Auckland rule

Minnesota recently became the first state to declare March 29 to be Vietnam Veterans Day. Today was the first observance. March 29 was chosen because it marks the day in 1973 that the last American troops left Vietnam. Those who can remember that day must surely recall the news footage of helicopters departing from the roof of the embassy in Saigon, landing on American ships at sea and then being shoved overboard because there was no room for them on board.

The first Vietnam Veterans Day was the nicest day here in a bit, actually reaching the average high temperature. However it reached that temperature with the help of a south wind. A really strong south wind, 20+ mph. The Auckland rule was invoked.

With that strong wind out of the south I rode south from home again which took me over to the river. I ended up in front of this place on Selby across from Saint Thomas. This building is the site of my only personal experience with piano moving.Guess which apartment? Anyone guessing upper gets credit, the actual correct answer is upper left.

It was only an upright but those are stairs leading up to the exterior door, then inside to a staircase with a landing, a 180 degree turn and then up to the apartment. The movers were the Big Kid, the pianist's uncle and me that I remember for sure, I think there was one other, possibly the person who later in life was sent to charm school by his employer after which they decided they liked him just fine the way he was. The Big Kid was married to the pianist's sister which is how we all got involved. None of us ever again felt like moving a piano, I personally have no idea how that particular piano got out of that place and back down those stairs. There is a reason why you can hire guys to move pianos. They have the appropriate equipment and experience. We were just dumb guys wrestling a piano up the stairs. No one was injured.

The ride was a success including the fact that I reached the first mileage goal of the season.