It is the last Sunday in October, the day when, until very recently, the clocks were restored to standard time.
Today at 11am water in one of its solid forms made an appearance floating down out of the sky.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Saturday, October 25, 2008
One Tree Hill Park
Well, obviously not. It was a beautiful October Saturday, at least it sure looked beautiful from the inside side of the front window. In a minor upset, one which I am sure will surprise many, I decided to ride my bicycle.
W I N D Y !
It was so windy that I as I rode I settled on an explanation of why I rode which begins, and ends, with the Auckland rule. I intended to illustrate the Auckland rule by going to Auckland Daily Photo and finding some sort of photo illustrating windy conditions. I went there and found a couple of quite nice photos of One Tree Hill but started to feel sheepish about taking a photo without permission (just look to the left under my own copyright declaration for an explanation of why).
So I ended up illustrating the ride with this photo of Ole Olson Park.
It's the kind of thing that I would make up but I didn't have to. It actually is Ole Olson Park.
I rode southwest into the strong wind, crossed the Stone Arch Bridge and rode to the end of the River Road in Minneapolis. I think the sign is new. I have ridden there several times before but it never penetrated my consciousness that the piece of public land along the river there is Ole Olson Park.
Parks and public buildings should be named after citizens. On the way home I rode past the U of Minnesota's new football stadium.
TCF Stadium is nearing completion. I have no trouble declaring that I much prefer the name of the park to the name of the stadium. I suspect that Orvin "Ole" Olson made some sort of contribution to the public good and has been honored by having his name put on a park. TCF has made a huge financial contribution to the stadium construction and has been awarded what is now referred to as "naming rights".
It is my belief that we would all be better off today if the new University football stadium had been named in the way the old University football stadium was named or in the way the stadium in which the University football team currently plays was named.
I refer to Memorial Stadium and the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
W I N D Y !
It was so windy that I as I rode I settled on an explanation of why I rode which begins, and ends, with the Auckland rule. I intended to illustrate the Auckland rule by going to Auckland Daily Photo and finding some sort of photo illustrating windy conditions. I went there and found a couple of quite nice photos of One Tree Hill but started to feel sheepish about taking a photo without permission (just look to the left under my own copyright declaration for an explanation of why).
So I ended up illustrating the ride with this photo of Ole Olson Park.
It's the kind of thing that I would make up but I didn't have to. It actually is Ole Olson Park.I rode southwest into the strong wind, crossed the Stone Arch Bridge and rode to the end of the River Road in Minneapolis. I think the sign is new. I have ridden there several times before but it never penetrated my consciousness that the piece of public land along the river there is Ole Olson Park.
Parks and public buildings should be named after citizens. On the way home I rode past the U of Minnesota's new football stadium.
TCF Stadium is nearing completion. I have no trouble declaring that I much prefer the name of the park to the name of the stadium. I suspect that Orvin "Ole" Olson made some sort of contribution to the public good and has been honored by having his name put on a park. TCF has made a huge financial contribution to the stadium construction and has been awarded what is now referred to as "naming rights".It is my belief that we would all be better off today if the new University football stadium had been named in the way the old University football stadium was named or in the way the stadium in which the University football team currently plays was named.
I refer to Memorial Stadium and the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
Sunset at 6:13!?!
It is very hard to get very many miles after work if sunset comes, as it did today (according to the Weather Channel) at 6:13. It is even harder to take a couple of minutes to get a decent photo. It is even harder if it is too overcast to provide decent lighting for any such photo.
But I did get to ride. The temperature was OK, the wind was tolerable.
We curled last night. The game turned, as it often does on a single shot. Our highly paid final shooter failed to execute a shot in the 4th end. We were lying 1, opponents had the hammer. We were down 3-1 but were in position to steal 1 to get back to 3-2. The attempted shot with our final rock was to place another rock near the button, allowing us to lie 2, making the final shot takeout by the opponent as difficult as possible. This was necessary because the opponent looked to be able to score 4 if they could take out our shot rock. The takeout looked to be a very difficult shot but we had to defend against it. It was such a difficult shot that our final shooter failed to adequately consider the possibility that he would make that shot on behalf of the opponent. Yup. I took out our shot rock and set the opponent up for an easy coast in 5. In a six end game coming back from down 5 is pretty much out of the question. Closed circuit to TT: We might well have done better if we had had another sweeper for several shots which just missed from unavoidable lack of sweeping.
*sigh*
We are contemplating a trip to Paris in the spring. In the process of just thinking about it I recently reread Michael Palin's account of a walk he took in Paris of sites associated with Ernest Hemingway.
Here is a passage from near the end of his account:
"Here you have a choice of classic brasseries, all well known to Hemingway — La Rotonde, Le Dôme, La Coupole, Le Select. Pass them by for now and turn off the main road up rue Delambre, where you will find the site of the fabulously named Dingo Bar. It’s now called the Auberge de Venise, and the cooking is Italian, but surely that’s a small price to pay for eating on the spot where Hemingway first met Scott Fitzgerald and the two English aristocrats on whom he based the characters of Duff Twysden and Mike Guthrie in "The Sun Also Rises," the book that made Hemingway, and Hemingway’s Paris, famous."
That is TOPWLH standing in front of the Auberge de Venise, shortly after we dined there during our first visit to Paris in 2004. This was one of our first outings after our French speaking guide had departed to return to Nantes, leaving us alone in Paris with our very, very limited French.
Hint: the waiter spoke much better English than our French. Indeed, it is true, we have dined at the Dingo Bar and we have enjoyed cocktails at Harry's New York Bar.
But I did get to ride. The temperature was OK, the wind was tolerable.
We curled last night. The game turned, as it often does on a single shot. Our highly paid final shooter failed to execute a shot in the 4th end. We were lying 1, opponents had the hammer. We were down 3-1 but were in position to steal 1 to get back to 3-2. The attempted shot with our final rock was to place another rock near the button, allowing us to lie 2, making the final shot takeout by the opponent as difficult as possible. This was necessary because the opponent looked to be able to score 4 if they could take out our shot rock. The takeout looked to be a very difficult shot but we had to defend against it. It was such a difficult shot that our final shooter failed to adequately consider the possibility that he would make that shot on behalf of the opponent. Yup. I took out our shot rock and set the opponent up for an easy coast in 5. In a six end game coming back from down 5 is pretty much out of the question. Closed circuit to TT: We might well have done better if we had had another sweeper for several shots which just missed from unavoidable lack of sweeping.
*sigh*
We are contemplating a trip to Paris in the spring. In the process of just thinking about it I recently reread Michael Palin's account of a walk he took in Paris of sites associated with Ernest Hemingway.
Here is a passage from near the end of his account:
"Here you have a choice of classic brasseries, all well known to Hemingway — La Rotonde, Le Dôme, La Coupole, Le Select. Pass them by for now and turn off the main road up rue Delambre, where you will find the site of the fabulously named Dingo Bar. It’s now called the Auberge de Venise, and the cooking is Italian, but surely that’s a small price to pay for eating on the spot where Hemingway first met Scott Fitzgerald and the two English aristocrats on whom he based the characters of Duff Twysden and Mike Guthrie in "The Sun Also Rises," the book that made Hemingway, and Hemingway’s Paris, famous."
That is TOPWLH standing in front of the Auberge de Venise, shortly after we dined there during our first visit to Paris in 2004. This was one of our first outings after our French speaking guide had departed to return to Nantes, leaving us alone in Paris with our very, very limited French.Hint: the waiter spoke much better English than our French. Indeed, it is true, we have dined at the Dingo Bar and we have enjoyed cocktails at Harry's New York Bar.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Tall bike exchange
This bush is at the corner of our house. It is one of several species referred to as "Burning Bush" because it turns red (with red berries) in the fall. This is not part of the new shrubbery, perhaps obviously, it has been here awhile. I picture it here because it is over there slightly around the corner of the house and just doesn't get as much attention as it deserves. It's actually a quite attractive piece of shrubbery.
It was cold today and a tiny bit windy. I was riding down Como and came up behind the Tall Bike Guy. His bike was built very clearly for effect, most emphatically NOT for speed. I quickly overhauled him.
Establishing once again that apparently we are pals, of some sort, we had a pretty nice exchange. My head was approximately at the level of his pedals as I passed. He remarked on the wind (no kidding, as far up there as he is, wind has to be an even bigger issue for him than it is for most cyclists). I remarked on the temperature.
It went like this:
TBG: At least we have the wind at our backs!
Senor Moohoo: It is getting a little chilly for this.
I do this blog mostly to entertain myself but also to entertain my wife and daughter. For those not familiar with the history this blog was created after my daughter said, "Dad, this bicycling thing is, like, totally blogable." Many of my favorite moments in blogging are when I am fooling around on the downstairs computer and hear my wife at the upstairs computer laughing and then discover that it was me who made her laugh.
Recent comments have confirmed that some others are reading. I want all commenters to know that I read the comments and I appreciate that you appreciate my postings here. If you are entertained I am pleased. It is a public blog, you are absolutely welcome to read, welcome to comment. I enjoy hearing from you. This applies most primarily to my primary commenter, GFR, but also definitely applies to the recent comments from elsewhere on my block and also from out there on the Anoka sand plain. Thanks for checking in. I appreciate it very much.
It was cold today and a tiny bit windy. I was riding down Como and came up behind the Tall Bike Guy. His bike was built very clearly for effect, most emphatically NOT for speed. I quickly overhauled him.Establishing once again that apparently we are pals, of some sort, we had a pretty nice exchange. My head was approximately at the level of his pedals as I passed. He remarked on the wind (no kidding, as far up there as he is, wind has to be an even bigger issue for him than it is for most cyclists). I remarked on the temperature.
It went like this:
TBG: At least we have the wind at our backs!
Senor Moohoo: It is getting a little chilly for this.
I do this blog mostly to entertain myself but also to entertain my wife and daughter. For those not familiar with the history this blog was created after my daughter said, "Dad, this bicycling thing is, like, totally blogable." Many of my favorite moments in blogging are when I am fooling around on the downstairs computer and hear my wife at the upstairs computer laughing and then discover that it was me who made her laugh.
Recent comments have confirmed that some others are reading. I want all commenters to know that I read the comments and I appreciate that you appreciate my postings here. If you are entertained I am pleased. It is a public blog, you are absolutely welcome to read, welcome to comment. I enjoy hearing from you. This applies most primarily to my primary commenter, GFR, but also definitely applies to the recent comments from elsewhere on my block and also from out there on the Anoka sand plain. Thanks for checking in. I appreciate it very much.
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Back to basics
Today I post the next to last of the big end of year statistical milestones.
Since I tweaked my back I have been riding loops relatively close to home and avoiding the big climbs that are out there near the turn around points of a couple of my most common routes. But my rides of late have convinced me that I can return to the basic rides.
Today was gorgeous again, and warm to boot. It warmed into the 60s shortly past noon. The wind was pretty much straight out of the west and pretty light. I headed north towards precincts not seen for over a month.
The big statistical milestone came just after the turnaround. I recall that last year's biggest event, LOOK 10,000, occurred at the top of the road down into Lake Vadnais. Today I got all the way down to the Lake before the odometer made its final change. It seems appropriate that lots of these things happen at Vadnais. It is a beautiful spot and one I seek out whenever I can. Here it is: LOOK at Vadnais, LOOK at 14,000.
This is an extremely important moment for triskaidekaphobiacs, of which I am apparently one. I started the year with just under 11,000 miles on that bike. When considering my yearly goals I had to consider that if I set out to ride 4,000 miles again it would mean 3 or so thousand miles on the LOOK. Anything less than 3,124 would leave me with a bicycle and a bicycle log which over the coming winter would feature a mileage total beginning with those two digits which I scrupulously avoid: 1 and 3. I set out for 4,000 anyway and today I reached safety.
I am a little disappointed. I did such a good job of getting BB3k's (and yes, I have changed the spelling of the abbreviation of her new moniker) odometer in focus yesterday. I thought I had conclusively answered this particular question. But no, I still seem to be able to photograph my own odometer only slightly out of focus. At least the pebbles on the ground are in sharp focus. *sigh*
This mileage total is also an important milestone as it moves me into a formidable and completely comfortable 11,000 mile lead over BB3k in the category of miles ridden on the bicycle on which you have the most miles ridden lifetime (MROTBOWYHTMMRL, if you will). I feel safe, I feel strong.
I rode another mile and had to stop again. It was time for my annual picture of swans at Vadnais.
Last year's photo was taken on a day when it was raw and windy. The swans were cruising about a fair distance from shore and seemed about as uncomfortable as the human. Today the swans were up next to the shore, feeding. Also visible in the picture are Canadian geese and mallard ducks. I stayed awhile and soaked up the good vibrations, it was very cool.
And then I stopped again about a mile later. The road construction project which has been a subject of wonder all year is now completed. The road up from the lake now leads off to the right over a new bridge structure. The old road went straight up the hill and is still visible on the left.
The new route makes the hill a much more gradual climb. But the truth is that no matter which route you take you have to end up at that stoplight visible at the top of the old climb. It is also just a tiny bit of a shame that the old route is no longer available. That climb had become one of BB3k's favorites. It was the first really difficult hill that she figured out and conquered. She approached that hill not with trepidation but with relish. By the by, just want to throw this out there, BB3k is the REAL Queen of the Mountains.
Closed circuit to Wireless: Julie and Laura's parents have an Obama-Biden sign in their yard. Surprised?
Since I tweaked my back I have been riding loops relatively close to home and avoiding the big climbs that are out there near the turn around points of a couple of my most common routes. But my rides of late have convinced me that I can return to the basic rides.
Today was gorgeous again, and warm to boot. It warmed into the 60s shortly past noon. The wind was pretty much straight out of the west and pretty light. I headed north towards precincts not seen for over a month.
The big statistical milestone came just after the turnaround. I recall that last year's biggest event, LOOK 10,000, occurred at the top of the road down into Lake Vadnais. Today I got all the way down to the Lake before the odometer made its final change. It seems appropriate that lots of these things happen at Vadnais. It is a beautiful spot and one I seek out whenever I can. Here it is: LOOK at Vadnais, LOOK at 14,000.
This is an extremely important moment for triskaidekaphobiacs, of which I am apparently one. I started the year with just under 11,000 miles on that bike. When considering my yearly goals I had to consider that if I set out to ride 4,000 miles again it would mean 3 or so thousand miles on the LOOK. Anything less than 3,124 would leave me with a bicycle and a bicycle log which over the coming winter would feature a mileage total beginning with those two digits which I scrupulously avoid: 1 and 3. I set out for 4,000 anyway and today I reached safety.I am a little disappointed. I did such a good job of getting BB3k's (and yes, I have changed the spelling of the abbreviation of her new moniker) odometer in focus yesterday. I thought I had conclusively answered this particular question. But no, I still seem to be able to photograph my own odometer only slightly out of focus. At least the pebbles on the ground are in sharp focus. *sigh*
This mileage total is also an important milestone as it moves me into a formidable and completely comfortable 11,000 mile lead over BB3k in the category of miles ridden on the bicycle on which you have the most miles ridden lifetime (MROTBOWYHTMMRL, if you will). I feel safe, I feel strong.I rode another mile and had to stop again. It was time for my annual picture of swans at Vadnais.
Last year's photo was taken on a day when it was raw and windy. The swans were cruising about a fair distance from shore and seemed about as uncomfortable as the human. Today the swans were up next to the shore, feeding. Also visible in the picture are Canadian geese and mallard ducks. I stayed awhile and soaked up the good vibrations, it was very cool.And then I stopped again about a mile later. The road construction project which has been a subject of wonder all year is now completed. The road up from the lake now leads off to the right over a new bridge structure. The old road went straight up the hill and is still visible on the left.
The new route makes the hill a much more gradual climb. But the truth is that no matter which route you take you have to end up at that stoplight visible at the top of the old climb. It is also just a tiny bit of a shame that the old route is no longer available. That climb had become one of BB3k's favorites. It was the first really difficult hill that she figured out and conquered. She approached that hill not with trepidation but with relish. By the by, just want to throw this out there, BB3k is the REAL Queen of the Mountains.Closed circuit to Wireless: Julie and Laura's parents have an Obama-Biden sign in their yard. Surprised?
Saturday, October 18, 2008
New moniker
We had another pretty huge numeric milestone here again today. I will not be posting information about the milestone here but I believe that TOPWLH will be posting a narrative and photos on her Xanga site. My only comment would be that as a result of today's ride she has achieved a new, for this site, moniker. Henceforth she shall be known here as Bianchi Babe 3,000.
It was cold overnight and still under 50 when we headed out. This in itself is a milestone as BB-3000 had never before ridden at that temperature. But the sun was out and the day was warming towards 54 as we rode. It was just fine.
The wind was from the southwest which meant a ride towards that compass point. We turned around at the Stone Arch Bridge.
On the way back we deviated from the most direct route. Here is a LOOK at Ridder Arena, Babe and Bianchi for scale.
This view of Ridder shows the doors through which we enter for the hockey. We entered there twice this week, once last night and then again today after our ride.
Last night's game was punctuated by the 4th win by a family member in Chuck-a-Puck. If you don't know what Chuck-a-Puck is ask Kelsey. Ask her to show you her souvenir helmet autographed by the entire Minnesota team.
The football news today from France is good again.
Nantes continued their revival with a 1-0 victory over St. Etienne. After a disappointing start to their Ligue 1 campaign, Nantes have today recorded their third win in four games. The victory puts Nantes level on points with St Etienne, just behind them on goal difference, and continues a climb towards mid-table.
It was cold overnight and still under 50 when we headed out. This in itself is a milestone as BB-3000 had never before ridden at that temperature. But the sun was out and the day was warming towards 54 as we rode. It was just fine.
The wind was from the southwest which meant a ride towards that compass point. We turned around at the Stone Arch Bridge.
On the way back we deviated from the most direct route. Here is a LOOK at Ridder Arena, Babe and Bianchi for scale.
This view of Ridder shows the doors through which we enter for the hockey. We entered there twice this week, once last night and then again today after our ride.
Last night's game was punctuated by the 4th win by a family member in Chuck-a-Puck. If you don't know what Chuck-a-Puck is ask Kelsey. Ask her to show you her souvenir helmet autographed by the entire Minnesota team.The football news today from France is good again.
Nantes continued their revival with a 1-0 victory over St. Etienne. After a disappointing start to their Ligue 1 campaign, Nantes have today recorded their third win in four games. The victory puts Nantes level on points with St Etienne, just behind them on goal difference, and continues a climb towards mid-table.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Cool and crisp
The sun was out for most of my ride today. I had much better light for a picture of a stretch of road where I ride pretty often.
I say most of the ride because if I tell the absolute truth I rode the last mile or so after sunset again. Yup, even though I got home at 6:30, it was officially nighttime.
I say most of the ride because if I tell the absolute truth I rode the last mile or so after sunset again. Yup, even though I got home at 6:30, it was officially nighttime.
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