A change of pace from the other two cardinal rides, SOUTH (http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=37918&highlight=cardinal+ride) and WEST (http://forums.roadbikereview.com/showthread.php?t=38574&highlight=cardinal+ride) from my house. This is the ride when we want to do a mindless 25 miles on the MUT and such. Flat. Not northwoodsy at all. I call this the "J's Haiku Shop ride" for reasons that will become obvious. Given that dedication, the form of commentary is clearly set.



Fifty caliber
Ess You Vee out of my way!
Fountains of fire.

Warehouses, wires.
No joy, only the cadence.
Let the wind flow past.

Suspension foot bridge
sways, tires clickety clack.
Path for worker ghosts.

Tattoos and piercings
Coffee, bikes, and beer garden.
Vice in the alley.

Ghosts of workers past
blood and sweat soaked into bricks.
Glass shards and ashes.

Trains still roll the tracks
but pass by the old lover.
Distance hides her age.

Concrete, chain links, cars.
Are there living things inside?
Zombies, modern ghosts.

Another morning
and the bar looks full again.
J's would stop, should I?

Weeds and smooth blacktop
belie the decay behind.
What joy lies ahead?

Patriotic shop
flys the flag, offers pleasure.
Porno and cold drinks.

Would J's like this ride?
It hits all the high spots, sure.
But would I survive?

Ok, it is not all that bad. If one were to make a few turns off the MUT at just the right point, one might just have a little color for the cardinal ride north from my house. But then it would not be the J's Haiku Shop ride, would it?

Either way, gritty or colorful, it's good to be out on a sunny 80 degree day!

Very nice photos.
What did you use to take them?
I'm in the market...

Good stuff. I like riding through areas not generally considered for riding. Industrial areas, alleys, highways. They can yield some interesting (and sometimes exciting) images and experiences. Thanks.

--K's prose shop

Those are some awesome photographs! Please dont think I'm being critical about the proper displaying of the American flag (not flaming you here), as you have an ability to capture a quiet moment. Here is a link some might be interested in, as I have alot of respect for those who have served and died to protect our freedoms, and I feel our flag is the perfect representation of those who have fallen.

It is note-worthy that those who become Americans, instead of American-born, know more about the flag then the "average" American does. What is funny as hell, is Pres Bush doesnt even know the proper use of the flag, as you will see on this website, if you scroll down to the picture...

Please note: I'm NOT MAKING THIS Political, so take that to the other forum!

http://www.ushistory.org/betsy/flagetiq.html

Cheers to all...Kendle

Very nice photos.
What did you use to take them?
I'm in the market...

It's a fuji A330, 3.1megapixels. Cheap, and a couple years old now. I use it for MTBing and I wanted something that I would not cry over if I crashed and burned on the trail.

FWIW, my main criterion was picture quality, and the three brands that seemed the best in reviews were Nikon, Cannon, and Fuji.

nmnmndm

Thanks for the kind words (you and every one else).

I am glad they turned out. My monitor at home is old, dark and terrible for editing photos on. So when it comes to brightness and contrast, I just have to guess at what most people will see on their monitors. I did not get to see them in their actual form until I hit the office this morning. Not exactly what I was going for, but close enough that I can live with it.

Right there! Right frickin' there!

Great shots coupled with cool Haikus.
The area reminds me of Lowell, MA. in the 1970's, where I had my first apartment.
Grungy and depressing, but still dramatic. Ghosts everywhere.

cheers

Pat