I read myself to sleep last night with a bike repair book, so woke up with an urgent need to clean and maintain my bikes. Rhoda’s chain has been skipping a lot lately, and even the pedaling has felt off. So I treated her to a new chain, and she feels so, so much better. After riding to and from work I decided to meet K. to take Jack out for a spin on the levee. Continue reading
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Blue Sky in the Marigny
I got a new digital camera. Mine went missing back on Valentine’s Day, off to share the love with someone else, I presume. I finally saved enough to get a new one and was excited to take it out for a spin on the bike today. Rhoda and I rode to work today, and the sky was so, so blue. It is impossible to stop smiling when spinning up St. Charles on days like this. Continue reading
Bikes on Lake Pontchartrain at the Tour de Lis
I didn’t ride a bicycle for three days in a row. I can’t remember the last time that happened. But I was on a trip to Kansas City for a conference, and didn’t bring my bike with me. I rode the bus and walked, jealously eyeing cyclists as they sped up and down the hills on Main Street. After a truly awful flight home (Houston, you’ve got some problems), the last thing I wanted to do was wake up at 6:30 in the morning for a group bike ride. Continue reading
Flowered Vines on Decaying Garage at St. Claude and Piety
For all the talk of thunderstorms yesterday, today was gray, dreary, and just a little bit wet. But after waking up on the wrong side of the bed, I decided this afternoon demanded a bike ride. So I kept my skirt on, grabbed Jack, clipped in, and rode off to meet a friend in the Marigny to do some reading. Continue reading
Picnic Table at the Huey P. Long Bridge
It was a stormy day in New Orleans today, but I had bike plans with my new riding buddy, C. C. works at a bike shop in town, so I met her there, where she used her wily salesmanship to sell me my first pair of special shoes to go with Jack’s clipless pedal system. I feel like such a grown up! I was scared to fall, and C. promised me that I would, and that she’d laugh, but I was a natural. Continue reading
Picnicking at the Fly
It’s the first full day of my spring break, and I couldn’t be more pleased. The weather was fantastic, so I went for a long ride along the Mississippi after a day of basketball, lunch, coffee, and reading. Yeah, rough life, eh? I was not the only person who thought the levee would be a nice place to toast this first day of spring (and my mom’s birthday–happy birthday, ma! Love you!). Continue reading
Community Garden at Burgundy and St. Ferdinand
I rode my bike down to the Marigny tonight to see some experimental theater. Those two words together often send shivers up my spine, but I was in the mood to watch creative people doing creative things, so I was game. I showed up early to meet my friend M., so I decided to tool around the neighborhood for a bit. Continue reading
Sky Above the St. Thomas Development
Yes, this really is a picture of the sky in New Orleans today. That blue is ridiculous. I was riding down to a coffee shop to do some reading, and decided to get off Magazine Street and enjoy the occasionally smooth pavement of Laurel Street. This neighborhood–part Irish Channel, part Lower Garden District–is incredibly mixed. Continue reading
Birds at Bayou St. John
Today was a New Orleans kind of day, as N. would say. I had no particular plans, but what started as brunch with friends ended up being a day of fun in Mid-City, riding the new bike around. Continue reading
Sunset on the Mississippi
Oh yeah, it’s springtime in New Orleans. Today was ridiculously beautiful. I took advantage with a nice ride on the levee late this afternoon. So many people were out riding around, running, walking dogs. The folks with horses had them out, trotting around. Other folks were engaging in archery practice, shooting on the banks of the Mississippi at hay bales draped with vinyl targets. There were even golfers practicing chip shots. This is what I love about public space–it’s for the public. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 