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Somber Sunset Day 11 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 03:09:23 +0000

I started out on an evening ride very late. As I reached the Stone Arch Bridge I came upon the most magnificent sunset, and emergency vehicles everywhere. Someone apparently had jumped off the bridge just upriver. Too much for me. I turned around and rode home.

A beautiful windy evening. Day 10 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 02:59:17 +0000

You can see the wind moving across the Mississippi river.

Some evenings are perfect for riding. You race the setting sun.

The late day sun illuminates the trees.

I love riding as the sun sets. Seeing it dip into the trees.

Sunset is the magic time.

Day 9 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 09:30:24 +0000

Just flowers.

Thoughts while biking. Day 8 – 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 11:21:37 +0000

Today’s ride brought daydreams of cobblestones…

And, big chocolate bunnies…

Guess dreams can come true.

Bridges of Minneapolis Day 7 – 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 11:22:31 +0000

Not all of them but 9 I went over or under today on my ride.

Stone Arch Bridge

Bridge 1

35W Bridge

Bridge 2

10th Ave. Bridge

Bridge 3

Old railroad bridge - U of M

Bridge 4

Washington Ave. Bridge

Bridge 5

Bridge 6

Franklin Ave Bridge

Bridge 6

Old railroad bridge by the Greenway

Bridge 7

Lake Street Bridge

Bridge 8

Ford Parkway Bridge

Bridge 9

Only Bike Day 6 – 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 10:30:06 +0000

Today for some reason I kept thinking that I must only bike. Not that that is a bad thing at all. But the more I rode, the more it became crystal clear to me…

We must… ONLY BIKE!!!

ONLY BIKE

Click to view slideshow.

Why I like to commute by bicycle. Day 5 – 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:49:06 +0000

The reasons are simple.

To be outside and know what the Earth is up to.

To feel the air, to know the temperature as I move along.

To stop at a favorite place overlooking the Mississippi River. Each day I do this my view is unique. Same place, completely different each time. Today I looked down and got to spend a few minutes with a Bald Eagle. My view today.

A bald eagle, my morning commute companion.

The eagle flying under the Lake Street bridge.

Mixed with spring green trees, blue sky and calm waters. The sun striking trees and bridges and reflecting brightly.

I will do this again. Soon. Tomorrow. It won’t be the same.

Yes, we have no bananas. Day 4 – 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 11:40:17 +0000

This post has nothing to do with bananas.

That said it is about two great joys of mine. Riding my bicycle to work and riding with my youngest daughter. This morning the two of us rode from our home to her school, about 7 miles away. Then I continued on to my school where I teach. It was a beautiful day. The ride home was delightful as well. I think I will let the images speak the rest for me.

Click to view slideshow.

A Tribute and the need to ride my bicycle. Day 3: 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:22:53 +0000

Some days we grieve. Some days with grieve together with others. This was one.

With such gratitude for the life of my Grandfather’s youngest brother Armas who died this past weekend at the age of 95. He left everyone he met with so many gifts, me included.

He was the last of his generation in my family. An intelligent, warm, compassionate, caring model, mentor, friend, listener who spread love everywhere. He loved stimulating conversation and was an amazing storyteller. He was a teacher and beloved man.

After traveling 300 miles to and from Duluth today I returned home feeling spent. Such a life, so many lives touched by one person.

The sun had set and I set off on my bicycle. Straight from our home to a path. I wanted solitude. It was cold, dark. I rode and rode warming up. The moon shone down and lit up the tops of the trees but the path lay dark, eerily illuminated by my light.

I stopped to take a picture of the moon and it had blue wings. Oh wow.

Today was a beautiful blue sky day. Just amazing.

A story shared at his funeral was how just recently in the process of dying in the middle of a rough night he burst into song, full volume:

BLUE SKIES

Blue Skies

smiling at me.

Nothing but blue skies

do I see.

Bluebirds

singing a song:

nothing but bluebirds

all day long.

Never saw the sun

shining so bright.

Never saw things

going so right.

Noticing the days

hurrying by:

when you’re in love,

my how they fly.

Blue days,

all of them gone.

Nothing but blue skies

from now on.

We sang it together today.

I am filled with gratitude and love.

He was the son of Finnish immigrants. His name was Armas. In Finnish his name means beloved.

He was so very, very beloved.

Good bye Armas.

Bike talk? Day 2 – 30daysofbiking

circlesuperior — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 11:48:08 +0000

For the purposes of today’s post please note the following. The human will be referred to as (ME) and the inanimate, but highly personified,pedal driven, recreational vehicle will be referred to as (BLUE)

ME: Hey, let’s go I have to return these dvds to the library.

BLUE: Not interested.

ME: But I have this 30 days of riding you thingy going on here.

BLUE: And did I have a say in this?

ME: Look what we will be carrying. Breaking Away!

BLUE: Only if you say something in Italian to me.

ME: Buon giorno, Papa!

BLUE: I am not your Papa, I’m your god-damned bicycle.

Me: Will you go now?

BLUE: ok, ok…

ME: It looks like rain.

BLUE: I don’t want to get wet.

ME: I’ll be ok, I will wear this bright orange rain jacket.

BLUE: I don’t want to get wet.

ME: You could use a shower. Have you seen yourself lately?

BLUE: And just exactly whose fault is that?

ME: Well hopefully we can go wash you off.

(Off they both go. Day 2 of 30 days of biking)

ME: Hey look, the moon in the tree.

BLUE: Ah… that is a street light buddy. Look over there in that tree, see it?

ME: Nice.

BLUE: This is nice, this riding in the dark stuff.

ME: I love it.

ME: We made it.

BLUE: Jeeeez, you are grabbing that thing like you are at a tea party.

ME: Do you want to get cleaned or not?

BLUE: Yes.