Flash Flood

Today I left work as thunderstorms were brewing. I looked at the little blip on the radar and decided that if I got caught in it, I would enjoy the rain on a 97 degree day. I made the strategic error of taking 1st avenue south instead of my normal route. About 1/4 of a mile in the faucet came on full blast,as did the wind. The rain was so heavy and the wind so hard, I could hardly see where I was going. My handlebars were shimmying in the wind and in no time 1st avenue was like a river and I was riding in 2 inches of water. I hit the first set of railroad tracks and my front tire slid. I got it corrected and looked over my shoulder to see 4 cars in line, waiting to run me over when I fall. I think it was hailing at one point. Either that or the rain was blowing so hard it felt like hail. I ducked up under an old loading dock to wait some of it out. Once I got up there fire engines were racing up and down 1st avenue, and there was the smell of burning plastic in the air. After 15 minutes or so it looked like the worst had past, so I waited for a point when there were no cars, and rolled back down onto the road. Almost immediately it was the same story. Shit blowing everywhere, rain blasting, wind howling, and cars on my ass. I made it to Mazer's on the corner of 41st and 1st avenue and ducked up under the side of their building. 41st and 1st avenue were both completely flooded at this point. Maybe a foot deep in some places. There was a train stopped on the tracks north of 1st ave, so cars that were headed north on 41st were stuck in what was a quickly deepening lagoon. There was a tractor trailer either stuck in each direction on 41st, or just stopped with no where to go. A 55 gallon steel drum came floating down 41st, made a right on 1st avenue and continued out of site down 1st avenue. There were some really massive cracks of thunder, so I decided leaning up against the metal siding was a bad idea, and I headed into Mazer's. I sat and watched the Mayhem for another 25 minutes or so. The guys at the recycling place across the street were plowing the water away from the entrance with back hoes and sending waves of water down the street and into the stuck cars. Finally the rain seemed to slow and the thunder took a break so I headed out. I had to ride through water deep enough so my feet were totally submerged on the down stroke. The water was moving fast enough where I thought there was a pretty good chance it was gonna take me for a swim. I made it across 41st, and although the rain was a lot lighter, the road was still a river. When I got to my normal turn, there was train stopped on the tracks, an even bigger river roaring through, a car stuck between the flood and the stopped train, and traffic being diverted from Crestwood blvd into the flood here, leaving them nowhere to go. I sat and watched for a few minutes and saw that the train was starting to creep along. I weaved through the water, past mr. stuck car, past the crossing barrier and waited on top of the drainage ditch for the train to finish crossing. The drainage ditch is usually about six feet to the bottom and nothing but stagnant muck at the bottom. It was roaring through and lapping at the top of the street. I decided I would take a few pictures. As I reached for my camera I saw a small tsunami coming down the creek and got out of the way in time to miss the wave crossing the road. I decided that this was how people die in flash floods, and the urgency to get on with my ride took on a different tone. Never did get a picture of that. Much of the same on the way home. Stalled cars, flooded roads, power lines and tree branches down. It took me a total of about an hour to make it home. No power at the house when I got there. and Lucy was pissed. I give today an A+ I hope it rains again tomorrow.

Thor

No riding today. Lucy needed me to run some errands and pick up some things for the shop this morning, so I needed the car. Luckily, my now much neglected car wouldn't start, so I had the pleasure of driving Thor, our little red pick up. I took the opportunity to lug a bunch of stuff back and forth to work. Among the stuff being lugged is our first movie from Blockbuster online, Raise the Red Lantern. So we got that going for us.

Birmingham Critical Mass

The Birmingham Critical Mass ride was tonight starting from Lynn park. About 19 people showed up and we zig zagged around downtown, up to 5 points, around Highland Ave, and up into Forest Park. It's a great event and I hope it starts to grow. For anyone who doesn't know about it, you can check it out by googling critical mass. There are a bunch of different sites, I'm not sure there is actually an "official" one. The Birmingham ride has a facebook page (critical mass Birmingham) so you can check that out to, I posted some pictures from the ride there. I almost didn't make to the ride, due to a blow out on Richard Arrington Blvd at Lunch time. I didn't have an extra tube or patch kit or anything so it took a bunch of running around to get it fixed I was particularly filthy from changing the tire, but I got it done and made it. On the way to the ride I passed Dee and her mom sitting outside Our Place having margaritas, so I stopped and had a beer with them before heading to Lynn park. The whole ride lasted an hour or so. The group started dwindling almost from the start until there were just four of us left. There was talk of going to the Bottletree or Little Savannah for beer, which sounded good, but I had to split. I really like the idea of this thing growing into a much bigger group and invading some bar at the end of the ride. We'll see.

Thief

It turns out that my Obama stuff wasn't stolen after all. A certain person took it to keep it from being rained on. They decided to torture me for the evening by not telling me about it until the next day. OK, you got me. Nice one. Sorry for the foul language yesterday. However, thieves do suck. Especially the one that managed to steal the Jones Valley Urban Farm tractor. You can take the language from yesterday and direct it at that person or persons, and throw in a few more lines about going to hell etc.., just for good measure. Sorry about the tractor guys, that really sucks.

Scooters and thieves

I received my Barack Obama support pack in the mail today. It has a yard sign and some buttons and stickers and stuff. It's worth noting that I'm not usually the support pack buyin' type. However, I find myself really excited about Barack Obama, and equally embarrassed and ashamed of the last eight years. It wasn't possible for me to haul all this crap home on my bike, so I asked my friend Shawnie if I could leave it on her scooter at work so she could bring it home later. An hour later when she returned it had been stolen. Not that it was a terribly bright idea to just leave it on her scooter, but it was tucked into the pocket under the handle bars. Plus I figured - who is gonna steal some buttons, stickers, and a yard sign? What are you going to do with this stuff? Sell it on the corner? Pawn it? Would you really display it in your yard? How meaningful, to display a stolen sign on behalf of our candidate. I suppose someone may have just decided to take it and destroy it. At least the money went where it was supposed to go. I'll just leave it as - Fuck You, Fuck You, Fuck You and as Frank Zappa would say "yer an asshole, yer an asshole." and... Todd got his scooter today. After work I pedaled out to 1st avenue north and waited for him to ride by. I waited for like an hour. I sort of know how it feels to be a prostitute on 1st avenue north now. At least the part before you get in the car. A LOT of people stare at you when you are just standing in the street with sunglasses on. Todd finally came by like lighning bolt, the proud new owner of a martini olive green (coicidence?) hog.

99 degrees

They said it was going to 99 degrees today. Bring it I say. I really would take blazing heat over cold any day. I was really hoping to get a picture of a digital thermometer sign saying it was 100. I like to sweat and I don't mind stinking, to a certain point. My shoes in the office are actually starting to stink quite bad. I think they are ruined. I was thinking of sending out an email asking for everyone to just let me know if the shoes stink. How do you word something like that? Plus, asking someone if your shoes stink is really like making a confession about your shoes stinking. It's sort of like asking someone to smell your finger. You won't get an honest answer. well, I realized I don't think I know where any of those things are, the digital thermometer signs, at least not on my route. Instead I ended up with a picture of a steak knife I found. Not quite treasure, but surely not trash either. It does make one wonder why a steak knife is lying in the middle of 5th avenue. Not that there would be some great story behind it, but everything has a story. It could have been some meals on wheels disaster. It could have been a premeditated murder, with a last minute change of heart, ending with a knife tossed out the window.

short cut the long way

The man in this photo is randy brown. ex-birminghamian, rabid map enthusiast, and one of only a very few known people who know the lyrics to The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald. Randy was in town this weekend. After I rode to the farmers market, we rendezvoused and rode back to the house. After a few rounds of pull the dirty sack (conjures a strange image, I know) we got stuck at the same railroad crossing that I get stuck at 2 or 3 times each week. I explained how I thought maybe the gravel road next to the tracks might possibly finally come out at SMI. So down the road we went. It probably took 3 times as long as riding on the road due to the intermittent patches of sand. At times it was easier to ride in the tracks themselves, which isn't real easy. But, in the end, lo and behold the "road" does come out at SMI. So I now have a way around the trains, I cannot be stopped.

Sunrise

I left my bike at work on Thursday night. We were going out for drinks and dinner and I could cram the bike into Lucy's car without taking the back wheel off. I decided it would be too much of a pain in the ass, so I just locked it up and figured I would just ride in with Lucy in the am. Much safer than going out for drinks and dinner and then trying to navigate home in the dark. So before light I rode in with Lucy, picked up the bike and headed to Lucy's for coffee. I wasn't under any time constraints so I meandered around and took my time. It's hard to believe it's July, it's just not very hot out yet. With my thermos full, I turned back to work for a super early day with hopes of getting done with my work as early as I was starting. This dream was later crushed, but I did get some pictures of the sun rising up.

Trophy Shop

I rode past the trophy shop near the corner of 7th and 22nd. It was earlier than usual and the sun was blasting through the window and reflecting off all of the trophies. It was also casting weird shadows against the back wall. I couldn't quite capture it through the window. But now I know it's there and may give it another shot.

Sunburn

Despite horrible sunburn from the tubing trip on Sunday, I managed to force myself to ride my bike. I'm glad, it's a much better way to start the day than driving to work. Especially on Mondays. I got caught by a train, again, on my way home. It's a part of my day of come to enjoy. It's great to just sit there and watch the train rumble by. Actually today the train was stopped and there were only a few cars to one side, so I thought about going around. In the end I sat there for a few minutes and then heard the sssssssssssssssssssssssssssss of the air coming out of the brakes. Then the very slow creaking, and finally the train pulling away. Always a good opportunity to grab a photo or a couple.

Brian Dean Woodwork

I finally saw Brian's van outside his shop on 41st street today, so I popped in for a howdy do. Good to see Brian. He was working on a super looking entertainment center. It is narrower then your normal entertainment center to accommodate a flat screen TV. Genius I say. So we get to chatting it about going fishing or canoeing and tubing and decide that this weekend would be just a great weekend to hit the river. He has to get Ariel and I have to head home, so we leave it as "you call me or I'll call you or something" and I get back on my bike. Ya see this is the thing that's great about riding your bike. Chances are I never would have stopped if I was driving. By the time I would have noticed his van, I probably would have been half way down the street. and now we have tubin' plans. I should have taken a picture of his shop for today. I'll get one later and post it up (done).

PBR

Lucy sent me a text message asking if I want to meet at the Bottletree for a PBR after work. Does a bear shit in the woods?

$67.14

Although Lucy would not necessarily agree, it's been 36 days since I've gotten gas. Ironically, I'm not riding my bike today. I have to visit the dentist to have my crown finished. I figured I would work in a haircut, dog food run, and fill up the old gas tank all in one fell swoop. Well, the 67 goddamn 14 goddamn cents sealed my commitment to driving as little as possible. I stopped at the first click too. I didn't even top it off. It's funny, I never used to pay attention to the price of gas. Sometimes I would pick where I filled up based on how many people were there. More often then not the place I chose, based on less people, would be the more expensive place. I always figure the time and hassle was worth the few extra pennies. So, I've got the car parked waiting for an important mission.

Monday

Just Monday. Nothing exciting here. but I do keep passing this colorful growth on the side of this old building, so that's the picture. I've noticed this other person riding their bike to work right down 5th avenue. I've seen her before. She just moseys along right in the middle of the lane with all the traffic. I was thinking about whether or not that makes me a wimp for taking the non-traffic route. No, I think I enjoy my ride a lot more because I'm taking the back roads. It takes a bit longer, not much though, and it is a whole lot less stressful. So there it is.

goose attack

Lucy's is closed today, so that shortens my morning ride a bit. Instead of stopping there, I'm headed to Crestwood Coffee. They filled my thermos for $2.13, which I thought was very reasonable. There is obviously less traffic on the road, so I braved the big intersection on 5th avenue. As I crossed 41st street I hear this flappety flap sound off to my right. I kind of ignore it, but it gets louder. Then all of a sudden there is this giant goose with a red head, barely flight worthy, "flying" right past my face. The thing was listing to one side and flapping more with one wing than the other. It was moving so slow I couldn't believe it was staying airborne. As this happened I let out a shriek and "Holy shit!" It must have been pretty comical to anyone at the intersection. Thankfully I didn't totally freak and wreck the bike. Man, I bet someone about wet themselves when they saw that. good times.

oh Snap! Pssssssss

Tuesday, hump day for this Short week. My bike is making creaking noises and occasionally the chain is slipping just a little bit. Just enough to be annoying. On my way to Lucy's at lunch I'm wondering what it is and changing gears to see if I can diagnose it. On my way back it is happening more and it's getting much more annoying. I'm convinced it is a bottom bracket thing. At least it sounds like it and I'm not sure the chain is skipping, it could be something else. I'm supposing that after this bike sat for so damn long, the bearings probably need to be repacked if not replaced. So, confident that I have accurately diagnosed my malfunction I continue on my way back to work. At a red light I decide the oncoming cars are far enough away that I can just scoot through the intersection. I stand up to give it a good quick start - SNAP! The chain breaks and leaves me spinning my pedals in the air, with cars coming 40 mph at me. I kick with one foot fast enough to get me through before pissing anyone off, and glide down the last hill to my office at the Dr. Pepper Building. I park, lock, pull the chain off, and head inside to have some laughs with the office. Polly is nice enough to offer me a ride to Bob's Bikes. I decide I should know something about my derailleurs and stuff in case I need a new chain, and when I go out to look, I've got a friggin' flat tire as well. Well, the guys at Bob's sold me a tube and tire (the tires was pretty shot, dry rotted with cracks in it - plus it's a big knobby tire and I was wanting to get a more roady tire) and hooked me up with a few chain links at no charge. I got everything fixed on up, thanks to Bob's Bikes, Polly, and a very understanding boss. Headed home with the bike riding great again, and found a long 7/16 socket on 55th street on the way home.

Graffiti by the tracks

I've been exploring some double track dirt road/paths by the railroad tracks between 43rd street and 50th street. I spotted it/them the other day and thought it would be cool as hell if I could ride on a dirt road for that section of my ride every day. The first time I went down one section and got caught in a railroad track fork and had to double back after a half mile or so. Today I went down the other side. I didn't feel like getting caught again so I just bumbled around a bit before turning back. This is the google satellite shot: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=35212&ie=UTF8&ll=33.531947,-86.765385&spn=0.001815,0.003304&t=h&z=18&iwloc=addr I'm pretty sure from the satellite that I could make it to 50th street. Maybe a slight chance of making it all the way to 55th street. An adventure lies ahead. The photos here are of some graffiti that I respect mostly because I know there is no possible way to see it without walking (riding) down the tracks. I also scored some good scrap pieces for an upcoming project. oh, and clover had scrambled eggs and big sky toast for dinner 'cause I forgot dog food, again.

The big question

What to do when you come across a mountain of treasure so great it cannot be carried? Curl up and die next to it? Run away before the "owner" returns? Come back under cover of darkness? Arrrrrrrrrrrrrr, the treasure mocks me.............