 on the map). There had been a helicopter circling around ahead of me all the way down the trail, and here's why. The fire department had gotten a call that there was somebody in the river, and the troops turned out to find him (her?). I spoke with the EMT's that were at the bridge, they said this is called the water rescue box.
And of course a bunch of other emergency vehicles.
The EMT's said that not only had the city police chopper was there looking, they had also had the state police chopper there looking with thermal imaging as well. Their take is that it was either a prank, or a homeless person bathing. After a little gabbing about whether it was worse to be in the Gwynns Falls vs. being dirty, I shot there picture before I headed off.
But I had to ride in the grass for the next little while, apparently when there is a water rescue, everybody comes out.
It was starting to get dark, but eventually I made it to the end of the approximately dozen or so fire trucks, and caught the chopper in about it's last pass.
I continued down the trail to the Pratt Street, and passed by the Occupy Baltimore encampment at the park at Light Street. The evening's drum circle was just getting under way in camp.
Then I scooted myself home, as it was truly getting dark out, at least as far as I could tell as I was still wearing my max-tint sunglasses.

Windy Saturday

Yesterday was super windy, and it was the Baltimore Running Festival (Baltimore Marathon) weekend. Kathleen wasn't running, but was spending the day supporting friends who were, then doing a independent aid station with the Baltimore Tri Club. I on the other hand, stayed up late playing video games then slept in. Here is Kathleen at the aid station, they were passing out gummi worms to the runners and playing music.
Eventually I got my butt out of bed and went out for a ride. It was a sunny day, but super windy, so I kept it short. I headed down towards the Inner Harbor when right by Pier 6 I spotted the Occupy Baltimore crew headed somewhere.
It looked like they were headed back to their campsite at the park in the middle of Light & Pratt Streets, maybe they had just come from irritating Legg Mason, who have a building in Harbor East. I continued on through the Inner Harbor, and stopped to see the Brazilian Navy ship that was making a port call.
A little ways down the Inner Harbor at the Maryland Science Center they had a exhibit set up outside of the new James Webb Space Telescope, which is being designed, built, and operated here in Maryland.
Pretty cool. The little tent to the right had a sign on it that said ask a scientist, but unfortunately it looked like they were closed up for the day. I continued on down Key Highway, a stop at Race Pace to shoot the breeze, then out to Fort McHenry before heading back to the homestead.

Commute to Work Day

Today I commuted to work on my bike, somewhat forced by my car ingesting one of it's pistons. At any rate it was a gorgeous morning to ride in, sun shining, and suprise, a couple more churches that I haven't seen before.
And next door this one.
This is the arch of dead branches I pass through on the last little bit of my ride just before getting to the shop. It's at the top of the last hill, it's all downhill the last couple of 10ths of a mile from here to work.
A full day of work, then it was time to head home. Not a whole lot to see, but the leaves and such on the trail says fall is coming. Not sure how I feel about that, but there will be no stopping it.

Tour Du Port 2011

Today was the Tour Du Port again here in Baltimore, so Kathleen and I signed up to do the 63 mile (metric century) route, it's fun and for a good cause. As with all of these things, it started at 7:00AM so it was up early and out the door to get down to the Korean War Memorial Park. We got checked in, didn't see anybody we knew, so we rolled out as the sun was rising.
We passed by a couple of freighters that have been sitting motionless since we moved here, but looked good in the morning sun.
And then over the bridge on Keith Avenue where the city was also looking good in the morning light.
We wound our way through Dundalk, past the closed factory there.
A little further along, the ballfields were being prepped for the day's games plus you can see my in motion camera technique in the shadow.
Just before mile 11 disaster struck, Kathleen flatted. Luckily this gave her a chance to use the skills that she learned at the She Does Tri camp to change her tube.
While she was changing her tube she spotted Heather & Kim who she met at camp, so they stopped and waited for us.
Once Kathleen was all re-inflated we took off to continue the ride. Here we are rolling along in the morning sun.
We made it out to North Point park for the first snack break, the day was truly shaping up to be gorgeous.
After snacking on PB&J's we headed rolled out to continue on the ride. Here is Kim following me, Kathleen & Heather are just behind her via one of my no-look over the shoulder action shots.
And another after Kim figured out what I was doing.
Passing over the one of the many fingers of the Chesapeake, it was stunning how calm the water was.
Rolling along towards Rocky Point State Park for the second food stop the second disaster of the day struck, Kim said "my front wheel feels funny." I looked down and told her "that's because it's flat." So Kim got to also put her camp skills to use changing the tube while Heather took her picture.
We continued on to the park, snarfed down some more PB&J's and snacks, then headed back towards town. Here we are passing through one of the many neighborhoods we went through today.
On our way back through Dundalk we passed a couple of cemeteries, both with little chapels in the middle, so in my continuing photo-expose of Baltimore churches here they are.
Eventually we made it back to the park, where lunch was being served, and a band was playing. Here are our bikes piled up against a tree while we ate.
We sat on the sea wall at the bottom of the park overlooking the harbor, that is Fort McHenry across the way, and the two motionless freighters from earlier on the left edge of the picture.
All in all it was a great day, we had lots of laughs and good conversation on the ride, and the weather couldn't have been any nicer, certainly the nicest day of the three times I have done the ride now. We enjoyed our lunch and more laughs, then Kathleen and I headed for home to get cleaned up.

Cold & Rainy

I was out running errands this morning, and Kathleen was volunteering at the Half Full Triathlon in Columbia, but this afternoon I got out for a little ride. We have had a cold snap this weekend, when I rolled out it was 49 degrees and starting to rain. I took a quick spin down through the Inner Harbor where the USCG Eagle was tied up. It is a beautiful 3 Mast ship that is used by the Coast Guard Academy as a training ship. Quite impressive in our harbor.
Then around through the teeming throngs tailgating for tonight's Ravens game and back to the house to clean up.

Wandering

Got out for a ride again this morning. No plan, just a wander through the city. Up near North Avenue I saw this church, not sure if I have shown this one before but whatever, I like it.

A little further along as I got over to Hampden, I wrong turn down a dead end yielded this painted on signage on a warehouse.

At this point time was getting short so back home I went.

Fog

A foggy morning this morning, not really San Francisco fog, but pretty foggy for here. I scooted out of the garage and down to the Inner Harbor, then around to the Park in Federal Hill. Here is how foggy it was.
I headed out towards Fort McHenry from there, here is the bridge that is under destruction, or more accurately has been destructed.
I imagine that they will start building the replacement soon. I continued out to the fort, then back around the Inner Harbor and home to get ready for work.