Easterly ride

I got out early for a 25+ mile ride out east of Pittsburgh and then back north through Oakmont and along the Allegheny River. My cell died before I got too far out of the urban areas, so I didn't get many pictures of the winding, forested roads. Nonetheless, I got a few on my way out. I couldn't figure out if the lot above is private or a community garden, but they're growing a lot of food for being in the city. Those are rows of corn.

I also admired a beautiful abandoned bridge with trees growing on top.


And a bit further, there was a former gas station with two old-time pumps without their protective shrouding.

Bridges, the Run, and the Hollow

There have been some nice evenings to ride after work this week. I finally remembered there is a sidewalk on the Fort Pitt Bridge (shown above). It makes for a nicer, albeit longer ride over the Monongahela River to the South Side than fighting rush hour traffic from the Point to and over the Smithfield Bridge. The next picture is crossing the Allegheny on the Fort Duquesne Bridge. The Fort Pitt Bridge can be seen in the distance.


Riding home from the terminus of the Eliza Furnace Trail takes one through 4-mile Run. Big Jim's resides in the Run. In true Pittsburgh fashion, the serving sizes are enormous and are dirt cheap.


Continuing toward Oakland, in Panther Hollow, is this building. I think it's a CHP plant for the university, but don't quote me.

Sunny spring, back to riding to the Point

Despite knowing that it would delay getting dinner cooked and served, I rode down to the Point to see how it's been. I haven't gotten much of a chance to get down there between the medical hiatus from the bike and the less than ideal cycling weather during the winter. People were enjoying the early evening outside everywhere I rode. It was nice to see so many so happy to be outdoors. There is/was a physics conference of some sort going on at the convention center. Maybe I was seeing what I wanted to see, but there were lovely physics geeks all over Point State Park. It was nice. Sorry, no pictures to document the experience. Just some of the city.

More trail repair. The work shown below is on the north shore of the Allegheny River in front of PNC Park. As I've mentioned before, I love the trails along the rivers in Pittsburgh. They've done a good job on them.

First run of the year

I made it out for my first run of the year yesterday. I had to take a month off because of the surgery and recovery, but I'm feeling good. I went out for a casual 2 miles on a nice, sunny Sunday afternoon. Bethany, Silas, and Guthrie strolled along the Eliza Furnace Trail while I ran and then we continued to stroll together for a bit. Guthrie was so happy to get out. Between me being cooped up, and Silas taking up so much of Bethany's time and energy, the poor dog spends much of his time on the couch either sleeping on licking one of his paws raw.

Below is a funded mural on the large retaining wall that supports the Parkway East and an entrance ramp up to the highway from Bates St. It cracks me up that the little description calls it public art, but they covered up all the other 'public art' in the area with gray paint. Evidently, the only art that can be public has to be officially consigned.

Below are some shots from and of the Hot Metal Bridge. It was an important bridge in the steelmaking heyday and the war effort in WWII. The bridge was a rail line between the blast furnaces and rolling mill of a steel plant.

31st Street Bridge and Millvale Riverfront Park

On my way up to the Bloomfield farmer's market after work, I detoured across the Allegheny River on the (relatively) newly rebuilt 31st Street Bridge. I circled under and took the trail up to Millvale and then back over the 40th Street Bridge to get the third shot, which is of the park.

Ride up into the Hill District

I didn't have much time to ride this weekend. I was able to sneak an hour ride in before breakfast today, though. I rode up into the Hill District to explore and then down into Oakland before picking up bagels for breakfast.

I realize it's a generalization, but I really don't think many people in my neighborhood have ever been up in the Hill District. There are some amazing houses and a lot of them are well taken care of and obviously appreciated. Sometimes, it seems like locals feel that it's all a war zone and falling down. It's not really like that. Sure, there are bombed out parts, as there are in any city, but there is much more. Lots of people living normal, relatively happy lives in completely different circles than those of other neighborhoods.

I found a wonderful park in the Upper Hill District where the water tower is. Google Maps is telling me that it is Herron Hill Park. However, there was another name, a person's name, on a sign at the entrance. I wonder which is the one that people who live nearby use. In any case, the views from the walking trail around the reservoir are amazing. You can bet I'll check back in and see how things change with the seasons. Enjoy some of the views.

Bloomfield Bridge and the new Children's Hospital.

Looking West toward downtown Pittsburgh and beyond.

Looking northeast over Bloomfield and West Penn Hospital. Our house is in that mess somewhere.

Final shot of Pittsburgh's downtown.

Back in Running Shoes

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/2-1-2-mile-easy-training-run

After hurting my knee at our company picnic on 12 July, I had to take some time away from running to let it heal. I missed out on the Pittsburgh Triathlon because of the injury. Nonetheless, I ran an easy 2.5 miles today with Guthrie, and it felt good. The shin pain I'd been having is also gone! I guess it pays to let things heal from time to time. :)

It was a modest 10 minutes/mile average, but that included getting stopped by lights and picking up after Guthrie. I'm not displeased with the pace, as it's been so long - 22 days! My last run was in Portland, OR (business trip), on 9 July. Here is a view from the Bloomfield Bridge out over the neighborhood and West Penn Hospital.

Remainder of the ride was nice...

Nice 18.5 mile ride around the city today (including the commute to work). Beyond the exciting events in Squirrel Hill, it was a good day to be out on the bike.

I have no clue why, but the fence was on fire on the South Side. It drew a nice crowd. Everyone likes a fire. Just like everyone likes a bike crash...


Some shots from around the rivers. The first is the Heinz Lofts, across from the Strip District, where my office is. The second is the Strip looking at it from across the Allegheny River.



Is this "clean coal"? I hope nobody believe that shit... It's worth the research, as there will be no single solution to the mess we're in. Clean coal is certainly not going to do it, but it will have its place in the cocktail of energy sources we will have to rely on.

North Hills and Allegheny River Ride

View from Morningside of the Allegheny River

Here are some pictures from a 29 mile route I rode today. I threw myself up some hills in the North Hills and then tooled around by the stadiums for a while. I put a 20-mile version of this route into Bikely, as it's a nice training route. Check out the route here. The 20-mile map is below as well.

Looking out over Etna up the Allegheny

Pittsburgh from a walking bridge over I-279

The fountain at the Point

Clemente bridge blocked to traffic on Pirates' game days

Yay to the grandmother that took her grandchildren to Mr. Small's Skatepark for some fun!

19 July Ride - Rivers, Graffiti, Ladies, and a Vodka-Drinking Ryder

The intent is to relay something fun about every day. Today included all sorts of fun found on two wheels in the greater Pittsburgh area.

The first stop of the ride today was Crescent Supply to look at vanity cabinets for our bathroom renovation underway. I'm looking for a vanity cabinet to support two vessel sinks. The trouble we're having finding one is that the tub is larger than our initial drawings had it, so the vanity needs to be shorter than we'd originally planned. There are few options out there the correct size that aren't a bazillion dollars. I won't get distracted with this now...

From there, I got to bag another bridge and rode the 62nd Street bridge over to Etna/Sharpsburg. Here is a view from the bridge.


On the trail along the railroad tracks from Etna to Millvale, I stopped to admire some graffiti. I have issues with some graffiti, specifically the kind that is vandalism on someone's house, garage, or other property. However, in certain areas, it is not so bad. Crumbling infrastructure devoid of architectural design seems like a pretty benign venue... Here is one that caught my eye.


I met up with my friend, Ryder, for some riding. Like how that works? We rode down from Bloomfield to the South Side and met up to eat lunch with our partners and some other friends who had gathered to go see Mama Mia. This group of ladies was ueberkind to put up with two sweaty boys out on a bike ride. We're thankful. :)

To cement that point, here is a picture of Ryder during our ride. This is how we roll! Drinking vodka straight from the bottle on the trail. Actually, he was exercising his right to reduce, recycle, reuse, with a focus on the REUSE, filling up an old bottle with water for the day.


After lunch, we hightailed it out through West Mifflin to McKeesport to check out a shorter, safe route for Ryder and Maya to begin their upcoming Great Allegheny Passage ride. More on that later. We had all sorts of fun and adventures and lots of bridge crossings, much to the chagrin of the local drivers that feel the roads are too narrow to accommodate bikes and cars...

All told, Ryder and I rode 30 miles together. Add that to my 12 from earlier in the day, and I got a nice 42 miles in. Not a bad way to spend a day in Pittsburgh.