tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-264323022024-03-05T21:00:37.795-06:00DoohickieCycling, Fort Worth, etc.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.comBlogger334125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-21904927807129681272013-03-17T20:51:00.002-05:002013-03-17T20:51:37.384-05:00So,
Blogspot changed the format and frankly I'm doing more on Facebook these days, so maybe it's time to hang up this blog. It's been great, but don't expect further updates.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-65921992728581786932012-07-20T18:31:00.000-05:002012-07-20T18:35:27.022-05:00Fred's Texas CafeSo I was out running errands on my bicycle today, yeah 100+ today, and I went into <a href="http://www.fredstexascafe.com/">Fred's Texas Cafe</a> at 915 Currie Street in Fort Worth to refill my water bottle.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120720OffFridayFreds/IMG_3592.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="480" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120720OffFridayFreds/IMG_3592.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
I never made it out.<br />
<br />
That sounds like a bad thing. Really, it was an awesome thing.<br />
<br />
I've heard about Fred's for while now, but every time I've thought about trying them, they were packed (they do get packed). But I was running errands on my bicycle today and they brought me to Fred's just as the lunch hour started.
Like I said, I just went in for some water. Then it hit me: The smell of Fred's burgers and their other foods cooking. You just can't walk away from a smell like that if you're anywhere near a mealtime.<br />
<br />
Here it is, short and sweet:
AWESOME burger, GREAT fries and COLDASS beer.<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120720OffFridayFreds/DSC01193.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="480" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120720OffFridayFreds/DSC01193.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The burger tastes like it just came off the grill in the back yard. I got mine with cheese "all the way." The toppings were fresh and crisp. The burger itself was just a little pink inside, just the way I like it. The fries are some of the best I've had. They are cut from whole potatoes with the skin on, and they "double fry" them to make them crispy on the outside, tender inside. And my coldass (their word, by the way) beer was only $2. With the beer, the bill came to about $12. A little pricy for just a burger I suppose, but it was worth it. (Actually, this is becoming pretty typical for the best burger joints locally.)<br />
<br />
But that's only half the story. When I asked for the water, the bartender was friendly and gladly filled my bottle. Brian, the inmate in charge of the place, more than made me feel at home. When I decided to stay, I went out to lock up my bike and he followed me out and he asked a few questions about the bike. In general, everyone else that worked there was that friendly. I mean, they really love the place, so it pulls you in.<br />
<br />
I wouldn't have minded staying longer, but the sun was hot and getting hotter and I had to pedal home.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-22176707247442463122012-07-04T13:13:00.000-05:002012-07-20T17:38:48.822-05:00Cafe BrazilHappy Independence Day, y'all!
This morning the wife and I rode to <a href="http://cafebrazil.com/">Cafe Brazil</a> for breakfast. It is at 2880 West Berry Street in Fort Worth, just east of University in the heart of the TCU area.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2931a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2931a.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a name='more'></a>
I've been there a few times, but this is the first time I'm writing it up. Service is a little different. Normal sit-down table service for the most part, but if you want coffee, you have to get your own. There are many choices each day in the rack of coffee urns, and you can pick whatever you want. Lots of different blends and flavors for the coffee snob in you.
I ordered a Classic Breakfast, but for some reason my picture of it got messed up. Picture two large plates, one with pancakes (or french toast or pancrepes, which are egg-dipped fried crepes), a couple eggs and a bunch o' bacon, all cooked just right.
My wife got a half order of French Toast with Fruit. Yes, this is indeed the half order.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2932.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2932.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
The fruit is fresh cut, and it is glazed with both Crème Anglaise and Raspberry Sauce. (Crème Anglaise is like a slightly thinner version of the frosting on cinnamon rolls.) Delicious. I would characterize the prices as medium to low; breakfast for two with coffee for me and iced tea for my wife came to under $20 before the tip. I definitely recommend Cafe Brazil, not only for breakfast, but lunch and dinner too.
We rode there on our bikes, about 16 miles round trip. Cruisin' through Wedgwood:
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2923.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2923.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
My wife holds romantic visions of restoring these two old houses on Merida, just south of Gambrell. I can't help but think of them as "drafty old houses" like George and Mary Bailey's house in "It's a Wonderful Life" and I'm not the guy to fix them up.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2924.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2924.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2926.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2926.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
This is how we roll through the industrial district.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2928.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2928.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Pausing for a drink on the way home.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2935.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2935.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Clarke Elementary School on Shaw Street, the heart of the Shaw Clarke Neighborhood and Fort Worth's 2011 Neighborhood of the Year. This is not by any means a privileged area; it is mostly working class folks and young families in a tight knit little area of the city.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2938.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2938.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2941.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2941.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Stopping to pose on the campus of Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2946.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2946.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
James Grocery & Grill. It looks a little worn in, but the people there are very nice. They asked why we were taking pictures and my wife told them we like to check out different neighborhoods and write about them.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2947.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120704BikeDate/IMG_2947.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Unlike our last bike breakfast date, when we got going late on one of the first hot days of the year, we finished. Last time, our son drove out to James Grocery and picked us up. This time we started earlier and we made it home.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-52552514728675169282012-04-27T14:16:00.002-05:002012-07-04T12:49:14.641-05:00Mijo's FusionAnother bike date with the missus. This time we rode through Fairmount neighborhood up to <a href="http://www.dfw.com/2012/03/26/597781/mijos-fusion-on-magnolia-to-have.html">Mijo's Fusion</a>, a new restaurant at 1109 W. Magnolia Ave. in Fort Worth. They are in the space formerly occupied by Junsuree Thai restaurant (a favorite of ours). The decor inside the restaurant has been completely remodeled (yeah, it was kind of empty; we ate a late lunch).
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0860.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0860.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a name='more'></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0861.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0861.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
I ordered a Pork Torta, described as "tomatoes, cheddar & jack cheese, our own avocado hummus spread." There were also fresh greens on the sandwich, and it came with handmade potato chips and a very fresh salad (which I unfortunately ate before I remembered to take a picture)
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0866.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0866.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0863.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0863.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
How can I describe this sandwich? Fusion comes to mind. Just a bizarre combination- avocado and hummus? Let's just say it works, kind of like the way the Texas Rangers pitching staff works. It's not just good enough, it's spectacular. Everything in the sandwich was something I'd had before, but all together it formed a whole new flavor that is out of this world.
My wife had a lot of vegetarian choices on the menu, but special ordered the fajitas without meat. There was still plenty: asparagus, squash, peppers, onions, mushrooms, who knows what else, along with the traditional fajita fixings.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0865.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0865.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
They also have delicious key lime pie for dessert, artfully presented.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0867.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0867.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
So overall, our taste buds were wowed. We will definitely be returning to sample the rest of their menu. Afterward, we rode our bikes back through Fairmount, enjoying each other's company. All in all, a perfect bike date.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0868.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0868.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0872.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0872.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0869.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/20120421Mijos/IMG_0869.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-40837348602074269712012-04-27T07:33:00.000-05:002012-04-27T13:55:57.240-05:00Happy EasterThis post is a little late, but here is how I spent my Easter Sunday Night. I typically ride with the Night Riders on Sunday nights. This icular Sunday was significant because it was Easter, which meant Lent was over, and I had given up alcohol for Lent.
Our pub crawl is usually just that. We meet at the Chat Room Pub and then ride to a couple other bars before winding up at the Chat. But the ride organizers promised something special for Easter. It started out normal enough, riding through the neighborhoods near the Chat.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0224.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0224.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a name='more'></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0233.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0233.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0232.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0232.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
We dipped into Trinity Park,
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0250.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0250.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0255.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0255.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
for our first surprise stop, and the band shell shelter.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0283.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0283.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
We found out that the first surprise was an Easter Egg hunt, of sorts. Can you see the "eggs"?
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0257.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0257.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Yes indeed. In this case, the eggs are shaped like beer cans.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0268.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0268.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
We did our best to find and dispose of all the eggs.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0259.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0259.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0261.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0261.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0272.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0272.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0273.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0273.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0274.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0274.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
A group portrait at the shelter.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0276.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0276.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
On to the next mystery stop. What have we here?
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0305.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0305.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
A friend converted an empty industrial shop into a velodrome! And where are the bikes we are to race:
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0288.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0288.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Yes... the first (and maybe last) annual Kiddie Velo Races! Complete with a transvestite race starter!
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0289.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0289.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0290.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0290.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Pit stop.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0291.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0291.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Death race? Don't hit him, Tony!
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0294.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0294.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Yee Haw!
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0295.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0295.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0301.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0301.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
The heavy weight division
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0302.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0302.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0303.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0303.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Eventually it became an open division race.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0309.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0309.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
And things got downright silly.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0315.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0315.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0325.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0325.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/1261960.gif" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/1261960.gif" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Finally it was time to leave the fun behind.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0654.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0654.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
That ride worked up an appetite though, so I stopped at Tacolote.
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0656.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0656.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0658.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120408EasterRide/IMG_0658.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>
Happy Easter!Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-14512223137322420962012-03-02T22:47:00.004-06:002012-04-21T21:50:39.890-05:00Bailey's Bar-B-QueI was out of town on business this week. I got back Thursday night and had Friday off, so I had a chance to ride around on <a href="http://doohickie.blogspot.com/2012/02/whip.html">The Whip</a> for a longish ride (26 miles). I went downtown to see the new location of <a href="http://trinitybicycles.com/home/">Trinity Bicycles</a>... more about that later. I also had a late lunch at Bailey's Bar-B-Que. I've been meaning to go there for quite a while, but since they're only open for lunch, I haven't had a chance.<br />
<br />
Bailey's is a unique little place. In the middle of larger buildings downtown at 826 Tailor Street, they've been serving barbecued brisket since 1931. I suppose this place has seen a lot of Fort Worth history.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020027.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020026.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
That little restaurant looks out of place, sandwiched by the larger buildings. It looks even smaller inside.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020020.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
But even just before closing time, people were still coming in. I ordered a sliced brisket sandwich and cole slaw. It's a pretty austere presentation.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020021.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
No matter... the food was excellent. Barbecued brisket is the most pure regional food around here. There are barbecue places all around. The brisket at Bailey's is among the best. The meat was pot roast tender and moist in that melt-in-your-mouth kind of way. It had a rich, though not overpowering barbecue taste. Very flavorful without being too spicy. Just about perfect, really. I should also mention that I ordered a small sandwich and it was plenty big enough for me.<br />
<br />
The coleslaw was okay; I couldn't tell if it was homemade or not. It was fine, but just didn't pop like the meat did. I feel like I have to stress how good the meat was, because really.... just, yum.<br />
<br />
This post doesn't follow chronologically, because before I went to Bailey's I stopped in at the new location of Trinity Bicycles at 343 Throckmorton Street in downtown Fort Worth.<br />
<br />
The place is coming along great. In less than a week they've gotten the place almost livable. As before, Bryan and Bernie are your cruise directors.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020002.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
Yep, they seem to get along well...<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020007.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020004.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
There is a lot of display space as well as storage cabinets. Eventually, everything will be in its place.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020009.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020015.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
Bryan insisted I take the Nuvinci demo bike out for a spin.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020011.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
The Nuvinci hub has a continuously variable gear ratio. It changes from low to high gear and back with smooth, continuous transitions. It's a very cool ride. And it costs less than some of the multi-speed internal hubs. I need to figure out a use for one of these. My only complaint was the shifter. It has a twist grip, but low and high are opposite of the gearing on a conventional twist grip bike. Also, without the detents that usually come with indexed gears, I think a little more friction in the shifter would help.<br />
<br />
Anyway, I eventually headed for home on The Whip. I'm getting used to the upright position now, and the fit adjustments are getting dialed in. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020030.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020030.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
I think I will need to get a better seat for it, but the one I have is okay for now. I'm still trying to decide if I like the two-speed kick shift hub. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020031.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
One flaw is that there is no way to make sure it is in low gear when you're stopped. So sometimes I start out and try to kick shift it because I think I'm in high gear. Maybe I am, maybe not.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120302OffFridayRide/P3020029.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br />
<br />
I'll ride it for a while, though, and see if I can get used to it. Once it's rolling, it's a nice ride.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-72540627435065170262012-02-12T22:21:00.004-06:002012-03-02T22:47:34.256-06:00The WhipA bike is reborn.<br /><br />A little over three years ago, <a href="http://doohickie.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-bikes.html">I pulled a bike out of a dumpster</a>. It was a mid-to-low end early 80s bike boom bike, a 1983 Raleigh Marathon, that I dubbed the Dumpster Queen.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/HPIM0458.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Bicycle08/HPIM0458.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br />I outfitted her as a backup commuter bike and light tourer, a role she filled for a couple years.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10Marathon/0127101738-01.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10Marathon/0127101738-01.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />About a year and a half ago, DISASTER! I took it to a charity ride and had a run-in with another guy in the parking lot. My chain got caught and it trashed the derailleur.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2040005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2040005.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Ugly. I liked the bike, though, so I hung onto it, thinking maybe I would make it into a single speed at some point. Then, a week ago, I came across a good deal on Craigslist: a 700C wheel with a Sturmey Archer 2-speed kickback hub. Time to get busy.<br /><br />I straightened the dropout as best I could with a wrench and hammer massage.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2040012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2040012.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I got the wheels on it; this might just work:<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2090001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2090001.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This morning there was a bike swap, and I picked up some bits I needed, including some pedals and wide cruiser bars (complete with cork grips). It all came together nicely and I took it out for its first ride today.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120006.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120011.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120012.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120014.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120008.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120009.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120005.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Marathon/P2120007.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />So far I've got about $80 into the bike, plus some parts out of the garage. I will eventually put a better seat on it and maybe a chain guard and fenders. We'll see.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-87898022310491099382012-02-01T22:44:00.002-06:002012-02-01T22:47:42.389-06:00Whycycle?The other day I thought: I am not a typical cyclist. There are others out there like me, but I don't think I'm typical. Why do I like to ride? What motivates me? I have reasons, of course: fitness and stuff like that, but why do I <span style="font-style:italic;">like </span>to ride?<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Cutter/P1270060a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/12Cutter/P1270060a.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I think the number one reason is exploration. On a bicycle I can explore my city. There are a lot of cool things to see, and a lot of areas are far more accessible than I realized. On foot, I have no range. In a car, I go by things too fast. On a bike, it's just right. I can spend a day and ride 40 or 50 miles and see a bunch of cool stuff.<br /><br />I've lived here for nearly 20 years, but it's only the last 3 or 4 that I've started to actually learn about the city- the terrain, the river, the train tracks and yards, the way it evolved and grew. You get a feel for the neighborhoods; that's probably my biggest surprise. On a gut feel level, I can tell one neighborhood from another. Some are rather pleasant. Others are stuck up. Or laid back. Or tense. Some of the most interesting are where residential areas butt up against industry.<br /><br />If I were to drive through some of these neighborhoods, there would be no interaction. It's like watching TV. It's all passive. If I parked the car and walked, I wouldn't feel very safe in some areas. Or others wouldn't feel safe with a stranger walking around. When I ride through on a bike, there isn't an expectation of extended conversation. It's just a series of greetings. Any tension quickly passes.<br /><br />My bell is a good ice breaker. I can ride through a neighborhood and even where I don't speak the predominant language, I can ring my bell and nod to the people. They smile back. They always smile when I ring my bell. Well, except for the teenaged girls. For some reason, girls laugh derisively- look at that dork on the bike.<br /><br />Kids are fascinated; they think I'm the ice cream man since I have a bell, or it's just the novelty of seeing a grown-up riding a bike. Older boys can at least appreciate the effort involved, the motion, the freedom. Adults see someone on a bike and it takes them back to their childhood, or maybe their home country, when cycling was a normal part of life. I'm still not part of the neighborhood. I'm apart. But for a few seconds at a time here and there, I connect.<br /><br />Some of my rides are group rides. I do Saturday morning rides with a club. Most of them are professionals- engineers, managers, etc.- and have the money to spend on a state of the art bike. I ride cheap bikes in comparison. It's a good group though; they look forward to seeing what I'm riding that week. What's normal to me, a fixed gear bike, an old road bike or even older English roadster, is unusual to them. We ride to breakfast and enjoy each other's company, both on the ride and while eating. Luckily for me, it is a very inclusive club with different riding levels.<br /><br />I also do social rides with another group, more loosely organized. I like the come-as-you are nature of the second group. I have many conversations along the way and have made good friends among both groups. And sometimes the groups overlap. But even when I ride with others, I almost always ride home by myself. Just me. And the bike.<br /><br />Then there are the bikes themselves. Most of them are used, some throw-aways. I adopt them. Just like most of my rides are not about the destination, but the journey, so are my bikes not about the bike itself, but the seeking, the transformation. Unlike people, if there is something about a bike I don't like, I can change it.<br /><br />Working on the bikes is a whole hobby unto itself. Someday I will own a brand new, state of the art bike and I will love riding it. But even with the warts my current bikes have, they are mine. It's more of a baseball card collection than a stable of bikes. I search, I acquire, I trade. I add pieces to my collections of parts, and put them on a bike that needs it. Even once a bike is "done," chances are I will still make further changes down the road.<br /><br />The result is a continual massaging of steel and aluminum to produce a bike that is mine and no one else's. When I ride it I get the pleasure of having at least some part in the configuration of the bike- a seat added, a wheel built. If a bike falls short of expectations, I will do what I can to help it make the grade.<br /><br />So why do I ride bikes? It has nothing to do with speed really. It as a bit to do with distance, but that's not main motivation. It's about people and places and how metal and rubber come together to form a heart and soul.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-41031900747136205642012-01-20T17:18:00.004-06:002012-02-02T00:05:06.752-06:00Another Friday RambleJanuary has been very, very good to me. The temperature got up to 80 today so I went on a nice long ramble around Fort Worth, about 41 relaxed miles.<br /><br />Even thought I didn't start until after 10 am, the winter shadows are still long.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200001.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br />A quick stop in Overton Park<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200019.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />...and out to the creek that leads out to the main river trail.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200021.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Once out to the river, I crossed to the other side. See that black bird on the left?<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200022.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Here's a closer look. I was thinking black egret, but apparently that's an African bird.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200023.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The Woodshed still isn't open. The sign promises February 1st.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200026.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I'm pretty sure about this one: a snowy egret.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200027.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The multiple river crossings at the south end of Trinity Park<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200028.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />MOO MOO BUCKAROO!<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200029.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Fly-away ramp<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200032.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Trinity Park. Downtown is not far off.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200034.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200037.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200037.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200038.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The old water treatment plant (I think) just north of downtown on Main Street<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200040.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Heading northwest toward River Oaks<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200042.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200042.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200045.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200045.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A great blue heron<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200046.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Rockwood Park Drive<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200047.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200047.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200050.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Off to the left of the levy is Crestwood neighborhood<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200052.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200052.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The Trinity Trail is different here than in the southwest part of town. The trail is up on the top of the levy for most of its distance. There is space at the base of the levy, though, that makes a handy dog track. The dogs tend to stay down and don't chase cyclists.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200053.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />And except for the paved ramps, most of the trail is crushed stone.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200055.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I got off the trail for a short bit. I rode on White Settlement Road to cut across one of the loops in the river.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200057.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Back to the trail now, and almost to my destination.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200060.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200060.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This section of the trail starts to look a little different; the channel has stone walls.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200061.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200061.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is a recent addition to the trail.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200062.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200062.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The trail runs by a little waterfall. Very scenic.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200066.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200066.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200074.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200074.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200078.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Beyond the waterfall is goat farm (yes, the goats are kind of hard to see).<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200081.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200081.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />At the end of the trail are the tail and wing of an jet. I've heard they will be used to make shelters along the trail. It makes sense, really; this end of the trail is just a few hundred yards from a Naval Air Station.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200082.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200082.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />They must be prepping for construction, because the entrance to (in my case, exit from) the rail is blocked by construction fencing!<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200083.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200083.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Luckily I did find a gap to get out. I'm not very familiar with this part of town, but I ended up on Roaring Springs Road which I know heads back into town. It's kind of a busy street, but only one lane in each direction, and the lanes are very wide; really almost as wide as two lanes. So even when heavy trucks go by there is enough room.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200085.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Back on the west side. <br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200091.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200091.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is River Crest Country Club<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200094.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I approach one of my favorite spots to ride- the western end of 7th Street. It's one of the highest spots in town, and 7th Street descends down to downtown.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200098.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200098.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />North Hi Mount Elementary School; a beautiful pre-war building.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200099.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200099.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Downtown gets closer<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200101.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200105.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200105.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200107.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200107.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />After riding most of the downhill, I detoured off to the <a href="http://www.fwfoodpark.com/">Fort Worth Food Park</a> for my first visit there. It's basically a lot in an industrial neighborhood just north of Montgomery Plaza where six food trucks park. They change up the trucks so the menu varies.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200108.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200108.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200109.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200110.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200110.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Back on the trail, approaching University Drive<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200112.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200113.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I jumped off the trail an University and headed toward Colonial Country Club (on the right)<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200115.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200115.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This house is across the street from the country club. Very handsome.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200116.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The whole area is pretty swank.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200117.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200117.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The reconstruction of Amon Carter Stadium at TCU is making progress.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200118.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200121.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200121.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Heading south through the <span style="font-style:italic;">barrio </span>near Seminary Drive<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200124.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200124.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The sign in the front yard of the house says<br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Se Vende <br />Dueño a Dueño</span><br />I think this means "For Sale by Owner" (or owner to owner)<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200125.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200125.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Transitioning back to where English is the primary language<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200128.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200128.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200129.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Briefly on busy McCart Avenue... just a couple blocks of this<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200133.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200133.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I turn left almost immediately<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200135.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120120OffFridayRide/P1200135.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Then its just cutting through another neighborhood and I'm home. 41 miles in 70 degree temps in January makes for a nice ride.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-48336134961937309192012-01-07T21:15:00.011-06:002012-01-30T22:00:33.131-06:00Friday RamblePut in about 35 miles Friday afternoon, riding around Fort Worth. This is a long post; go get yourself something to drink and maybe a snack! Here is your guide for the Friday Ramble (me).<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060011.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br />I rode over to Bellaire Drive, which is part of the Trinity Trails system, although not right on the river.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060018.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Finally, out to the river.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060023.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Lots of winter construction along the trail. This is a newly paved section.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060024.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Fishing on the river bank.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060026.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />More construction ahead.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060030.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060030.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This will be a new road bridge over the river, with a bike/pedestrian bridge underneath to connect the trails on the banks.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060031.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />With all the talk of construction, it may sound like complaining, but I have to say that the detour trails are really pretty good. Hard packed stone trails that are fine for road bike tires, for the most part.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060034.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />And just a little further up, even more construction on the Hulen Street bridge. This will be an elevated interchange with the new Chisholm Trail Parkway toll road.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060036.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060036.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060039.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Finally, a clear trail ahead.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060043.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I hear people in other cities complaining about all the different users on MUPs (multi-use paths). One of the great things about the Trinity Trails is that in the busiest areas there are actually two trails: a paved trail generally used by wheeled traffic, and a crushed stone trail for food traffic. There is enough extra room that some people even walk beside the trail.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060045.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060045.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is probably my favorite spot on the Trinity River. There is a lookout over the river with benches. The bridge in the background is the University Drive bridge.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060046.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Hi, it's me again.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060048.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />And just up the bank is the brand new Woodshed restaurant which should be opening in the next couple weeks. It will be run by <a href="http://www.cheftimlove.com/">Chef Tim Love</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060049.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Around the next bend is Trinity Park. The narrow gauge rail tracks alongside the trail are for the <a href="http://www.fpmt.us/">Forest Park Miniature Railroad</a> which runs between the zoo in Forest Park, and Trinity Park.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060053.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Be careful when you cross the tracks!<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060054.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060054.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />As the trail follows the river through Trinity Park, downtown Fort Worth comes into view.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060055.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Ducks swimming in for a free meal.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060056.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />As with the fishermen earlier, the duck feeders remind me of all the wildlife along the river. I've seen snowy egrets, blue herons and night herons, other water birds, armadillos, skunks, foxes and even a near encounter with a coyote, all on the trail. It's almost like an urban nature preserve, even more so with all the road construction going on around town.<br /><br />Downtown looms closer. (It's not really that close; I just used the telephoto setting.)<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060058.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060058.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I stopped for a quick meeting with Mark Twain. He's a fixture here along the river. No, literally: He's fixed to the bench.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060063.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Here's the Lancaster Avenue bridge. Just this side of it a pedestrian/bicycle bridge is being built that will join Trinity Park to the west end of downtown.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060070.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060070.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The river wraps around the west side to the north side of downtown.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060076.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060076.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is Henderson Street approaching downtown from the northwest.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060078.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Time to cross the river to the downtown side.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060081.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060081.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />No, this isn't the Henderson Street bridge again; this is Main Street coming in from the north.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060082.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060082.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Here's something else about Fort Worth that's cool: For years, elementary school kids have been painting random walls around town. Retaining walls, bridge underpasses, creek channels... they start with a blue background, then turn the kids loose. This kind of thing is the result.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060083.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060083.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Back on the other side of the river, here is a view of the new campus of Tarrant Community College (foreground), with the DR Horton and Wells Fargo towers behind.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060085.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Riding north along the river, putting downtown in the background.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060087.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060087.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />When you ride the trail to the northside, you have to be careful not to run over the little "dirt piles" on the trail because, well, they're not dirt. I had to call out "On your left!" to make sure they didn't wander too far over.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060088.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060088.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Marine Creek joins the Trinity River.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060090.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060090.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The trail ends here at 23rd Street. It picks up again closer to the Stockyards (off to the left). But since I'm just out for a ride, this is my turnaround point. I'll turn right onto Samuels Avenue (the white bridge above) and head back toward downtown.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060091.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060091.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is a city-designated bike route. While there is no bike lane marked, there is plenty of room to coexist with the motor traffic.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060092.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060092.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Yep, it's still me.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060094.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This end of Samuels is pretty industrial, but lightly traveled.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060097.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060097.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />But it transitions into an older, historical residential neighborhood.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060101.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />There's a grand old house.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060102.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060102.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />"Progress" kicks in. As you get closer to downtown, newer developments come into view.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060104.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060104.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />But before we get there.... Pioneer's Rest Cemetery. Many of the city's prominent names can be found on the headstones here.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060105.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060105.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060106.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060106.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060109.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />And now, the more elegant abodes of uptown.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060112.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060112.jpg" width="640" height="853"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060113.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060113.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I did some exploring around the eastern fringe of downtown. This area is best explored by bicycle. Here's the Allen Chapel Church.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060114.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060114.jpg" width="640" height="853"/></a><br /><br />I believe the St. Louis Southwestern Freight Depot building is a restored original; the apartments behind are recent construction.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060115.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060115.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A glimpse of the Bass Hall angels from the east. Most pictures show a view from the west.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060117.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060117.jpg" width="640" height="853"/></a><br /><br />Crossing over the tracks just north of the Fort Worth Intermodal Transportation Center leads to an interesting little area of warehouses, some abandoned and some rehabbed into offices.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060118.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This building is just.... bizarre.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060133.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060133.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060120.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The old King Candy Co.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060129.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060129.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />"Manufacturers of Chocolates and Bon Bons"<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060131.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060131.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />To give some idea of how big the building is, here is my bike...<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060125.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060125.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />And here it is next to building (really tiny at the bottom right corner).<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060127.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060127.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Around the corner of the building we find that the building was used to sell antiques at some point as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060123.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060123.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Looking back the way I came, west toward downtown.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060128.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060128.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Before I leave, some views of the "ignored infrastructure" of Fort Worth- the rail lines.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060136.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060136.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060138.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060138.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060139.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060139.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />People waiting on the platforms at the ITC for the commuter train to take them back east toward Dallas.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060140.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060140.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A little further south, the old Santa Fe Depot, now a branch of the University of Texas at Arlington.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060142.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060142.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We've now toured the eastern fringe of downtown Fort Worth. For several of the pics you saw, it was my first time seeing those sights too. Turning right on Lancaster, then left onto Main, will take me to the southside. The tall building ahead and to the left is the old Texas & Pacific Depot, which also still operates a train station (along with the ITC), and has been remodeled into loft condos. The even taller building on the right edge of the picture is the new and incredibly modern Omni Hotel.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060143.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060143.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Having crossed through the tunnel under the tracks, here is the commuter lot for the T&P. The T&P Building and the Omni are lined up in this photo.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060144.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060144.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Heading south on Jennings Avenue. It is a bike route from Vickery (where the T&P commuter lot is) to Magnolia Avenue, about a mile, linking downtown with the eclectic and historic Fairmount neighborhood. In some stretches there are bike lanes; in others bicycles are instructed to take the lane.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060145.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060145.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Downtown recedes in the distance.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060147.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060147.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Off to the right (to the west) are Trimble Tech High School and the hospital district.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060149.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060149.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I've cut over to College Avenue and am coming into Fairmount now. I think this building, a former Police Station, would make a cool book store.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060151.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060151.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A little further down College, now in the residential area, is a small collection of old store fronts that are now a historical hardware store (i.e., old fixtures and doors and stuff). A lot of Fairmount renovations are done with recycled hardware.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060153.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/P1060153.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />One of the store fronts is still identified as a Piggly Wiggly grocery store.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01210.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01210.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />These are typical Fairmount homes. I hope to move to this neighborhood eventually.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01212.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01212.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01214.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01214.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01215.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01215.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Ack. I thought I was done with construction. And this isn't as smooth as the detours on the trail.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01217.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01217.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01218.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01218.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />South of Fairmount is Ryan Place. Slightly more recent, and also more upscale.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01219.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01219.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01221.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01221.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01223.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01223.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Ryan Place dumps into Berry Street, a 7-lane road (almost a highway) that I ride on for a block or two. While waiting to make my left turn off Berry and onto Ryan Avenue, I took a picture looking west. Texas Christian University is about a mile down the road.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01224.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01224.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name="BikeRoute"></a><br />Now I am in a more humble neighborhood. Older homes again, but smaller and not as well maintained as Fairmount. This is an immigrant neighborhood where Spanish language is common. I ride down here frequently at all hours and have never had any problems. Fort Worth is funny that way; before I started riding my bicycle, I thought this was a "bad neighborhood." But really, it's quite safe. You'll note the green bike route sign in the first photo. I've asked the city planner who plans the bike routes to extend this route pretty much all the way down to my neighborhood.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01225.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01225.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01227.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01227.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01228.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01228.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I've jogged over a block and now I'm on James Avenue. With the Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary on the right, I pass my favorite southside taco truck. They barely speak English but make great food and are nice folks.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01235.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01235.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Seminary buildings on the right. James is a 4-lane road but has light enough traffic that it makes a great bike route. I hope the city marks it as such and puts sharrow markings on the road.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01236.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01236.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />James branches off and the main road becomes Crowley Road, but I veer left to stay on James. Crowley gets quite busy south of I-20. But on James there's almost no traffic to be seen.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01241.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01241.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />It makes for great riding.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01242.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01242.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I veer off again, onto Old Crowley Road, which runs between a nursery on the right and a trailer park on the left.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01243.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01243.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Old Crowley Road runs into Edgecliff Road which crosses busy 7-lane Crowley Road. I stayed on James to avoid this. (Now I just cross it at a light.)<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01244.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01244.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Westward on Edgecliff.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01245.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01245.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Then I turn south for the final push home. I head toward Westcreek Park.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01247.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01247.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01248.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01248.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Note the recently painted-over graffiti on the path.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01249.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01249.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Careful! Stay on the path!<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01250.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01250.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Families using the playground.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01251.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01251.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />And finally, crossing West Creek itself, at a low water crossing. Note more paintings by school children.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01252.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01252.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01253.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01253.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />My route home from the southside to my neighborhood is pretty flat. My trip up Canyon Circle is the exception. Fairly steep for several blocks. It flattens out some at that light pole ahead.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01256.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01256.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Almost there (huff, puff). I was riding a geared bike this time. Riding this on a single speed really builds stamina, especially at the end of a long ride.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01257.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01257.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is a good spot to cross Altamesa Boulevard. No traffic light to wait for, but a wide median at the halfway point which makes it easier to get across.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01260.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01260.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />1980s houses... almost home.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01261.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01261.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01262.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01262.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Note how the sun and shadows change through here; I have to make several turns to cut through this neighborhood to get to my own.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01263.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01263.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01264.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01264.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01265.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01265.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Shadow Me.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01266.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01266.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01267.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01267.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The home stretch now; on the other side of that light is my neighborhood.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01268.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01268.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Sycamore School Road can be busy. Best to wait for the light. Oddly, this light seems to trip more readily for bicycles than for cars.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01271.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01271.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01272.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01272.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Finally home. That's the side of my house on the right edge of the picture.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01273.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/120107OffFridayRide/DSC01273.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Thanks for traveling around Fort Worth with me. We did 35 miles together; I hope you enjoyed it.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-39961732205653384132011-12-30T21:59:00.004-06:002012-01-07T21:15:15.766-06:00Another Bike DateIt's been a while since I <a href="http://doohickie.blogspot.com/2010/12/bike-date.html">posted about a bike date</a>. Time for another one. The winds were favorable this time, so we decided to head north to the Stockyards to put the wind at our backs on the way home. We planned to park downtown at Taylor Street, but the parking there is now metered and limited to 2 hours during the day. So Mrs. Doohickie suggested going just north of downtown to LaGrave Field (the minor league baseball venue). The trail runs just behind there, so we figured it would be a good (free) place to park.<br /><br /><!-- Begin Bikely Embed --><div style="width: 550px; border: 1px solid #d0d0d0; background: #755; overflow: hidden; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="display: block; font: bold 11px verdana, arial; padding: 2px;"><a style="color: #fff; text-decoration: none" href="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/bike-date-dec-30-2011">Bike Date Dec 30 2011</a></span><iframe id="rmiframe" style="height:550px; background: #eee; width: 100%" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" src="http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/bike-date-dec-30-2011/embed"></iframe><span style="display: block; font: normal 10px verdana, arial; text-align: right; padding: 1px;"><a style="color: #ddd; text-decoration: none" href="/">Share your bike routes @ Bikely.com</a></span></div><!-- End Bikely Embed --><br /><br />We had to lift our bikes over a fence, and then we were on the Trinity Trail.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300006.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300008.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Time for a water break.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300010.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The trail actually goes under Exchange Street in the Stockyards.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300013.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300015.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A couple blocks off the trail is Los Vaqueros. I wrote a <a href="http://doohickie.blogspot.com/2011/12/los-vaqueros-in-stockyards.html">review of dinner here</a>. Let's just say we enjoyed it very much.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300021.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />From there we did a little shopping in the Stockyards. <br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300025.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300026.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Hey dude- real men <span style="font-style:italic;">self-propel</span>!<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300027.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300030.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300030.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We found a hitching post for our mounts.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300029.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Actually, Mrs. Doohickie did the shopping while I waited at the bar at Mavericks. It's a brilliant concept, actually- a touristy western store where you can have a beer at the bar.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300035.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300034.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Our shopping done, we headed back toward the trail. We stopped to take a few pictures by the old Swift Co. stairway on 23rd Street. The stairway leads to the old meatpacking area. The Stockyards processed millions of head of livestock in the early 20th century. The Stockyards today is an Old West tourist area, but some of the old processing buildings still stand. They will soon be cleared for future development just east of the tourist area. This stairway leads to that older, abandoned area.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300038.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300040.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300039.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300039.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Finally, time to head back on the trail.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300043.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Shortly after hitting the trail, we passed a couple of guys riding older bicycles. Or rather, they were looking at one of their bicycles. They had just started to ride from a parking lot. I stopped and asked whether they needed help and they said yes. After a quick look, I saw his chain had slipped off the smallest cog in the back and was jammed in between the cog and the frame. A closer look revealed his cable housing was messed up. So I unstuck the chain and took a screwdriver and turned the limit screw far enough to put the chain on one of the middle gears. I told them it would be easy for a bike shop to do a full repair. They were grateful and rode off.<br /><br />The Fort Worth skyline is visible on the right...<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300049.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Time to load the bikes back onto the car and go home.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300051.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300051.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-49826888763063317112011-12-30T21:52:00.006-06:002012-08-04T21:12:47.975-05:00Los Vaqueros in the StockyardsYou may want to peruse <a href="http://doohickie.blogspot.com/search/label/Los%20Vaqueros">my previous review of Los Vaqueros</a>. <br />
<br />
If you get there by bicycle, you don't have feel guilty about having dessert. ;- )<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300024.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="480" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300024.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Coincidentally enough, we ordered the same thing we ordered last time. I had the brisket tacos and Mrs. Doohickie had the veggie enchiladas.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300019.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="480" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300019.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
Part of the reason I'm posting another review of Los Vaqueros is this: They are my favorite Mexican restaurant. Period. The reason is this: You know your Mexican grandmother? The one who cooks stuff that is so much more delicious than that Mexican food you can get in restaurants? Well, no, I don't have one of those either. But if I had a Mexican <span style="font-style: italic;">abuela</span>, this is how her food would taste. <br />
<br />
The beans are a treasure. The brisket in the tacos is unbelievably rich and flavorful. My wife likes all the different veggies in the veggie enchiladas. The food just tastes like <span style="font-style: italic;">mi abuela</span> spent all day cooking just for me.<br />
<br />
To add to the atmosphere, the wait staff really make us feel like family as well. There is a genuineness in the way they interact that makes us feel like they are there for us and just us. And they bring the food <span style="font-style: italic;">fast</span>.<br />
<br />
Oh, and since we did ride our bikes to dinner, we decided to indulge in dessert.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300022.jpg" target="_blank"><img height="480" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11FortWorth/PC300022.jpg" width="640" /></a><br />
<br />
The sopapillas have a similar homemade essence to them. Rolled in sugar and just a touch of cinnamon, they come with honey, a strawberry glaze, and whipped cream. The amount was generous but we somehow managed to finish them off.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-6773425497808490052011-12-19T21:37:00.005-06:002011-12-30T20:51:30.041-06:00Third Annual Fall Finale Country Path RambleSaturday was one of the few occasions I've actually carried my bicycle to a ride on the back of my car. The Fall Finale Country Path Ramble is worth the drive to get there.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170002.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br />Once again, Chris proved beyond measure with his hospitality. We arrived on a chilly but sunny morning, with breakfast tacos awaiting us to get our furnaces going. The weather for the annual ramble on (mostly) unpaved roads couldn't have been better. Cool in the morning, steadily warming during the day, and virtually no wind to fight us. Just a few lazy clouds got in the way of the sun once or twice.<br /><br />Shortly before our scheduled starting time of 10 am, Chris (in the blue jacket) briefed us on the ride. Things went subtly smoother this year. I think the riders knew what to expect this year and came better prepared, and Chris was better prepared as well, printing out several cue sheets so that people wouldn't get lost.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170003.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We started out on pavement,<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170005.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />but soon that gave way to chip seal.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170008.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We saw our first livestock.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170013.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />When we got to this bridge last year, it was still under construction. A lot smoother this time.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170014.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />After the bridge, though, the pavement gave way to stone roads. This is why we ride today.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170015.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170016.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We were all fresh, so the first few hills are easy.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170018.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />One might ask, why choose to ride on stone roads?<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170019.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />My answer is that there is less motor traffic, and it tends to be locals that aren't in too much of a hurry.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170020.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />But as I was riding, I also realized that it's a different challenge. It's not mountain biking by any stretch, but it's more "technical" than road cycling normally is. You have to choose your line more carefully, trying to find the smoothest path, and trying not get caught in pockets of deep stone.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170021.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />It takes a little more oomph as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170022.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Horsey!<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170025.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Taking a picture of Chris taking a picture.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170032.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is what passes for fall foliage in Texas.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170042.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170042.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Longhorn!<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170045.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170045.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The grades are shallow, but long.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170046.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I have a suspicion the sign went up first and then they felt obligated to build the road accordingly. ;- )<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170048.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Coming up to the highest point of the ride. The smiles are because the climb is complete.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170053.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />My steed. It started life as a 1994 Nishiki Sport XRS hybrid, but is now uniquely mine.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170055.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170055.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />From this spot you can see the wide open spaces.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170056.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170056.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170057.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170057.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />If you read <a href="http://chris-pondero.blogspot.com/">Chris's blog</a>, you know this is the reason why he rides: to drink coffee a few miles from home.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170060.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170060.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The road goes on forever.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170063.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170063.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170065.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170065.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Rollers.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170078.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Another new bridge.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170085.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170085.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The old one was more interesting.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170086.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170086.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We encountered a few dogs along the way. Most didn't threaten us very much. One came out as we passed by. I knew she wouldn't get the rider ahead of me and she turned her sights on me. Rather than outrun her, I decided to stop. She just wanted to make friends! Several of us stopped and she showered us all with kisses. I told the others to take off and I would deal with her. She wanted to come with us. I tried to get her to stay by shouting, "NO! BAD DOG!" She was so crestfallen I had to pet her and cheer her up. Then I tried, "GO HOME!" She kind of started following me, but realized that our encounter was over.<br /><br />Close to Rosston, the turnaround point. Here is a chimney from an old cabin.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170090.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170090.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The most impressive dog encounter was just before we came into Rosston. The rider ahead of me was charged by a black lab. Just as the dog got up to the bike, he pointed at the dog and yelled, "NO!" The dog sat down and watched the rest of us go by. All in all, no riders or dogs were hurt during the ride.<br /><br />The Rosston General Store.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170092.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170092.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The store first opened in 1879. I wonder if the wood stove is original?<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170094.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170094.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Zack thought the barbecue was delicious. The dog wanted to try it as well.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170096.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170096.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is the crew that made the ride.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170098.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170098.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Time to head back.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170100.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170100.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170101.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170101.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The downhill into Rosston becomes a climb on the way home.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170109.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170109.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Another one of those new bridges.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170111.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170111.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />What is down there anyway?<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170115.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170115.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Don't make faces; your face could freeze like that!<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170116.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170116.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Homeward bound.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170118.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170118.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A coyote carcass on a pole. A warning to other marauding coyotes?<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170120.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170120.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Almost home now. Pavement never felt so good.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170122.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170122.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Last year, I was among the first to Rosston, owing to the lead cyclists making a wrong turn. On the way back to Chris's house this year, my legs were shot and I didn't think I was gonna make it. But again (even with cue sheets), the leaders missed the last turn, and I somehow managed to be the first rider back. So I got to take pictures of the arriving riders.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170125.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170125.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170126.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170126.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170127.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/PC170127.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />There were a few pictures I didn't post here. You can see all my pictures on <a href="http://s42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/111217Ramble/?albumview=slideshow">my photobucket account</a>. There is also an <a href="http://www.fagcyclist.com/photo.php">album of photos here</a>. And Chris's account his now <a href="http://chris-pondero.blogspot.com/2011/12/memory-of-heart.html">posted on his blog</a>.<br /><br />Thus ended another successful Ramble. These rides are fun. First of all, the fellowship of other riders is enjoyable. Also, the roads and scenery are so different from my usual urban experience. It's hard to imagine having this much fun for so little money. Thanks again, Chris, for your hospitality.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-13697581885030524142011-10-19T18:07:00.003-05:002011-10-19T18:09:08.943-05:00My CommuteInspired by my friend, <a href="http://banjobicycle.blogspot.com/2010/09/car-free-fridays-in-fwtx.html">The Beer Pedaler</a>, I decided to make my own ride-home-from-work video.<br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="480" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/i83G4U4C-CQ?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Enjoy!Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-5815045046453871612011-10-15T16:48:00.005-05:002011-12-19T21:37:29.101-06:00Bike the Bricks N TrailsIn years past, Fort Worth had a ride called The Clean Air Ride. For whatever reason, the name changed this year to Bike the Bricks N Trails, and it went off without a hitch this morning.<br /><br />My bike club does a Saturday breakfast ride, and we decided to combine that with Bike the Bricks N Trails. I was running late so I didn't take any pictures of the first part of the ride, but once we arrived downtown I got my camera out to document the "mustering of the clans" (i.e., area bicycle clubs) as well as the individuals that rode.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150001.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150001.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150002.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150003.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150006.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150008.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150010.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The president of our bike club, Jim, in his red, white & blue club jersey<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150009.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I ran into my friend, Hector, who had his daughters with him.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150005.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We were well supported by the police who had several bicycle cops, a couple cars, and a golf cart for keeping the trails clear ahead of the group.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150007.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Lining up for the start.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150011.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150011.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150012.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150012.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Heading north out of downtown on Main Street.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150015.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150017.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150017.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We got on the river trail at Northside Drive and headed back toward downtown.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150020.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150021.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Hector with his daughters again.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150022.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150022.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The line stretched out in both directions; I heard an estimate of about 300 riders.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150024.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150025.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Near downtown we crossed under Main Street and stayed on the trail toward the westside.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150032.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150033.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We had to cross a couple of these bridges over the river.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150034.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150034.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150035.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We hopped off the trail at University Drive and headed through the westside retail district.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150040.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150043.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150043.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150044.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Then we curled around to get on Lancaster to take us back downtown.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150045.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150045.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Whoa... check out this tandem recumbent.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150046.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150047.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150047.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150048.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150048.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />After the ride, the bike club went to the Corner Bakery for breakfast.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150050.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150049.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110BikeTheBricksNTrails/PA150049.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />It was a pretty good ride. When it was the Clean Air Ride, they gave away t-shirts to the participants. Now they charged $10, so I passed. Apparently they had more sponsorship last year.<br /><br />This was my longest ride so far on my fixed gear bike (I built a new rear wheel to convert my single speed to fixed gear). When I got home I figured 47 miles. Since I just turned 49, I hopped back on the bike and rode around the neighborhood a little more so I can say I've ridden my age. I ended up with 51 miles for the day.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-60762116481680385722011-10-14T22:21:00.003-05:002011-10-15T16:55:56.092-05:00A Night RideSince some people <a href="http://doohickie.blogspot.com/2011/10/best-of-september.html?showComment=1318642429067#c5146158676792816629">like more pictures more than words</a>, here are some pics from a night ride I took a little over a week ago. I rode down to the Trinity Trail, then downtown, then home.<br /><br />First, a few pics of the carnival rides in the parking lot of a church, in preparation for a carnival.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA050002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA050002.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA050006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA050006.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA050010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA050010.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Then out to the trail. This is at the low water crossing where Overton Creek joins the Trinity River.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060013.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060013.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Downtown is a ways off...<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060018.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A visit with Mr. Skunk. He was actually pretty close to the trail.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060021.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060021.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The bridges over the Trinity River at the south end of Trinity Park<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060023.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060023.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Just past the bridges, downtown comes into view<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060029.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I followed the new bike lanes along Texas Street, riding by the main Firehouse.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060036.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060036.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Stopped by the T&P Tavern at the turnaround point. It's in the historic Texas and Pacific Train Station, which is still an active train station. A look up at the ceiling:<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060040.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060040.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Andrew and Anthony, the bartenders.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060038.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060038.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Looking back toward downtown from the near southside<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060044.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060044.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This night, I cut through the campus of Texas Christian University. A random shot of some of the campus<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060046.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1110FtWorth/PA060046.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The rest of the ride home was through neighborhood streets... no more pics.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-3841633656055864642011-10-08T12:51:00.003-05:002011-10-14T22:22:31.538-05:00The Best of SeptemberHaven't been blogging much lately but figured I'd put a few pictures up from September.<br /><br />Still life with bicycle, somewhere downtown<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4477.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4477.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br />A couple scenes from the stylish new campus of Tarrant County College<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4486.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4486.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4508.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4508.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is a view of the campus from across the Trinity River.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4520.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4520.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The Garvey-Veihl-Kelley House at 769 Samuels Ave.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4510.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/103_4510.jpg" width="640" height="853"/></a><br /><br />The Night Riders did a rare daytime ride.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00870.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00870.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00879.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00879.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00903.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00903.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Bass Hall angels, day...<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00901.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00901.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />...and night.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230020.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230020.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Self portraits with bicycles<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9060010.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9060010.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9090002.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9090002.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9190035a.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9190035a.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I worked a Habitat for Humanity build<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC01021-Copy.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC01021-Copy.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />and rode with Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC01035.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC01035.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Random Night Riders pics<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00923.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC00923.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9040063-Copy.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9040063-Copy.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9040069.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9040069.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Scenes around the city<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9020026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9020026.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC01053.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/DSC01053.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9070013-Copy.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9070013-Copy.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230015.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230015.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230009.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230009.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230025.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230025.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9230026.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Closing out a night at the taco truck<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9090006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9090006.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />...then closing out the month with a Critical Mass ride. Burn fat, not oil!<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9300008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9300008.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9300050.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1109FtWorth/P9300050.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-54587243615169066992011-08-01T20:08:00.003-05:002011-10-08T12:54:42.683-05:00Same ol' pub crawl?Not exactly. Typically, our group meets on Sunday evenings at the Chat Room Pub and then ride to a couple of other bars. The current heat wave is inspiring interesting alternatives. On the way to our first stop, we head west, casting long shadows in the late afternoon sun.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00598.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00598.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00599.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00599.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We often regroup in this lot before setting out. It was a large enough group that Mark, the ride leader, reinforced some of the rules we follow- staying in one lane, obeying traffic signals (but continuing through as a group if it turns yellow as we go through), that kind of stuff.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00602.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00602.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />And off we go again, into the sun.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00603.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00603.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00605.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00605.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00607.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00607.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />If you watch the video you'll see that instead of going to a bar, our first stop was at Central Market which offered not only spirits but gelato and other treats.<br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/px44L-ru4fE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00615.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00615.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00616.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00616.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Randomness: This is Wilson. He was "driving" around the parking lot. (He's actually sitting in the lap of his owner who was waiting for his wife to come out of the store.)<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00619.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00619.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Heading out, it was finally starting to get dark. The temp was still 100 degrees though. Crazy.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00624.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00624.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00626.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00626.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Our second stop was a little more appropriate for a pub crawl.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00630.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00630.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00633.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00633.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is Mark, the ride leader.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00631.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00631.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Meanwhile, Charles is keeping on eye on the bikes out front.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00634.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00634.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00636.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00636.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Finally, time to head for home.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00638.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110731NightRiders/DSC00638.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Good night, Night Riders!Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-27875383031897626722011-07-22T20:25:00.005-05:002011-10-08T12:53:52.910-05:00The Next Stage of the Tour de Fort WorthAfter a night time ride with our new mayor, I dragged my butt outta bed to ride with her again this morning.... early.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00530.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00530.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This time we met at the Fireman's Memorial at the north end of Trinity Park and rode up to, and past, the Stockyards.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />I rolled up just as Betsy was taking a group picture.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00533.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00533.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />And off we go.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00535.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00535.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00536.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00536.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I have to admit that the group set a surprisingly fast pace. Our new mayor is no slouch on a bike, running up to an 18 mph pace. A lot faster than most of my group rides, which are admittedly more on the social side. We rode through, actually under, the Stockyards and up the trail along Marine Creek to about NW 31th Street. Betty had appointments to get to, though, so we had to high-tail it back.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00545.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00545.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00547.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00547.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />On the way back, I thought to take some pictures where we go under the Stockyards. The trail literally goes under Exchange Avenue, including the buildings along the street. If you haven't seen it before, it's pretty cool.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00548.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00548.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00549.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00549.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00550.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00550.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Then it was a dash back to Trinity Park. Downtown gets progressively closer.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00551.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00551.jpg" width="300" height="225"/></a> <a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00552.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00552.jpg" width="300" height="225"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00553.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00553.jpg" width="300" height="225"/></a> <a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00556.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00556.jpg" width="300" height="225"/></a><br /><br />I got some of the trail ride on video.<br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/VTRdewhG-GE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />In the parking log afterward, Mayor Price said that it's been so enjoyable riding with different groups, she may organize regular rides, maybe once a month. There was also mention of setting up a Mayor's Sprint Triathlon next year. I can already see Betsy adding to the city's heritage. <br /><br />After leaving the group, I had a hankerin' for some Mexican breakfast. I headed down Hemphill, knowing there are a few Mexican restaurants down that way. Along the way, I passed the old Berry theater building. It would be cool if someone could fix up this former gem.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00561.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00561.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />It would take a lot of work though.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00558.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00558.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I ended up getting some huevos con chorizo (eggs with sausage, Mexican style) at El Mil Taco.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00563.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00563.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00567.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110722TourdeFortWorth/DSC00567.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Kind of typical of the little taco places around here. You never know if the staff will speak English. I was lucky this time. I was able to order what I wanted and it was delightful. I got home before the worst of the heat settled in.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-54228121873479133802011-07-21T23:29:00.006-05:002011-07-22T22:22:45.358-05:00Tour de Fort WorthI enjoyed an evening ride with Fort Worth's new mayor, Betsy Price, this evening. During the Tour de France, she and her husband Tom do daily rides around Fort Worth and call it, not surprisingly, the <a href="http://www.tourdefortworth.com/">Tour de Fort Worth</a>. Having just been elected mayor, she opened up the ride to any and all that want to join her. It's pretty cool that the mayor of a city of 750,000 makes herself accessible this way.<br /><br />We <a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=Chat+Room,+1263+West+Magnolia+Avenue,+Fort+Worth,+TX+76104&daddr=32.729928,-97.3376644+to:32.726138,-97.3376877+to:32.7254467,-97.3604317+to:32.7492118,-97.356891+to:32.749492,-97.3602034+to:32.7501243,-97.356955+to:32.75106,-97.353137+to:2401+W+7th+St+%23+110,+Fort+Worth,+TX+76107-2347+(Chuy%27s)+to:32.7509825,-97.335498+to:32.7529333,-97.3327282+to:32.7548621,-97.3335049+to:32.7551278,-97.3295204+to:32.74825,-97.325217+to:32.731155,-97.3259053+to:Chat+Room,+1263+West+Magnolia+Avenue,+Fort+Worth,+TX+76104&hl=en&ll=32.737906,-97.339468&spn=0.044329,0.101194&sll=32.73361,-97.324684&sspn=0.011083,0.025299&geocode=FXlt8wEdY7gy-iGLHxQDMbYtwClzCHK_d3FOhjETdnL60xBQCw%3BFUhr8wEdwL4y-imZ2QAxdnFOhjFqWh6fA1MDKg%3BFXpc8wEdqb4y-ilhDQyvnXFOhjHFzwG5wjcf-g%3BFcZZ8wEd0WUy-imZaliy03NOhjGFA63sBWiDsw%3BFZu28wEdpXMy-ik_gufm3XNOhjGijeA_6dhMuw%3BFbS38wEdtWYy-in5Zkx63XNOhjGiKcyWui3fBA%3BFSy68wEdZXMy-iktzkD53XNOhjFyi92P9i6L6Q%3BFdS98wEdT4Iy-inP8qUM4HNOhjGi40p2bX2tAQ%3BFSK98wEdu4ky-iFdcd8-9_Re0yk3YCH_X3FOhjF884D0kAPTgA%3BFYa98wEdNscy-ikp0FkDanFOhjHiFDTtKtXM_g%3BFSXF8wEdCNIy-imDjKU0QHFOhjH1F0OLYAnq9w%3BFa7M8wEdAM8y-imF7uYHQXFOhjHvMVblNHkI9A%3BFbfN8wEdkN4y-inFCiJ4P3FOhjECcGn2H2voUA%3BFdqy8wEdX-8y-ilTtswiFHFOhjH19h9pntcykg%3BFRNw8wEdr-wy-il9yVYVCnFOhjFJP5osEncAaA%3BFXlt8wEdY7gy-iGLHxQDMbYtwClzCHK_d3FOhjETdnL60xBQCw&mra=dpe&mrsp=14&sz=16&via=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,9,10,11,12,13,14&dirflg=b&z=14&lci=bike">rode a short route</a>, just under 10 miles, because several riders did not have lights with them. As the "local" who knows the area, she allowed me to pick the route. I touched on some of the best spots the Night Riders go: Cutting through Fairmount, through Berkley Place, down Zoo Hill, up the Trinity Trail to Trinity Park, a quick tour of the West 7th area, and then Downtown before heading back to our starting point. We rode several of the recently installed bike lanes. About the only "political" issue I brought up was the rough pavement in some areas.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00520.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00520.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br />That's Betsy on the far right, with the blue butterfly on her jersey.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00521.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00521.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00522.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00522.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A stop in Trinity Park<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00524.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00524.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />for a quick repair<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00525.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00525.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />A group photo of the eight of us that rode. When Betsy sees me putting up bunny ears behind her, she'll never ride with me again.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00526.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00526.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Stopping for a Gatorade on the way home<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00527.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110721TourdeFortWorth/DSC00527.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a>Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-52357836535700404482011-07-19T00:24:00.004-05:002011-07-21T23:59:28.307-05:00Like Night and DayI'm not commuting on my bike much these days, but I'm trying to get miles in when I can. That basically means night time, or early morning on the weekends. On Saturday mornings I ride with a local club on their breakfast rides. I ride the 8 miles over to the meetup point, we ride to breakfast as a group (usually an hour and a half ride), have breakfast together, then, depending on where we had breakfast I ride back with the group at least part way. I usually cut away from the group at some point and ride home rather than riding back to the meetup point and backtracking. Here are some pics and video from a couple recent breakfast rides. The first was to Paul's Donuts.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00422.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00422.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br />Low water crossing over the Trinity River<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00424.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00424.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00425.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00425.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00428.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00428.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00432.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00432.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Some video riding through Overton Park<br /><iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/Tp6TrgfvKIw" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Muggin' for the camera<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00437.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00437.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00443.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00443.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The second was to <a href="http://www.lucilesstatesidebistro.com/">Lucille's Stateside Bistro</a>. We had a guest on this ride, Nick from <a href="http://streamsandvalleys.org/">Streams and Valleys</a>, the organization that develops and maintains several of the MUPs (multi-use paths) along the Trinity River and elsewhere around the area.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00444.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00444.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00446.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00446.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00447.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00447.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />On the way home, we went up to the western end of 7th Street, which leads to a very long descent toward University Drive and the Trinity River.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00452.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00452.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The new bike lanes along West 7th Street<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00456.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00456.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Trinity Park<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00459.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00459.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Kayakers on the Trinity<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00462.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00462.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/OYDjTAEYmUk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00464.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00464.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00467.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00467.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />It was getting pretty hot so after leaving the group I stopped for some Gatorade.<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00469.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00469.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The breakfast rides work because we get our miles in before the sun gets really hot. The alternative is to ride after dark. There is a loose group of folks who call themselves the Night Riders. This is kind of a come-as-you-are group, with racing bikes, fixed gear bikes, utility bikes, you name it. Some recent Night Rides:<br /><br />July 3<br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00403.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00403.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00408.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00408.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00412.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00412.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/BM0O7fWuBMk" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />Last Sunday night- July 17<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00476.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00476.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00483.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00483.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/DOEJNGS9fIQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />And Monday night I did a solo night ride. Just me and the bike.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00485.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/1107Rides/DSC00485.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />I'm doing whatever I can lately to miss the heat of mid-day.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-54034039781063515202011-07-15T00:34:00.001-05:002011-07-15T00:35:26.526-05:00Dog UpdateSugar's doing pretty good. She still has a nasty-looking scar on the leg, but it is healing over.<br /><br />Winston caught and killed a 10-pound possum tonight. He was very proud and happy.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-46232291406386689932011-07-02T21:40:00.007-05:002011-07-19T00:49:49.912-05:00SugarThis is a celebration of life. This phrase is often used at funerals, but Sugar is still alive. Reading <a href="http://greencomotion.blogspot.com/2011/07/lea-on-earth-1995-2011-in-our-hearts.html">Chandra's recent post</a> on his own recently departed dog inspired me to write about Sugar while she is still with us.<br /><br />We took her in just for a night or two, intending to take her to the pound after the weekend. That was 1997, shortly after we moved back to Texas, and she's been with us ever since.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11Pets/AndrewandSugarFall1997.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/11Pets/AndrewandSugarFall1997.jpg" width="640" height="940"/></a><br /><br />This is a picture from when we first got her, posing with my son who turns 24 this month. She is his dog and he is her boy. Unfortunately for both of them, he now lives in New York state.<br /><a name='more'></a><br />She was a problematic puppy. First of all she had epilepsy when she was young. We had to run her to the vet several times when she started having seizures. She had to take phenobarbital for years to keep the seizures away. Eventually she was weaned off the pills and hasn't had seizures in many years now.<br /><br />Also, she was a real pain-in-the butt little sister to Mollie, our golden retriever. Sugar was a typically playful pup, and Mollie was too old for that stuff. When Mollie passed away, though, having Sugar around was a comfort. <br /><br />She wasn't alone for long; we soon adopted another older dog, Chip, a lab mix. Chip came and left us after a few years, so then we got Cookie, a beagle mix. Now Sugar was the grown-up dog and Cookie was little sister. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Pets08/Picture013-2-1.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 168px;" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Pets08/Picture013-2-1.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Sugar was lucky, though. Cookie has a very sweet and submissive disposition and didn't give Sugar nearly as much grief as Sugar gave Mollie. So they settled in... Sugar was the grand dame, the boss. <br /><br />At one point, Sugar developed a tumor on her back right leg. Our son, who was working by then, paid for the surgery to remove it. It was not malignant. It grew back quickly, though. The vet said that as long as it didn't affect her mobility, removing it again was probably of little benefit. So we let it be.<br /><br />Bringing a cat into the mix didn't affect things much, even though Sugar wasn't too sure at first.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Pets08/Picture015-5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/Pets08/Picture015-5.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10Slinky/DSCI0679.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:10 10 20px 20px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10Slinky/DSCI0679.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Last year, though, everything changed. We adopted yet another stray, Winston. He was such a little puppy but he quickly grew to be quite large. Sugar didn't give up her grand dame status easily, but Winston was just too big and asserted his alpha dog status. <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10Pets/DSCI1705.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/10Pets/DSCI1705.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>Eventually she relented and they now get along pretty good. She is old and treacherous and knows how to get into trouble. He has the brawn to execute her evil plans. So we've cleaned up our share of tipped garbage cans.<br /><br />Things settled down, but Sugar has had a few health problems this year. She had kennel cough this winter and while recovering from that developed digestive problems so now she needs mild food. Then a couple weeks ago, that tumor on her right rear leg burst and we had to rush her to the vet. They removed the tumor but it was not without complications; there just wasn't enough skin to close the wound, so she has a small patch of raw flesh. To keep her from chewing on the wound, we had to use the Cone of Shame on her.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.blipfoto.com/uploads/58500/2011/8268419364e0aa4159a2b02.89296302.jpeg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.blipfoto.com/uploads/58500/2011/8268419364e0aa4159a2b02.89296302.jpeg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Amazingly, though, she is recovering and less than two weeks after surgery she is walking on the leg most of the time. For an old lady, she's doin' pretty good. My son is planning a visit back to Texas for the end of this year; I hope Sugar will be here to greet him.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-25808420292287071392011-06-27T23:12:00.005-05:002011-07-02T21:48:42.338-05:00Pub crawlOn Sunday nights I sometimes ride with the Night Riders on their pub crawl. Tonight was Lounge Night. We met up at the Chat Room.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00340.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00340.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00341.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00341.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Then we rolled around Fairmount for a while... and then went over to Trinity Park.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00345.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00345.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00349.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00349.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><iframe width="640" height="510" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/ulENSfRKuzE?rel=0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />The park has some nice views of Downtown, and soon there will be a bicycle bridge to go over the Trinity River to easily get there.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00351.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00351.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We hopped out of the park and into the redeveloped area along West 7th Street.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00356.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00356.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We arrived at our first Lounge stop, the Magnolia Motor Lounge.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00357.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00357.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />The place was hoppin'<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00362.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00362.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00363.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00363.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />...to the sounds of Fish Fry Bingo.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00364.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00364.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />They are a versatile bluegrass band, playing everything from rock standards with a country vibe, to their own genre of music they call Hill-Hop.... hip-hop for hillbillies.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00365.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00365.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />By the time we hit the road again, we really were Night Riders.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00366.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00366.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />We followed West 7th over the river to Downtown on our way to our next Lounge stop,<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00372.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00372.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />...the Rainbow Lounge.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00374.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00374.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00376.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00376.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Here's a Night Riders group picture on the Rainbow Lounge stage. That's me in the rear on the left end.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/261762_10150234861338958_98600363957_7187149_1195776_n.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/261762_10150234861338958_98600363957_7187149_1195776_n.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />From there it was the solitary 9 mile ride home. For some reason, the 24 mph headwind (with gusts to 33) didn't seem to affect me too much. I usually feel stronger on my single speed bike, and this night was no exception. Just follow the Sharrows<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00378.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00378.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Finally I was on my own street, with the street lights casting shadows.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00380.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/110626PubCrawl/DSC00380.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />When I got home I'd done 29 miles. Not bad for a Sunday night out with friends.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26432302.post-41450454723655837222011-06-24T11:14:00.003-05:002011-06-28T00:05:17.800-05:00Baby it's hot out thereI got my first chance to ride my bike in a couple weeks yesterday. I rode to work; I knew it was gonna be a hot one as soon as the sun peeked up a few blocks from home. By the time I got to work I was a sweaty mess. The shower felt great.<br /><br />I had to work late which was fortunate. By the time I started home the sun was low and the edge was off the day. It was only 97 degrees when I started out. I stopped for dinner on the way home. <br /><br />My route to the Magnolia Motor Lounge is one of my favorite rides. It starts out with some significant hills on the west side of town- a series of rollers that really discouraged me when I first rode them. It seems you get over one hill only to have another one to climb. With a rig loaded with my work clothes and stuff, it can be kind of a pain.<br /><br />The route settles down to a steady climb through some nice, picturesque neighborhoods to the River Crest Country Club. The streets are quiet and views are beautiful.<br /><br /><a href="xhttp://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00301.jpgxxx" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00301.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><a name='more'></a><br />Commuting in my work shirt. It always balloons out when I'm riding, making me look like a hunchback.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00304.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00304.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Riding along the edge of the golf course on Hillcrest Street.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00307.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00307.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />This is the high point of the ride, literally, at the western end of West 7th Street.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00308.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00308.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Now for the descent, a mile-long coast through the North Hi-Mount neighborhood, down to University Drive.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00315.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00315.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00318.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00318.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00322.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00322.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />Approaching University from the west, W. 7th Street is a two-lane neighborhood street. Looking across the intersection, W. 7th is practically a highway. Most of the traffic diverts slightly left onto Camp Bowie Boulevard.<br /><br />Magnolia Motor Lounge is just a few blocks away. I've <a href="http://doohickie.blogspot.com/2010/10/magnolia-motor-lounge.html">reviewed their food</a> before. They're basically a bar that serves automotive-themed sandwiches like the Sloppy Jalopy. This time I got The 550: Chicken Fried Chicken, Chicken Fried Bacon, and the fixings. Their coleslaw is perhaps the best in Fort Worth. The tomatoes on the sandwich stood out; very tasty. To complete the meal I threw in a Garage Taco with Pork. Their pulled pork is pretty tasty too. <br /><br />They also had entertainment.<br /><br /><a href="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00324.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e341/Doohickie/DSC00324.jpg" width="640" height="480"/></a><br /><br />No, not Christa and Scott demonstrating bottle mustaches.* They had live music in the form of <a href="http://www.chrishawkesmusic.com/">Chris Hawkes</a>. Just a man and a guitar making some great music.<br /><br />*No, they weren't really drinking beer; it was a demonstration with sealed bottles.<br /><br />By the time I rode the rest of the way home, it was dark and the edge was off the heat.Doohickiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06088639153697449691noreply@blogger.com4