Spring is in the Air

I know I have made some premature calls on this before, but it seems that spring is truly in the air at this point, it was about 50 degrees and blustery today, but that didn't stop Kathleen and I going out for a ride on the city bikes.   First we headed down to the Red Star in Fells Point for some breakfast, then over to Federal Hill for some Cat Food.  Here's Kathleen motoring along as we headed over towards Harbor East.

We continued around the Inner Harbor, and passing by the new pedestrian bridge, they were hard at work on it again today, it's coming right along.  Once again the traffic back up due to Light Street being closed was pretty epic.

A little further along Kathleen pointed out that the daffodils are starting to bloom, and so they were.   Hopefully they will survive Monday, we are supposed to get some rain turning to snow.

We successfully scored cat food, and some soda and then headed for home.   On the way back I noticed that our decorating neighbor has been at it again with a Saint Patrick's Day theme.

Then we went out to run some errands before a quiet evening in.

Brrr!

I missed my calling, had I been a weatherman I could continually be wrong, yet stay employed.   It was supposed to be nicer today, it wasn't.   It was about 40 degrees this afternoon, and dropping.   But in honor of the pros who suffered much worse today at Milan San Remo, I got my butt in gear and went out for a ride.   Here is a scene from Milan-San Remo early today, courtesy of Velo News.

Not quite so bad here, although now the weather people are saying we might get some snow overnight.  At any rate, I rode around through the Inner Harbor again today and, as promised, here is the result of the closed road construction from yesterday.

Should be nice when they get it finished.    I continued on through Federal Hill, this was the St Patty's Day scene next to the Cross Street Market, I am thinking the cool temps aren't really helping the outdoor party scene.

Then it was a quick jaunt out the Gwynns Falls Trail and then back in via Baltimore Street, nothing new or exciting there.

Errands

No big dramatic ride today, just a quick run on the city bike over to Pet Valu for cat food.   It has been a lot colder this week, and today was no exception, and blustery breezy to boot.   I  went out around the inner harbor, and over into Federal Hill, with a quick stop at Race Pace  (where my groovy Linus city bike came from) to adjust the saddle angle.   While I was there I spotted their new display of bike bells, and this one spoke to me, so I got one and they threw it on for me.

That completed, I continued on to the pet store and got a bunch of food for Sophie the cat, and a stop at the Royal Farms for soda, then headed back towards home.   This gives an idea of the kind of day it was, not a whole lot of beach volleyball going on today.

A little further along Light Street was closed so they could install a new pedestrian bridge that goes from the Light Street Pavillion on the right, to the parking garage on the left.  Made me glad I rode my bike for my errands, the traffic backup from the detour was pretty impressive.

Here's the action from the other side of the operation, the big item at the end of the boom is one of the bridge sections that they are getting ready to put up.

That excitement behind me, I headed back to the house to take it easy the rest of the day, it's supposed to be marginally nicer tomorrow, so I will try and head out again, this time on the roadie :)

St Patricks Day

Today was Saint Patrick's Day here in B'more, and no I don't know why it was being celebrated this weekend, when it's in fact next weekend, but there you have it.  My day started off checking up on the guys at the Shamrock 5K here in town, then Kathleen and I rode the city bikes down to Americana in Canton for Breakfast.   After breakfast I headed out for a ride around.   First I had to navigate the parade watching folks on Pratt Street.

Then I did a big loop around the Hammonds Ferry area, before heading back in on the Gwynns Falls Trail.   On the way back in I spotted this, I have been seeing more and more of this project around.

Then it was through Carroll Park, where the new thing going on in addition to basketball, football, softball and such is RC cars, there are a group of guys who turn up there almost every weekend to have some fun with their cars.

Then it was time to head for home to get cleaned up and update the blog (tada!).

Spring!

Well at least it felt like spring, it was 60 degrees and sunny out today, so after a sleep in morning, and a schlep on the town bikes down to the Red Star for breakfast Kathleen and I went out for a ride.  We rode up to Druid Lake Park where Kathleen pointed out the other sculpture that I had missed when I was there last.

We rode out the Gwynns Falls Parkway up towards work, then caught the Gwynns Falls Trail back towards home.   As we crossed over Baltimore Street I spotted these guys loading up a pick up.   They said that this was nothing, sometimes the get it 8' over the bed :)

On our way back we stopped by the Maryland Arts Council parking lot in Federal Hill where this groovy sculpture marks the parking lot.   I would have liked it a lot better without the towing sign in front of it.

Then it was back to the homestead to get cleaned up so we could go to an art exhibit opening at the Creative Alliance at the Patterson Theater tonight.