Another Bike Ride

I took Thursday off this week to get a few things done and I was also hoping to get a bike ride in.  I did get a few things done in the morning, but not as much as I planned.  But I also did get a bike ride in, even more than I planned.  This time I did go into it thinking I would post about it, you may blame Delcatto for encouraging my behavior by commenting on the last bike post!

That last post about my ride took a quite some time to put together, so this is more of a picture blogpost, or amateur photojournalism, but I'll caption the pictures for a sort of running story for some context.  Less writing is what I'm aiming for this time.  I don't think I'll do this again because I pulled over quite often to take pictures and, while there are some good ones, that just isn't what riding is about.  It became tedious so eventually I just stopped taking pictures, but still plenty to share.

Lots of pictures after the break.  Enjoy!

Apparently Google recognized that I took 3 pictures from the same spot and stitched them together for me.  Cool.

I was trying to get a picture of setting out, but didn't want to get my car's license plate, so this is what i got.

Just a few minutes into the ride we come to the Capital City Trail.  The Goodman Center is beyond the trees here.

Same intersection as above, but facing left.  This is the way I went, for now.  My plan was to head downtown.  It will be some time before I realize my mistake.

Riding the trail behind the Olbrich Botanical Gardens.

About 15 minutes later I realized my mistake.  I was headed east and highway 51 was ahead of me.  Not sure what I was thinking.  Senior moment, maybe?  Or the exercise took the blood away from my brain.

Well, I came this far.  May as well go all the way to the bridge, right?  Hwy 51 and Cottage Grove Road.

On my way back, a rest at the Goodman Center.

I tried to get a quick picture of the splash pad without looking like a pervert.

Finally headed the right direction, this is Atwood Avenue at the green bike path crossing.  A block down will be the start of several blocks of Atwoodfest this weekend!

Same spot as above, looking across the street to the Harmony.  Not stopping today.

Railroad bridge over the Yahara River.

The locks are on the other side of the isthmus.  Would be cool to see but I think they are closed for repairs now.

An entrance to Madison's Central Park, facing downtown...

Facing the entrance...

And facing right, toward the skate park.

You'll have to click on the pic to go to Flickr to see it larger.

I rode through Central Park.  Little did I know this would be my best view of the capitol today.

On John Nolen Drive headed to the Monona Terrace Convention Center.

Law Park on the left.

The boat ramp at Law Park.

I believe they do ski shows and other things up here on the left.

The bike path runs on the lake side of Monona Terrace.

A view of the iconic front windows of the Frank Lloyd Wright designed place.  But only built about 20 years or so ago.

The far side, the party pontoon boat looked like fun!

Trying to figure out the bike elevator there.

Upsy daisy!

View out from the 4th floor parking level.  I made it to the streets, about 2 blocks from the capitol, but it is hilly on the isthmus and my legs were getting tired and I still had to make it back.

Northeast view from between Atwood and the Goodman Center.

Southwest view.  A lovely stretch with tons of wildflowers on this side and community gardens on the other.

Another rest stop at the Goodman Center.

Back on the Starkweather Creek bike path, up past our street and to the bike bridge like last time.

Bike bridge again.  I was tired of taking pictures by this point.

Although this is a pretty good pic.  Coming down the northwest side of the bridge.

From here I went to Dexter's and rewarded myself with another great Rodenbach beer, Alexander this time.  After the beer I made my way back and over the bridge again and down toward home as my front tire seemed a little low.  I stopped at home to fill it and noticed the lawn needed mowing, so I mowed.  Then back on the bike for the trip to Brother's Three.  There I finally relaxed for a while, yet still rode my bike home on sore legs.  Just much more slowly.  In fact I had to walk my bike up the last part of the bike bridge on my last crossing.  After biking for several hours yesterday I was tired today, but not too sore thankfully.

Thanks for checking this out.  Like I said earlier, I don't think I'll do this again, at least not like this.  My next post will probably be about Atwoodfest!