Hockey report

Gophers 1, opponent 0.

It WAS a shame to miss out on a ride yesterday as it definitely was not hockey weather. The thing about hockey is they have a large amount of ice in the buildings where they play hockey and it always, always, produces a chill. We both carried gear into the building which had to be immediately removed upon coming back out after the game. I don't remember that ever happening before.

Today is not as nice even though the temperature remains substantially above average for this date. The problem is today is mostly cloudy. The spectacular lighting produced by fall and clear skies just wasn't there today. It is a lot harder to get an interesting color photograph.

Even so, it was a special ride as I was joined by GRider and TCWUTH. The winds were very light and variable so we headed out for the 8 lakes tour.

Many of the hardwoods at Vadnais are now bare. This photo features mostly evergreens in the across the lake background.The Bianchi Babe and Wireless (she brought her own bicycle with her, nice bike).

The sun started to make occasional appearances as we headed for home. Here are a couple of maples along Lake Owasso.This one is right in the neighborhood, only a block and a half or so from home.Nothing wrong with spectacular I would say. Nice day, high quality companions, nice ride.

In which this orange tree thing careens out of control

On a day with a new record high temperature I had enough time for a bicycle ride. I headed down into the city again. There has been some controversy down there about markings for a bicycle lane on Jefferson Avenue and much like the flood, this was something I wanted to see for myself.

I got distracted by some orange trees as I rode past the University President's residence. I got a photo but then I saw some more up the street so I rode up there and then I saw some more a bit farther up the street and . . .

Eventually I ended up at Dayton and Wilder for this shot. I thought this particular orange tree was distinguished by the swell display another tree was making in the background.As long as I was headed over to Jefferson I planned my route to take me along Prior so I could introduce LOOK to another bicycle shop. Here is LOOK at Grand Performance.Grand Performance is a serious shop, they sponsor the Saint Paul Bicycle Racing Club. That store has always, for the time I have owned a Bianchi, featured Bianchi as their primary brand. You know that they are serious about Bianchi when the store front is painted celeste.

The controversy over on Jefferson is that the street was designated as a bike route over the objection of some of the residents. Apparently they felt that they already had enough bicycles and that an official designation would increase the unwelcome infestation. The agreement made was that the route would be designated but that the usual street markings would not be painted. A mistake was made, the markings were painted on the street. Two wrongs ended up making a right as the city crews returned and painted over the signs on the street. This is what I wanted to see for myself.In person you can still sorta see the outline of the painted designation. A look at the street reveals all you need to know about why the designation or lack of designation is of little consequence. The street is technically a through street but it is lightly traveled and pleasant and you can actually use that street to get to places you might want to go. Lots of bicyclists are going to use that street whether it is a designated bike route or not.

I once heard someone describe the "electric experience of being on campus in the fall". It is definitely fall and there was a campus in my way as I headed for home so I stopped and photographed an orange tree.It is very pretty, very serene, almost all college campuses are. I felt that serenity but I didn't get much of anything in the way of a buzz of electricity. Actually, I think the person who made that comment may have been describing the experience of being a student. Once having obtained a terminal degree if you want electricity you probably have to bring your own extension cord.

I am guessing the migration is over and I never actually did see a Monarch at the Monarch Waystation. It is my own fault, I didn't visit often enough or at the right time. I did, however, see a Monarch about a block away as I left the area in August.I stopped again today to take a look and it is still an interesting look, I think.

On the way home I was thinking orange and I knew there was a place with a striking display. I have been there other years later in the season but I thought this might be the time to see if I could get peak color. There are maples on both sides of the street along the west side of Langford Park.The prediction for tomorrow is twofold. One is for another possibility of a record. The other is for hockey at 2pm. TOPWLH is devastated and declares that she may boycott hockey.

Habituate

Habituate, that's what I meant. That's what I meant last week when I said that great blue heron had become acclimated to the presence of humans. The behavioral change in that bird has very little to do with climate and and lot to do with habitat. I couldn't think of that word last week but today as I was riding it just popped completely unbidden into my head. Which is, of course, one of the wonderful joys of riding, I can just ride along and let my mind wander. More often than not my mind goes someplace interesting. Today it went to habituate.

I will edit the old post.

Here is an ironic use of a phrase which generally has a negative connotation.I say ironic because that place is a bakery and the eating of cake is an activity favored by and promoted by bakeries. Further, that bakery is in the Seward neighborhood, that's right, today was Minneapolis baby, nowhere near Edina.

I rode over to Lake of the Isles, which come to think of it, is pretty close to Edina.On the way back I rode mostly along 27th Street during the time when I was on the far side of Hiawatha Avenue. My preferred option on this side of that intimidating thoroughfare is 25th Street.

So, things I learned in Minneapolis today:

27th Street is a pretty good alternative.

25th is better than 26th or 24th, better pavement.

The New French Bakery is at 25th and 26th. I think.

The reason for riding off onto city streets on the return from Lake of the Isles was that I wanted to continue a custom that I have of introducing my bicycle to new bike shops. Here is LOOK at Flanders.Flanders is my favorite place to look at overpriced used bicycles, or as they say in Flanders, previously owned. Today in the previously owned section they had a couple of Bianchis, a couple of Specialized, a Ridley, a Scott, two Sevens, a Colnago and a LOOK KG 585. A plethora of high priced bicycles.

I took some interest in the 585 and discovered that its owner has attached an asking price of $4,000. It is a nice bicycle and one that I admire. I am not positive it is my size and would have to ride it to be sure. But why would I? I already have a 585 in my basement that I know fits (I have ridden 2,002 miles on it) and which I am not using right now. But it was nice to find out the value that someone else puts on my current back up bicycle. To be completely fair, the Flanders 585 is equipped with DuraAce while mine has Chorus. DuraAce usually retails for slightly more than Chorus, not much, but slightly more. DuraAce is quality equipment, no argument about that at all. But Chorus is, obviously, my gruppo of choice. All three of my highest quality bicycles are Chorus equipped. Furthermore, my wheelset is superior to the wheelset on the Flanders 585, Mavic Ksyrium ES to Easton aluminum wheels. So, LOOK KG 585 with DuraAce for $4,000? Not interested. I like the one I already have quite a bit better.

Just to prove that I was paying attention, here is today's orange tree. This one is a little overcooked already losing some leaves at the crown. It is located in Minneapolis.All that detouring around while in Minneapolis meant that I had to cut off part of my regular route to avoid compiling too many miles. That hasn't happened in a while. The short cut I took was through the Fairgrounds at about 3pm.

EG:69 CB:68 AOWG:80.

Nice day.

A theme continues

I spotted this one fairly early in the ride, this time in northwest Roseville. Once again, it is a different maple variety. It is changing a bit later than some of the others and the orange is not the same shade. But a maple it is, and orange it is.Incidentally, a couple of the earlier pictured trees, including the neighbor's ash, have dropped their leaves and are now completely bare.

As may be evident from the maple tree photo, it was another nice one here. The sun was out and the sky is that rich, deep blue. Temperatures were again above average, rising to about 70 by the time we got home.

But it was tres windy again and the lesson being learned in this year's fall riding is that riding in the wind is hard.

We rode out to the northern lakes. This is Sucker Lake, GRider for scale.The sign may be a bit difficult to read but it warns of the presence of an invasive species. I do not believe that the sign is intended to warn others that GRider has invaded the area. I believe it refers to zebra mussels in the lake.

It was another nice day for a bicycle ride, a thoroughly enjoyable outing in the great outdoors.

Shorts and short sleeves

I know what average means and the recent run of below average temperatures had to lead to something. And that something was today. I passed through the Fairgrounds at about 3pm on the way home and found the following:

EG:71 CB:69 AO(always optimistic)WG:78.

The morning newspaper reported the average for today to be 64. Many reputable internet sources are currently reporting 73.

The only problem with all of this is that fall brings closely packed isobars. Closely packed isobars means wind. It was windy again today and wind is forecast again for tomorrow.

But we will take the wind if it is going to be in the 70s in October.

I had read and seen internet reports of the flow of water over Minnehaha Falls related to the recent heavy rainfall. Wind conditions pointed me in that direction and since I wanted to see it for myself, I went ahead and made that today's destination.

Along the way I got this shot of the river gorge from the Ford Parkway bridge.It is only a short distance from there to the Falls where I discovered that there continues to be heavy flow over the Falls, as elsewhere reported.I feared that sun conditions might wash that one out, although it turned out fine. But just to be sure I rode down to the end and got this artsy shot back through the foliage.You can cover a lot more ground on a bicycle than you can walking. I find these things everywhere. Here is another orange maple tree.That one is a slightly different species and a slightly different shade of orange. But I rode up close and took a good look and it is definitely a maple. It is on the River Road in Minneapolis near the Minnehaha Academy Lower and Middle School.

A couple of blog update notes. I noticed that October 1 was graffiti theme day for Daily Photo Blogs. It was rain and cold day in Minnesota but today I rode past the most impressive display of graffiti that I see on a regular basis. This is the railroad bridge over I-94 underneath the Pelham Avenue bridge over I-94.I suspect that is the work of many different taggers. It is secluded and the railroad seems to have no interest in cleaning it up. It has been like that for at least several years.

The concern that TCWUTH works for has recently moved into new quarters. Wireless sent me this photo to confirm that the dried fruit collection is intact and has made the move. She has added a couple of things that are purely her own, as she should, she is now the proprietor. But anyone who frequented my work place down at the factory should find plenty of familiar looking objects there.Thanks, Kiddo, the collection appears to be in good hands.

LOOK at the flood

Monday is the best day and to ride. This is especially true when Monday is as nice a day as today was. Sunday went away and was followed by a sun day.

It was warm enough that I rode in shorts and for the second half of the ride (the part with the wind at my back) I rode without my windbreaker. Today was warm enough and plenty sunny, another day when being on the fourth floor would not have been right.

I rode down into the city but without the marathon to distract me I today instead tried to get a look at the river flood.

Most of my ride was above the Ford dam so I didn't expect much. I was surprised to find that even up there the river was quite high. I am guessing that the river is so over full further down that they are impounding water behind the dam. They have enough problems with the Minnesota without having the Mississippi contribute even more water.

This is the entrance to Hidden Falls Park at Prior and Mississippi River Boulevard. The park is closed due to the high water.Eventually I got below the dam and got to a place where I could see the river. Here is the confluence of the two big rivers. That's also a park over there and it is obvious why it is that parks on both sides of the river are closed. High water.The water is also quite a bit browner that usual.

From the vantage point where I took the above photo I also got this picture down into the park where you can see the path disappear into the river. That's not the way they drew that up.For context, here is where I was when I took the above photos.Context is important.

Marathon

I went out onto the front stoop this morning at about 7:30 (shortly after sunrise) to pick up the Sunday newspaper. The trees across the field are what I suppose is near peak. That isn't the reason I took this picture though.Draw your own conclusions about the significance of that white stuff. I believe it would not be characterized as a "killing" frost as the temperature was still upper 30s.

But by about 1pm the GRider and I headed down into the city to see what we could see about the marathon. Along the way we detoured through the Fairgrounds. Here she is at the east end of the Grandstand.Some might find it interesting to compare her costume with what she wore on her last outing just last Wednesday, merely five days ago.

For those keeping track, the official data was EG:55 CB:54 WG:64. It was about 54 officially.

But we were warm enough, very comfortable so the ride continued down into the city. We entered onto the marathon route at about the 19.5 mile point of the foot race. It was about 1:30 by the time we got there so officially the race was over, the roadblocks were down, there were only a few stragglers still walking, apparently determined to reach the end even though nearly 6 hours had already passed since the race start at 8am.

I checked later and discovered that the course officially closed at 2:15. This meant that as we rode along Summit Avenue we overtook the race at around the 23 mile mark of the foot race. We first passed police cars which were stopping at each corner to have roadblocks removed and to reopen those streets for traffic. Eventually we passed the official race vehicle at the end of the race and then we even passed a few runners. Well, people in a slow jog at least.

Eventually officials approached us and booted us off the course, random bicyclists apparently not being allowed. So be it but there were so few contestants out there at that point that we weren't really bothering anyone.

We rode down towards the Capital on other streets but automobile traffic was heavy down there and we turned away without seeing any more of the foot race finish. We did see quite a few people in running clothes with finisher's medals on their way back to their automobiles. Many of them were in a great deal of pain, walking with exaggerated limps and facial grimaces.

Running is hard.

We rode on home. It was a pretty day, if a bit nippy. Here is another tree in the neighborhood, another maple.I like orange. October is here.