Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9 is one of the “lesser” bridges connecting the east and west sides of Minneapolis across the Mississippi. The bridge is significant for its configuration as a deck truss, which is a rare truss type in [Minnesota], and innovative reuse of 1885 pin-connected deck truss spans that were reinforced in 1922…… Continue reading Northern Pacific Bridge Number 9
Category: Urban Hike and Bike
MSP Terminal 1 by Bicycle
Today I did my annual bike ride to Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, MSP. On previous rides to the airport, I’ve visited Terminal 2. This time I wanted to take my bicycle to Terminal 1. However, it’s not possible to cycle to Terminal 1 without running afoul of the law. MSP has two terminals: Terminal 1-Lindbergh, with 117…… Continue reading MSP Terminal 1 by Bicycle
Fall Reflections
Cycled past reflections in the Mississippi: emerging Fall colors and the University of Minnesota Medical Center – East Bank.
Minneapolis Bronze Statues
Yesterday, I went cycling with my friend, Dave, as we do every week in the warmer months. Sometimes we cycle a loop, sometimes we pick a theme, sometimes we meander. On Dave’s suggestion we went in search of Minneapolis bronze statues. We met next to the baseball park at Target Field light rail station. Dave…… Continue reading Minneapolis Bronze Statues
Journey to the House of Balls
White paint traced the black lines of the graffiti letters on the concrete of a freeway overpass spanning the Cedar Lake Trail: a failed cover-up. I imagined a subversive city worker performing the cleanup: “F*** you Mitch McConnell” was still visible, white on gray. “Images hiding in plain sight” was my theme for the day. I…… Continue reading Journey to the House of Balls
Finding Traces of Henry David Thoreau’s 1861 Visit to Minneapolis
Our Lady of Lourdes Church, built 1854-1857, with later additions. In May 1861, Henry David Thoreau visited Minneapolis. He was terminally ill, and would die within a year. I found myself wondering if there are any traces of places or institutions Thoreau would have seen or visited. There is very little contemporaneous documentation about his visit to Minneapolis:…… Continue reading Finding Traces of Henry David Thoreau’s 1861 Visit to Minneapolis
Finding Traces of Henry David Thoreau
Posted Finding Traces of Henry David Thoreau’s 1861 Visit to Minneapolis.
Dubai by Rail and Foot
I checked in to my Dubai hotel at 2:00 a.m. this morning, fresh off an eight-hour flight from Guangzhou. In the lobby, people were still enjoying the night. Two thirtysomething expatriate women emerged from the pub in summer frocks, looking like they were on their way to an English garden party. This is a city…… Continue reading Dubai by Rail and Foot
A Shanghai Urban Hike
I deliberately chose a creaky 1920’s era hotel for my base in Shanghai, which made it all the more shocking to emerge into 21st century Shanghai. “Do you need the company of a woman?” asked a conservative-looking thirty-something woman, pacing the street outside. Today, I walked a twelve mile, somewhat random loop from…… Continue reading A Shanghai Urban Hike
Shanghai Urban Hike
Posted A Shanghai Urban Hike.