Enough Already

It has been a cold winter here this year. It hasn't been above freezing since my last ride on 1/2/11. But today it was (about 4o degrees), and we didn't have anything going on, so Kathleen and I went out for a ride to Essex. Earlier in the day it had been sunny, but of course 20 minutes before we got our act together to go, it got cloudy. We headed out Lombard Street, and took the back way over to Eastern Avenue out by Eastpoint Mall. Here is Kathleen leading the way you can see the remnants of our last snow to her right.
We continued on out to the Cox's Point Park at the end of the spit of land there, and the Back River was pretty frozen on the main part of the river.
But on the other side of the point it was completely frozen.
We enjoyed the park for about 5 minutes (it's still pretty darn cold), then realized that it was getting late and so we headed back towards home. On our way out of the neighborhood to Easter Avenue, I spotted this groovy sign.
Then it was off to the homestead, and get some errands done before going to see Lafayette Gilchrist tonight at the Creative Alliance.

Dreary

I went out today to get another ride in to start 2011. Kathleen was going to go with me, but this morning she started coming down with a cold. So off I went into the gray day. My legs felt like noodles for most of the ride, probably a result of yesterdays sprint around the park workout. I rode out to Fort McHenry, and since it was open, I got my first look at the new visitors center.
Right across from it and next to the remains of the old visitors center is this statue of General Armistead who was the commander of the fort during the 1814 bombardment.
Also on the grounds is this statue of Orpheus, the greek mythological hero of music and poetry. It is there to honor Francis Scott Key (The Star Spangled Banner was written in Baltimore during the bombardment) and the soldiers and sailors who defended the fort during the War of 1812.
After my little impromptu tour of the fort, I headed back towards Federal Hill. On my way back I spotted the Princess Cruise Ship at the dock.
Possibly still here due to this. I continued on towards the stadium and, of course being the huge Ravens fan I am, I didn't know that it was game day. Part of the Gwynns Falls Trail snakes around the parking lots for the stadiums, and this was the scene.
The trash pile intrigued me enough to take a spin through one the parking lot right next to the stadium, so here is a brief look at the stuff people buy and bring to the game.


That is the tailgater grill made by Margaritaville, it attaches to your hitch (I only know this because there was another one with it's cover on three cars over).
Then I got on my way out to Washington Boulevard where in my continuing series of churches here is a storefront one, but I thought done very nicely.
A little further up the way I spotted this mural, I hadn't noticed it on previous trips up and down this road.
After that I noodled around Camden Yards a little bit, and then cranked down Pratt Street towards home, the garmin says my top speed for that mile (and the ride) was 27.1 and I was going 20+ the whole mile, using the cars to pace makes going faster easier than without, also I think that it is slightly downhill there, which helps the cause.

New Year's Day

Today, in addition to being New Year's Day, is also the day of the Resolution Run in Patterson Park. Kathleen did the run this year, so I went out to shoot some pictures. I rode around the neighborhood a little to warm up and see the sights. It was a cloudy day, but a nice 50 degrees out, so a pleasant day for a ride. I got to the park in plenty of time to see the start, and say hello before the race. I rode up to the top of the park to kill some time, then down to the lower loop to wait. Eventually the horn sounded and they were off. Here she is (Blue top, black tights) just after the start climbing the small hill on the lower loop (this is the same loop that I sometimes ride).
And then back around by the Pulaski Monument at the bottom side of the loop, so about 3/4 of a mile into the run.
I scooted back across the middle of the park and caught her making the turn at the top of the lower loop again to climb misery hill (as I have dubbed it) on the Baltimore Street side of the park.
I took off again on the overland route and caught her after cresting misery hill and coming back down past the Pagoda.
Then another sprint back down the brick paths to the duck pond.
Then I took the overland route again to get down to the Pulaski Monument and startled her when she came by, I was riding right next to her :)
Then back across the middle of the lower loop to get her at the finish, not my finest work, she's the disembodied head on the finish line.
Then back home to clean up and off to a late lunch/early dinner at the Red Star.