My sister is in town this week, and we are having a fantastic time. But that does mean I haven’t been riding my bike as much. So while she spent the day at the Pop Culture Association meetings, I took the chance to take Jack on a speedy ride to work. It was a beautiful day in New Orleans, and it felt amazing to be back on the bike. Continue reading
personal
Church at Jackson and St. Charles
I’m continually struck by how quickly I adjust my sight and see only what I expect to see. One of the reasons I do this blog is to force myself to look, really look, at what I pass as I ride my bicycle around town. Being on a bicycle completely changes your relationship to the road, to your surrounding, to fellow travelers by foot, bike, motorcycle, car, horse-drawn carriage, bus, streetcar, and all the other ways we get around. 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
General Beauregard Statue at City Park
Look at that sky–isn’t it beautiful? It wasn’t sunny today, but the overcast sky at dusk was it’s own sort of beauty, don’t you think? I spent my day writing and reading and then took Jack out for a long ride along Bayou St. John. I took this picture of the General Beauregard statue at the entrance to City Park at Esplanade right before setting off with the hopes of making it to UNO. It was such a nice evening for a ride–cool and breezy. Every time I looked behind me I saw my skirt blowing around in the wind, and I just love that feeling. But then the sun was down and the streetlights were off and my tiny headlight was doing the best it could, but it wasn’t enough to feel safe on the unpredictably rocky New Orleans streets. Continue reading
UCLA vs. VCU at Ochsner Baptist ER
Today is my first day of spring break. AND it’s the first day of the NCAA tournament. Yeah, it’s a good, good day. I celebrated by–what else–taking a bike ride. This afternoon’s ride took me to Mid-City to help J. and M. move in to their new place. There were eight of us, a U-Haul, a pick-up truck, three dogs, three cases of beer, and jambalaya. I can stand to move like this, I must say. Continue reading
Railroad Crossing at Royal and Press Streets
This picture captures, I think, the crazy sun of today. It was absolutely beautiful, again. And I was in the mood to celebrate outside, because today marks the third anniversary of quitting smoking. Three years ago today I was a quivering mess, crying between mouthfuls of Fritos or M&Ms, not sure why I’d made the terrible decision to quit smoking, and feeling quite certain that I’d never be ok again. 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
Bicycle Michael’s on Frenchman Street
Today was positive beautiful, sunny and warm, but not too warm, and I decided to make today the day to take the plunge and get myself a road bike. Don’t get me wrong–Rhoda is wonderful. Continue reading
New Orleans Critical Mass on the Algiers Ferry
Tonight I went to my first Critical Mass. I was strangely nervous, I think because I still feel so new to riding and I almost always ride alone. But I had a beer to steel my nerves and then met up with the crowd at Jackson Square. Continue reading
Rue de la Course on Magazine Street
It was a rainy day in New Orleans, and I considered taking my car, but I managed to avoid the downpours and rode my bike to work. After work I headed to Rue de la Course on Magazine Street, my home away from home, my other office. Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 