The Pampered Cyclist and mitzvahs

I hadn't ridden yesterday and needed to get out, badly. I started at base and headed out to Lawrenceville via the Millvale/Heritage trail. I found a pile of decorative hunks of cement under the 40th St bridge. I wondered where they came from.

I had wanted to stop at the Bead Bazaar, but they weren't open just yet. I stood in a laboriously long line at LaGourmandine. I finally got my croissant. I also got a almond croissant with the intentions of bringing it home to Hubby. But, after having a taste of it, there was little chance this bit of deliciousness was going to last long in my possession.

Rode through the Allegheny Cemetery

Many Memorial Day flags still present.

A welcome sign at the top of the hill on a warm day.

I rode out to the Waterfront after stopping at REI to check out the clearance stuff and re-fill my water bottles.

PEDICURE!

best. red. ever.

 I realized I hadn't received a professional pedicure in probably 2 years and I was in dire need of it. They apply some sort of callous melter and wrap your feet in hot towels while the chemicals eat away at your dead skin and then they take a thing that looks suspiciously like a cheese grater and file away copious amounts of excess flesh. For someone with bad knees and flexibility issues, paying someone to attend to your feet is a glorious thing. Having a man massage your calves and feet if freaking awesome too. Why on Earth have I not treated myself to this in recent years?
My only disappointment was that they didn't have my favorite, signature OPI color: "I'm Not Really A Waitress".  









I noticed there are far fewer Eagle Watchers. Has everyone had their fill? Bored with the birds? Too hot today?

Stopped at Big Dog to try iced coffee

I discovered I don't care for iced coffee. Perhaps, like hot coffee, it's an acquired taste. I may try it again with more cream and sugar.

Mitzvah #1
On the way back, a family was riding towards me and the older boy, probably 6 years old took a nasty spill. Kids that age are still learning that if you yank the handlebars too much in one direction, you're gonna have a bad time.
I offered my supply of band aids to his parents, wished them luck with the wailing child and scurried away quickly from the screeches of "I'm bleeding!! I'm bleeding!!"
Note to self: restock the bike bag with band-aids.
Mitzvah #2
I also zipped past Yale and waved to him as he was pumping up a tire for some kids.

I noticed a tandem coming towards me on the North Shore, they always catch my eye. Oh, the front rider has an Escape to the Lake jersey! What? He's waving to me? Hey, it's Chris and Elizabeth!
I wonder if they'll be riding the tandem next weekend.


27.3 miles, much self-pampering, kicked down to the top 40 in the NBC and a nice sunburn on my back... because I can't reach back there with the sunscreen!

Kennywood bugs me

As I write this, I'm freshly showered. I raced to the bathroom as soon as I got home to rinse away the insect assault I was subjected to while riding along the Steel Valley trail near Kennywood. I'll get to that later though.

I went for another after work ride. I'd wanted to go beyond the Pump House at the Waterfront, so I made a beeline there, well I attempted anyway. I ran into Yale again (*DRINK* Cheers!) on the narrow sidewalk down to Station Square from the Fort Pitt bridge. I thought I was stopping to let a fellow cyclist pass so we didn't crash into one another, but it was Yale, we stopped to chat and I saw another cyclist was coming up behind him. How was she going to get past us? Oh, it's Sue! We all chatted for a few moments and I showed them the new shorter hair and I was on my way. It seems they were wrapping up for the day while I was just starting out.
I tried again to beeline for Kennywood, but as I passed through the Bald Eagles' Nest area, I saw one of the adults was resting high in a tree and in a very photogenic fashion. I had to stop and shoot this.

The kids are getting big.

OK, off I went again after waiting a few minutes for the bird hoping it would take flight. I got my wish.

I rode through the Waterfront with traffic and only had one impatient driver lay on the horn at me at a light and then pass me within a foot and half or so. She was in a hurry to get to the convenience store to buy smokes. Jagoff.

When I crossed over the bridge that leads to the Steel Valley trail, the assault began. Gnats everywhere, a wall of them, Every cyclist I passed was spitting them out of their mouths, snorting out of their noses and waving their hands in front of their faces in a futile attempt to ward them off. I got one or more in my left eye and spent a few minutes digging it out, blinded by the gnat corpse in my eye. This was a moment I wished I had the disability of needing corrective eyewear to shield my eyes from the swarms of bugs. I got out my safety goggles and continued still getting a few up my nose as I went. It was awful.

I met another cyclist at the ravine where the Thunderbolt dips. She noted that it looked like I was going on a long trip. I sheepishly told her I'm just an over-packer.

I made an about face as she told me that "It gets dicey up ahead in McKeesport."
Back through the bugs, and back to base for a day that I rode a total of 40.2 miles in three trips and ventured to a new place. I brought Ruby back home with me for Montour Trail riding this weekend to avoid the weekend's marathon madness. The Point is already set up with marathon tents and villages. I'll be riding the Monster tomorrow, which should be interesting as I've not ridden her since December.

Broke 1000 miles for the year and I've got 60 Bike Challenge points so far!

Weirdness, the Strava addiction and damned headwinds

I hadn't been in much of a blogging mood for a good while, but this ride perked my mood back up to baseline.

I started out heading over to Thick to witness a Weird Bike Ride and to get some new Velcro straps to mount lights on the new helmet. Adam mentioned he's doing Crush the Commonwealth Ride this weekend and it sounds brutal.

I didn't anticipate going on the ride with the Weirdos, but the bikes intrigued me. I finally got to meet Kitaira, which was nice.

I headed off on my own to get some much needed exercise. I ran into new signage near the Eagles' Nest. I also ran into energy-sapping headwinds on the way back after turning around at the Waterfront. They killed me.

I hit a stunning sunset as I crossed over the Hot Metal Bridge.

 The fine work the Earth Day volunteers did yesterday was evident everywhere along the Eliza Furnace Trail. It's amazing, you don't notice how much crap falls off the Parkway until it's pulled out of the shrubs and placed into bags and piles. There was tons of it.

Thank you!

 This work in progress is at Point State Park. Not sure what it's for.

The Strava app that I downloaded to my phone the other day is so addictive, it's not funny.

Link to my 5 mile lunch break ride

Link to this ride's STRAVA Stats

I mean, look at the route I took around REI for the bathrooms, that is awesome!

Hubby has made a point of telling me I'm pleasant, ebullient and cheery after I've engaged in these two things: a drink and a ride (not together, mind you!). That translates to: "You're a sullen crab the rest of the time."

25 miles total for the day and a lifted mood.

Apparently, headwinds put me into a coma, wow. I can't remember the last time I slept 8 hours.

The Money Shots

When I started out today, was surprised to see barriers at the casino employee parking area. The employees have long been a blight upon the trail. They've nearly run down pedestrians and cyclists on numerous occasions, I've seen it and complained to the casino and Friends of the Riverfront.  I know others have complained too, but we were ignored until a local journalist was nearly run down. She complained directly to the employee who was driving on the trail, to the casino security... and she was ignored also... until she tweeted about it.
It took less than 18 hours for these barriers to be installed. Wow. Awesome.
Rather sad though... the casino doesn't care about our safety until the the threat of bad press is upon them?

I was delighted to tweet a photo of the quick results of her handiwork. I really hope the barriers remain in place.

 I went off in search of eagles.

 The eggs in the Bald Eagles' nest are hatching. The 2nd of three eggs hatched today. The news crews were out in force. I lingered with the media, the birders and the eagle groupies. Then one of the parents went on a food run. I missed the takeoff because I was goofing with my phone. Dammit. I moved my position and before too long the parent returned with food in it's talons.

This crappy cellphone picture simply does no justice to what I saw with my own eyes.

We watched as this majestic bird slowed it's wingbeats to land in the nest. It was jaw-dropping. We went silent. This beast is enormous. The wingspan is breathtaking. As soon as the eagle landed, the news crews had the money shot. They'd gotten what they came for. They started packing up their camera equipment and leaving. I did too. I'd seen a rare and spectacular event. What more could I ask for?


I left and went to the Strip. I stopped at a market for a bathroom and bulk organic popping corn. I love popcorn. Buttered popcorn is another of my vices.
I also made sure to snack, rest and drink while I was there. It had warmed up and I was sweating with all my layers.

I headed down to Millvale and visited another spot for a wonderful skyline shot.

I'm a parking scofflaw.

26 miles on a gorgeous windy day.

Lots and lots of Errandonnee

Errandonnee #1 (Wildcard)
I set out to take care of something that I'd wanted to do for a long time. This was inspired by Mark Pomocki's work, I decided to try and find the exact spot this photo of Exposition Park was taken in 1913

The location is what was once called "Cemetery Hill" and what is now Community College of Allegheny County. I really hope CCAC isn't resting on hallowed ground and we have angry dead people below the parking lot!

Unfortunately, the hill is now lined in trees and my shot was ruined.

Errandonnee #2 (Wild card #2)

Eagles!

I went out to Hays to see the nesting bald eagles. The last time I was out there was Christmas Day, they estimate the 3 eggs that are now in the nest were conceived around December 25th. I did see some lovely aerial courtship displays that day.

The birders behind me were kind enough to point out the nest's exact location for me.

Errandonnee #3 (Shopping!)

On today's ride, I was experiencing yet more pants creepage. It was a new, maddening and physically irritating phenomenon. I tried scooting around in the saddle, stopping to adjust, sitting differently, but nothing worked.

I stopped at REI to use the bathrooms, and was drawn in by a clearance on chamois shorts... maybe that's what I needed to alleviate my issues. I've never owned a pair. I found a deeply discounted pair and was on the road before I realized I should have worn them out of the store. I wasn't going to go back, re-lock the bike... so I just dealt with my creepy drawers.

I encountered Yale on the Hot Metal bridge, and waved hello, but I don't think he recognized me in my dark jacket, face-covering hood and sunglasses (it was a bright, sun-drenched day).

Errandonnee #4 (Lunch!)

They were filming something in the Market

I had a nice chat with the owner of the bike with the killer
front rack parked behind me,
we wished each other a good ride.

Riding back to base I encountered throngs of teenage girls waiting at Stage AE for a concert. Just as I rode past, apparently, the young heartthrob fellow they were waiting to see poked his head out of the building and girls went absolutely ape. Squealing and screaming and climbing the fence, running out in front of me and moving cars to get at the fence, pushing the other girls out of the way, it was insanity! I and the other adults in the vicinity just laughed at the maniacal girls. What a sight.

I learned later with a quick Google that the kid they wanted to get at was Austin Mahone.




22 miles on a gorgeous day.