Well as all of you know the 10th anniversary of the 9-11 attack on our country was this past weekend. Here in St. Louis there were many memorials to that horrible anniversary. I dont think any of them compared to what a group of people did at the Art Museum, Art Hill to be specific. Almost 3,000 flags mounted and put into the ground. All nice straight rows, and all waving gently in the breezes that grace that beautiful area.
To me there is not another flag in the world that is as pretty as our flag. Something about the red, white, and blue combination that is just absolutely stunning. I know others have the same colors, but the stars and bars, is just incredible. When you see almost 3,000 of them flying in one spot, it is absolutely breathtaking. HOWEVER, this goes beyond that. Each flag pole had a name, place of death, date of birth, and many had pictures attached. Date of death was September 11, 2001. 3,000 people in one day. All because one group of people hate America so much to claim we are all evil, and need to be eliminated from this earth.
What is so solemn, so mind blowing, so moving, is that once you realize that each flag represents a person who died on one day, it is just enough to take your breath away. I dont know the total acreage that is covered on Art Hill, but I would imagine that it is probably around 5 acres or so. To walk among the flags as they wave in the breeze and feel the material touch your skin, it is almost as if that person the flag represents, is touching you and asking for you to never forget.
Some of the 3,000 never knew what hit them, they were vaporized in an instant. Others, the ones on the planes that struck the buildings, both of the twin towers in Manhattan and the Pentagon, could see it coming and could not stop it, and the brave souls on flight 93 saw it, and tried to stop it, and probably saved the U.S. Capital building, by forcing the plane down in PA. Most of the bodies on board these aircraft were never recovered, they were just vaporized in an instant. Others took longer, and either died from smoke inhalation, or jumped to their deaths in hopes of somehow making to the ground and not dying, but others died heros saving countless lives while giving up their own. The brave hero's from the FDNY and the NYPD who ran into the building instead of running away. ALL of these people are represented by these flags.
These deaths, as a result of an unprovoked attack on this country, should never be forgotten. We must never forget, never give up, and always be vigilant. The USA has always been a land of the free, and home of the brave. Home of the brave, was certainly demonstrated on 9-11-2001.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Monday, September 12, 2011
CHESTERFIELD/MONARCH LEVEE RIDE
Yesterday, Sunday, after church I decided I was going to try a new route. I had heard that the top of the Monarch levee was finally paved all the way. Almost 8 miles of nice flat, for the most part, asphalt.
So I took a round about way of getting there wanting to get some road riding in as well as some extra miles. Took off from the Kaldi's parking lot and headed east on Chesterfield Airport Road. After about a mile or so had to turn right or else end up on Highway 40 and that was not a good option, so headed south then got on Edison road. Nice wide shoulders and no traffic to speak of. Took Edison basically to the end and then thru some warehouses and small businesses, and ended up on Old Olive. After some dodging of cars and some Sunday traffic, made a right on Centaur Rd and then just about 3/4 of a mile came to the beginning of the Monarch Levee. To say that is nice is putting it mildly. Once Chesterfield gets it totally done, it will be an awesome ride. Nice wide path and smooth asphalt. Some gentle rises, but for the most part nice and flat. The levee path actually goes under Highway 40 and back around to the north side of the highway. Really that is the only hill and it really is not worth mentioning, unless you have a problem with hills, just be prepared to down shift and go. :)
All in all a great ride on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, after a great service at church. A good Sunday at Church is better than a great bike ride, but yesterday I had a great Sunday at church and a great ride.
I recommend this ride anytime you can make it. No lighting out there so it is only good during daylight hours.
So I took a round about way of getting there wanting to get some road riding in as well as some extra miles. Took off from the Kaldi's parking lot and headed east on Chesterfield Airport Road. After about a mile or so had to turn right or else end up on Highway 40 and that was not a good option, so headed south then got on Edison road. Nice wide shoulders and no traffic to speak of. Took Edison basically to the end and then thru some warehouses and small businesses, and ended up on Old Olive. After some dodging of cars and some Sunday traffic, made a right on Centaur Rd and then just about 3/4 of a mile came to the beginning of the Monarch Levee. To say that is nice is putting it mildly. Once Chesterfield gets it totally done, it will be an awesome ride. Nice wide path and smooth asphalt. Some gentle rises, but for the most part nice and flat. The levee path actually goes under Highway 40 and back around to the north side of the highway. Really that is the only hill and it really is not worth mentioning, unless you have a problem with hills, just be prepared to down shift and go. :)
All in all a great ride on a beautiful Sunday afternoon, after a great service at church. A good Sunday at Church is better than a great bike ride, but yesterday I had a great Sunday at church and a great ride.
I recommend this ride anytime you can make it. No lighting out there so it is only good during daylight hours.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
BIKE TRAILS I HAVE RIDDEN IN ST. LOUIS
Hello out in "blogger land"! This is a first for me, and I hope that whoever reads this will enjoy it and get some benefits from what I write.
1st I will give you some background on me, why I started riding and anything else you might not want to hear. LOL
I have been riding a bike actively for about 7 years. Some of you may be wondering why a guy who is 60 just started riding when he was 53. Well a little thing like a heart attack can change the way you look at life and what exercise can do. Yeah I said heart attack. Fortunately in my case it was not a super serious one, but bad enough to get me thinking. I had to go thru cardiac rehab, and even though I had been walking and losing weight, 50 pounds before the heart attack, the rehab was kinda hard in the beginning, but once I started getting in shape, I started looking for new and more interesting ways of exercising. Walking a treadmill at rehab kinda sucked so I dug out my old bike and started riding. This blog will go thru some interesting places I have ridden. Hope you enjoy.
One of the first places I discovered was the bike/walking trails at CREVE COUER PARK in St. Louis County. There is a beautiful lake and about 8 - 10 miles of trails that are asphalt. In addition to these trails there are several roads that are flat and easy rides. I started with one lap around the lake, about 4 miles and must admit I was totally winded and had immediate thoughts that maybe this was not a good idea. HOWEVER not being one to quit, I went back the next day and did the same ride, and felt better. Keep in mind I had to take it easy until I was released by the Dr, but that came soon enough. Once released, I started pushing myself. 1st 2 laps, then venturing out to the other trails that connect and soon enough was doing 10 miles. I know to a beginner rider, that might sound like a lot of miles, but trust me, it really is not. There is a freedom about riding that unless you have done it you might not understand. There is also some pain. LOL If you are just beginning to ride you might want to seriously consider "padded" bike shorts. You can find these at any bike shop or online. You will discover soon enough why you need them. :)
The Creve Couer trails are great to start with for any beginning rider, or even more experienced riders if you just want to get some miles in. The surrounding roads are great, although right now there is some construction going on so be careful of that. Some have very wide shoulders to ride on and cars for the most part pass you with care. Here is a link to the latest ride, (last night), http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1304547
Im going to be riding different trails every week, sometimes more than one and will update you on those trails and my "personal" impression with them. There are many places here in the St. Louis area that are fun to ride, and others that are OK, but not great. If anyone has any comments or suggestions, let me know I would love to have any comments positive or negative.
1st I will give you some background on me, why I started riding and anything else you might not want to hear. LOL
I have been riding a bike actively for about 7 years. Some of you may be wondering why a guy who is 60 just started riding when he was 53. Well a little thing like a heart attack can change the way you look at life and what exercise can do. Yeah I said heart attack. Fortunately in my case it was not a super serious one, but bad enough to get me thinking. I had to go thru cardiac rehab, and even though I had been walking and losing weight, 50 pounds before the heart attack, the rehab was kinda hard in the beginning, but once I started getting in shape, I started looking for new and more interesting ways of exercising. Walking a treadmill at rehab kinda sucked so I dug out my old bike and started riding. This blog will go thru some interesting places I have ridden. Hope you enjoy.
One of the first places I discovered was the bike/walking trails at CREVE COUER PARK in St. Louis County. There is a beautiful lake and about 8 - 10 miles of trails that are asphalt. In addition to these trails there are several roads that are flat and easy rides. I started with one lap around the lake, about 4 miles and must admit I was totally winded and had immediate thoughts that maybe this was not a good idea. HOWEVER not being one to quit, I went back the next day and did the same ride, and felt better. Keep in mind I had to take it easy until I was released by the Dr, but that came soon enough. Once released, I started pushing myself. 1st 2 laps, then venturing out to the other trails that connect and soon enough was doing 10 miles. I know to a beginner rider, that might sound like a lot of miles, but trust me, it really is not. There is a freedom about riding that unless you have done it you might not understand. There is also some pain. LOL If you are just beginning to ride you might want to seriously consider "padded" bike shorts. You can find these at any bike shop or online. You will discover soon enough why you need them. :)
The Creve Couer trails are great to start with for any beginning rider, or even more experienced riders if you just want to get some miles in. The surrounding roads are great, although right now there is some construction going on so be careful of that. Some have very wide shoulders to ride on and cars for the most part pass you with care. Here is a link to the latest ride, (last night), http://www.trimbleoutdoors.com/ViewTrip/1304547
Im going to be riding different trails every week, sometimes more than one and will update you on those trails and my "personal" impression with them. There are many places here in the St. Louis area that are fun to ride, and others that are OK, but not great. If anyone has any comments or suggestions, let me know I would love to have any comments positive or negative.
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