We’ve got some wild weather in New Orleans right now, so I put on a tank top and tossed a rain jacket and a wool sweater in my panniers and headed to work. It was windy, that kind of wind that buffets you around as you maintain an unusually firm grasp on the handlebars. I pedaled as fast as I could, dancing to a song, working up a hot sweat when only a few days ago I declared a welcome to winter. Oh well. Continue reading
Audubon Park
Crowds at the Take Back the Night Rally at Loyola
Another work day, another morning ride to campus. And it’s the end of October, so of course I arrived three miles later in my tank top and light skirt, drenched in sweat. Fall in New Orleans… I taught a ridiculous number of classes today, so by the end of it all I was happily relieved and decided to work it out with a couple of laps around the park. The lake was positively alive with bird activity–this time, ducks. I think. Why are there all these teenage ducks in the park right now? Aren’t ducklings born in spring? R.? Do you know? I watched them snack and squawk for awhile and then headed to Loyola’s campus to meet up with folks gathered for this year’s Take Back the Night march and rally. Continue reading
Spanish Moss in Audubon Park
I had a long day at work today, but it was a good one–one of those days where your students are smart and charming and inquisitive and you find real pleasure in your work. I was tired by the end of the day, but the weather and the light was simply too much to just head straight home. I went to Audubon Park to see what everybody else was doing. I did two laps and passed–and got passed–by a whole bunch of folks on bikes. There were runners, walkers, and a couple of speedwalkers, lots of dogs, a rollerblader or two, and some golfers. There were ducks and geese and squirrels and several white ibis, pecking away at the grass. I took this picture on my second go-around. The spanish moss just drips off this oak tree. It’s like being right on the underside of a cloud. Another lovely October day in New Orleans.
A Line of Bikes at the Bicycle Second Line in Audubon Park
I got up before 7:00 this morning, on a Saturday. This is not something I consider appropriate for a woman of my habits, but today was the big day: the bike rodeo for kids, followed by the bicycle second line in support of the Metro Bicycle Coalition. Continue reading
Wildflowers at Perrier and Valence
After yesterday’s disappointing duckling search, I decided to take T.’s advice and ride my bike around Audubon Park in search of Uptown baby birds. No such luck–I must be catching them all at their naptime–but I did see a whole bunch of herons, egrets, grown ducks, and turtles. It was a lovely day, and lots of folks were running and walking and rollerblading and biking and staring at birds. Continue reading
Houses Along Audubon Park in Uptown
I spent the day on my bicycle on a long task ride–a visit to the Registrar’s office, lunch with B., the bike shop for a new tube, the grocery for potatoes and other sundries, Human Resources to talk retirement plans. Yep, an exciting day for Rhoda and I! Continue reading
Pothole Repair at Magazine and Philip
Today was a good day on my bike. Yesterday felt a bit sluggish, and I felt a bit lazy. But today’s ride was one of those rides that make me feel like a little kid, racing along on my bicycle, skirt flying. Continue reading
Beer Pong at the Fly
My little sister is in town, and that has meant more driving than I’m used to, but also the chance to take my family on some of my favorite routes. I missed yesterday’s bicycle pub crawl (you know I wish I’d been there, Randy), but today I got to ride up Chestnut, around Audubon Park, and up on the Fly to see the Mississippi River. Continue reading
Heron Nest Building in Audubon Park
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
Bunny Roadkill at Loyola
So there I was on my bike, zipping along on my commute, rediscovering old favorites on my ipod. And then I had to swerve to miss running over a dead bunny rabbit on St. Charles in front of Loyola U. Now, this is a city. What the heck is a bunny doing trying to cross the street here? Continue reading
What I Saw Riding My Bike Around Today 