Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Jazz Fest, or Lurking Under Bridges.

Bridge and Bikes
After working out some technical difficulties I have finally managed to upload my personal photos for posting and as such now can publish this very belated post. One of the most fun nights of riding bikes around Hartford I've had to date...

So after getting out of work early the Saturday before last I had ambitions of riding down to the riverfront to take in some cool jazz (or jass, as Brendan has pointed out it should rightfully be refered). However, as is often the case with Saturdays plans were slowly pushed back and it was not until after a quick ride out to Bloomfield, a couple post-ride beers, and a friend's delayed arrival, that Ben, Sonny, and I made it down to the river around 7.30 as the Jazz was wrapping up. Being as hot as it was and wanting to partake in a couple of cold beverages, we cruised across the plaza, descended the stairs past the bandstand, and took a nice spot on the grass down the walkway where we could simultaneously grab a cold drink and listen to the music.

We took some random bike pictures, including my Panasonic laying in the grass with the river meandering in the background.....
The Panasonic

Chillwill showed up shortly thereafter and we all sat among our bikes in the grass and enjoyed the excellent resource that the riverfront really is.
Chillwill
He particularly enjoyed his envelope coozey on this hot summer day, all business...


After an hour or so hunger took over and we decided to roll into West Hartford to BBQ. However, as we got ready to leave Chillwill declared that we really shouldn't go anywhere as it was going to pour. The sky was starting to darken and a breeze was picking up put we didn't think much of it. Will, however, was unwaivering and insisted if we wanted to go we could but he wasn't going to leave the protection of the bridge we had ridden under by this point. I kept going, but upon getting out from under the south side of the Founder's bridge felt a few raindrops and thought Will might be on to something. Turning around I concurred that we might want to sit it out and the others agreed. Ben, however, was already gone, about to ride into the eye of the storm.

A storm it was, though the three of us that remained were happily tucked under the bridge as the rain came down in sheets and we sat on the levy finishing our beverages and shooting pics...
The light was quite low but the pictures are kind of interesting...
Rain
Sitting on the levy with the rain kicking up light spots on the river....

Rain
Rain pouring off the highway and out of a culvert...


While we sat comfortably on the levy, Ben, however, was not so fortunate and rode like a madman through the rain and wind all the way back to West Hartford wet and alone (sorry buddy). After the rain finished up the three of us who remained nonchalantly rode home reasonably dry and safe (excepting of course Sonny's run in with a gate, no harm no foul.) Food was eventually had in the form of Park Lane grinders where we happened to catch Brendan and Johanna rolling down Quaker. Good to see other bikers out in the storm.

All in all a good night to be in the city and the perfect time to get caught under the protective spans of a bridge.

5 comments:

chillwill said...

i love that photo of the three of us!

we gotta shoot it again with all six beat bloggers and make that the new top photo.

Karma said...

I was wondering what would make a better shot, the night shot with the bottomless dark in the background, or a daytime shot with the concentric arches of the bridge. Great spot though. I definitely prefer the bowels of Constitution Plaza over topside.

Anonymous said...

You make Hartford sound like a fun city. Sheesh, I grew up hating the place, embarrassed by it, in fact. Now I feel like I've missed out on some secret treasure.

I'll have to take a second look at Hartford when I'm up next time.

Nomad said...

I'm still a newbie biker, and some friends took me out on the Larkin Bridle Trail last weekend, and we got caught out in this same storm. It was quite a trial by fire (wait, trail by waterfall?) for me as a newbie, but I have to say it really cemented in me how much fun biking can be. There is nothing quite like flying down a muddy trail, while lightning and thunder is going flash-boom all around you. :-)

I also learned the importance of ALWAYS having waterproof gear with you. Luckily, I had a waterproof first-aid kid which saved my iPhone from an untimely death.

Thanks for sharing! Love the picture under the bridge!

Brendan said...

looking at that map of nomad's with rt 63 on it reminds of this section of rt 63 (and rt 126) that goes from rt 44 in salisbury to rt 4 in goshen. it's gotta be like the longest climb in ct. it's rare that you encounter a hill in this state that you think will never end.