4 July Ride: On the Urban Side

I wasn't quite sure of my bike plans for today. I thought of heading up to Rogers to join an organized ride though with the threat of rain greater up there than down here in Fayetteville, I decided to solo it.  A very interesting ride in that it was very quiet out there on the streets, more so than I would have expected.  Even at 11:00 the streets were quieter than on a Sunday morning.  Partly due to people staying up late for fireworks but also the cloudy and slightly rainy weather this morning keeping people from heading out quickly.  In any case, it made for great bike riding, especially as I decided to make a more urban experience of it today.


Very early in my ride this morning, on a side street of Habberton, I came across Deputy Marshal C.B. Maya, stopping and picking up a turtle.  I joked with him, asking if he was arresting the turtle.  But he said he was moving it off the road because, even on the small roads where the turtles may seem safe, guys come by in their 4-wheelers and make a point of running them over.  I thought it was great that he would stop to move the turlte to safety.

Yesterday on the Roadie ride, a bicyclist passed me and I saw him stopping up the road and moving something from the middle of the road.  At first, I thought it was a broken glass bottle but it turned out to be a turtle. I meant to get his picture but he took off before I was able.  I'm glad there seem to be so many folks out there willing to stop and move the turtles off to the side of the road.

The following three pictures were taken on Emma St in Springdale.

 

 House by the railroad tracks near downtown Springdale.

I saw this sign on a dumpster behind the Tyson headquarters.  Something about "co-mingled" recyclables struck me as very humorous.  Brought up thoughts of co-ed dorms or the mixing of races.  A special dumpster for recyclables that are on the culturally cutting edge.

Stopping in Johnson for a quick snack, I heard my first rumbles of thunder.  Just outside Johnson, I saw these two business signs.  It seemed to be something out of a Far Side cartoon where two establishments are set up next to one another with some sort of catastrophe waiting to happen  when the two groups happen to attend at the same time. 

 I knew Waffle House had set up shop in downtown Fayetteville on Dickson St. but I hadn't seen it yet.  After riding by so many quiet streets, the crowd inside was really striking.  I think the woman happening to walk by and looking inside, as well as the flag draped in the middle, really make this picture.

After Fayetteville, I headed back towards home and passed this bike on Lafayette.

  But, with still 20 miles to go until my goal of 50 for the day, I decided to take a detour up Mt. Sequoyah. 

The rumble of thunder was getting louder and I was glad to get back down the mountain before the rains came just a short time later.  The camera stayed packed away for the remainder 18 miles or so until I was back in my neighborhood and I saw the lily I photographed a couple of days ago was now wide open.

Today's Ride:  4hrs 11mins.  50.28 miles.  76 degrees. Light rain last 15 miles.   Miles YTD:  4,197.29

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