Rented a clunky bicycle (but it was cheap, less than US$4) from this underground bicycle garage across the road from my hotel in Niigata. Cycled a 20km course, mainly on off-road trails beside waterways and the Sea of Japan, around the core city while being buffeted by wind gusts that nearly brought me to a standstill. After returning the bike and a late lunch, had a deep nap back in my hotel room.
Category: Cycle
Cycling the shores of Toyama Bay
Toyama is bicycle-friendly: city policies push for more bicycles and fewer cars. While bikeshare stations dot the city, I rented a cross-bike (USD$8) more suitable for exploring. I cycled a scenic trail (look at those mountains!) for a few hours that mostly follows the shoreline of Toyama Bay. Along the way, stopped for a picnic at a table clearly intended for that purpose in the grounds of a shrine.
How we got our bikes: the kindness of strangers on Reddit
Took the bike for a final spin while Dwight cycled to the pool for laps. Renting bikes is expensive–it would’ve been cheaper to buy bikes–so I posted a call for help on Reddit and received many helpful responses. One person offered to lend us his two Treks for a reasonable fee. After checking his previous posts and seeing his good karma rating, we agreed. The proceeds went to his wife’s nursing education fund.
Desert plants: a puncturing hazard
A thorn, presumably from a desert plant clipping lying on the road, punctured my inner tube. I found the tiny hole in the tire, but I’d forgotten to include tire levers in the kit I’d brought from home. So, I walked the bike over to a bike shop. I left with a new tube (installed) and these very red tire levers.
The only clouds above Coachella Valley this morning
Cycled to ‘Unsui (Mirror)’ one of nine ‘Desert X’ temporary installations across the Coachella Valley. The clouds’ appearance shifted as I moved, thanks to small, pivoted mirrors. The support poles are also mirrored. ‘Unsui’ is Japanese for ‘clouds and water’ which describes Zen monks who’ve achieved enlightenment. At a more literal level, the art piece seems to depict rain: from this angle the clouds suggest a storm.
Rest day on a bicycle
Dwight went for a jog, I went for a bicycle meander, stopping for coffee and picking up groceries along the way. After yesterday’s somewhat arduous hilly hike, this felt like a rest day.
View from Ford Bridge
After oncology appointments scheduled around our upcoming trip to England, I continued my bike ride. At Ford Bridge, I’m looking at the remnants of a Ford Motor Company plant: Ford Hydroelectric Plant and Ford Steam Plant. Up on the bluffs, a new brownfield development is underway, featuring most of the elements of a 15-minute community,…… Continue reading View from Ford Bridge
View from Washington Avenue Bridge
Near the end of my cycle ride, I paused on this double-decker bridge which connects two campuses of the University of Minnesota. The upper deck features dedicated bike lanes, an enclosed walkway, and a pedestrian path. The lower deck accommodates light rail and regular traffic. The unmistakeably Frank Gehry-designed Weisman Art Museum, sometimes my haven…… Continue reading View from Washington Avenue Bridge
A Sure Sign of Fall
Our cycling adventure took us to Lake Harriet, where we had planned to enjoy a breakfast sandwich from Bread & Pickle. Unfortunately, they had shortened their hours, a telltale sign that Fall was upon us. Undeterred, we continued our ride until lunchtime, when Longfellow’s came into view. They served up one of the best grilled…… Continue reading A Sure Sign of Fall
The Journey Home
Climbed up from Stillwater this morning on the Brown’s Creek Trail to join the Gateway Trail towards St. Paul. Both these leafy trails, repurposed from former railroads, offered a smooth ride with plenty of shade.