First the meeting places:
Tomorrow's Memorial Day Run at 7:30(!) at the Coffee Tree - a replay of an old favorite to Greenfield, up hills, over bridges (what else is new?)
Next Sunday's run on June 6 is being planned by Elaine and will leave from the Tomb of the Unknown Bowler downtown (i.e. PPG Place fountain area) and will visit many fountains!
At Jonathan's excellent suggestion we are calling our adventure today a real Nine-Mile Run, since not only did it trace that watery trail but it may have covered 9 whole miles (at least it felt that way.) Now, if you don't want a long and involved (but worth it!) story, you can stop reading here.
So it all started with a mysterious and suggestive map that appeared on Elaine's kitchen table this morning indicating that a path could be taken deep into Frick Park leading to an unknown new footbridge. And so we followed it (mainly) and lo and behold, beyond Commercial Street and the Irish Center, heading toward the river - an adorable spanking new footbridge (sort of Japanese looking) and new path beyond. Which we followed quite to its end, and further into Duck Hollow - a tiny hamlet tucked away with a handful of picturesque little houses and gardens, one of which was chock full of fascinating objects, reminiscent of the Shrine of the Blessed Mother, but without the Mother. At one point one could look up into the woods and see the "city peeking over its brow" (Jonathan's fine phrasing again.) There a kind denizen stopped in her car and tried to help us find a new trail back, but to no avail, so we wandered up the endless hills through exquisite wildflower fields, rubble-strewn construction sites, a fortunately placed port-a-potty, and finally the Truman Show-like Summerset neighborhood, where we longed desperately to jump into their giant sparkling swimming pool. So - 9 miles? We're saying so.
Coffee tree items:
The term "rurban"
New stretch fanny pack at REI that is not dorky
The annual 500-person bike ride with beer - the Pedal Pale Ale Ride - which sadly was 2 weeks ago, but we will try to remember next year
There is an amazing ceremony at the nightly closing of the India-Pakistan border: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LZ0ue-XGl9c
WE WERE IN THE PAPER last month -
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10125/1055541-51.stm
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