Saturday, July 04, 2009

Riverpark Ride


We couldn't have picked a better day to ride. Glorious sunny skies, not a bit of humidity, a good breeze at our backs and hardly anyone on the bike path. We rode about ten miles round trip and saw glorious scenes of river, swamp, marsh, and even a dense bamboo forest. Also lots of big factories, Pepsi, Dupont, Westinghouse, NK, and BASF...what a place to work.

Bridges and railings along the path are painted this wonderful cerulean blue and in perfect condition, not like they would be if Chattanooga had harsh winters. Just lovely. And we had the luxury of public bathrooms, water fountains and benches for resting, mostly under the shade of lots of trees. I imagine on the weekends that the lane is full of happy bikers, walkers and skaters, although the cement is sectioned so one's fillings might come loose from skating over those gaps.

Funny thing about the diversion... a revelation came to me, and now I know what to do with my new painting series. Blink.

We stopped at the lotus marsh and took a bunch of photos. I have never seen lotus in real life and these were more than huge.

It was great exercise and to finish it off we stopped for a hot fudge sundae at McDonald's. Then it was onto the rumdum, and the used bookstore, and finally Hobby Lobby, since I was out of yellow paint. What a super day.

10 comments:

  1. So the lotus are on the edge of the water, not in the water. That close up you have is fabulous! All the shots are wonderful... now I want to see one in person! What a great day for a ride and what a great ride. We had "yucky" weather up here...cool, no humidity, but over cast. Can't wait to see what you paint from this!

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  2. What a great bike ride! We are going to have to try that.

    There is a park in Washington, DC called Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens that is absolutely filled to the brim with lotus blossoms that we went to and your pictures made me remember that.

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  3. What a great day/lovely area. When I was writing a novel a few years ago, I found diversions always unblocked the pen. I think it's all part of the process. Looking forward to seeing what your brush does next. :-)

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  4. Sounds like a perfect day. I love the lotus photos; I've never seen it "live" either. And how nice that your mind became free again for your art. I love how that happens.

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  5. The lotus shots are gorgeous! Reminds me of my visit last summer to St. Louis, MO to visit a friend of mine. She took me to the Botanical Gardens there and they have a Japanese there that is amazing with bridges over the water and HUGE lotus's growing there! My photos did not capture the size of them :) Lovely bike trail, too!

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  6. Apart from anything else, how wonderful you knee is happy dong a major bike ride! Hooray for that!!!

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  7. That would be "doIng -- sorry. What a ding dong typist I am today.

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  8. The lotuses -- loti? lotoos? -- are wonderful. Did you know that the center of the blossom is edible, when the fruit ripens, and is very healthy? It contains nuts which are used to make rosaries in Asia.
    Beautiful place!

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  9. Teresa5:18 PM

    Love the "Blink"reference!!

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  10. What an exquisite place to be visit! Thanks for sharing the pics. Sounds like a wonderful day.

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