Patriot’s Path

jogging

< The section of Patriot’s Path mere blocks from Morristown town center begins on a crushed rock utility road next to the NJ Transit Morristown Line. It briefly narrows to a single lane before resuming hard surfaced greenway some of which is blacktopped. My route traversed wooded watershed with a point of interest being a remnant of railroad embankment from 1899. The mound was to carry tracks linking to the Rock a Bye Baby Railroad expansion craze but was never finished. Another is some of the Speedwell Iron Works ruin and Mill at the Whippany River. Signage is somewhat lacking when crossing county roads as the trail can zigzag before it resumes. [ GPX file ]

NYC

jogging,

I wandered into the subway station with only the general notion to travel North from the Port Authority Bus Terminal. To be unsure of this system is to appear vulnerable (prey) and everyone ELSE seemed to know exactly what they were about. A helpful NYPD Officer pointed out the C Train Uptown / Queens and off I went with new direction to exit at 59 St. — Central Park.

Saturday: I joined the carousel for a counter clockwise loop around. Even without the automobile traffic, banned from the park on weekends, there are walkers, runners, bicyclists, baby carriages, horse drawn carriages, bicycle propelled carriages and foot traffic from crosswalks at intervals left and right, it’s heads up to avoid collision or getting flattened. Getting used to the scheme it is still possible to glance about and enjoy the greenery and city skyline. The full route is exactly 6 miles of asphalt drive.

Sunday: There are sporadic soft paths adjacent which allow relief from the busier lanes. Also, I tried the famed reservoir track for an optional mile and change of venue. I was a non-conformist running the main route clockwise today and was rewarded with an onslaught of opposite direction participants from the Japan Day Race. Once the event cleared out it was easier going. Hugging the inside curb kept the bikes at berth and to my surprise nearly all traffic stepped wide making room. [ GPX ]

For a cool down (and to avoid dreaded subway puzzles) I stayed topside the 17 city blocks back to the PABT. The city streets are a spectacle. It’s the ultimate for people watching. A walking pace is too fast to take it all in.
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Canal Walk

jogging
canal walk

An ideal exercise track lining the backyards of urban condominium apartment dwellers convenient for a 3 mile lap. This Canal Walk Park is a glimpse of the original historic Central Canal conceived during the 1830’s “canal fever” era. In fact, the pursuit bankrupted the state and the scheme was never finished. [ GPX ]

Wapahani

jogging
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The White River Trail in Indianapolis is flanked by the IUPUI campus and other POI such as a rather classic looking old city water works building and old school abandoned Bush Stadium lacking in penthouses and luxury sky boxes now common The greenway is paved with concrete or asphalt but one can descend the levee to a crushed rock utility road path on waters edge for a more natural feel. Last run 3 years ago.

Charleston Preserved

jogging

Sweet smelling Confederate Jasmine greet the senses this time of year. Weekend wedding parties of the night have petered out and it’s an hour or more before tourists reappear. At sunrise, enjoy the whole place to yourself. This early morning jog began from the Mills House Hotel on Queen St. toward harbor views from Concord St., E Battery, and Murray Blvd. The loop back was an immersion in historic Georgian Architecture. These homes average $5MM (sans water view) so this grand neighborhood is well groomed. One can only marvel at the concentration of grandeur as most other cities offer a mere single street or at most a few square blocks before the wonderment fades. Historic Savannah comes close but Charleston is a 10. Running surface varies from cobblestone to massive slate slab pavers on the sea wall. [ GPX ]

Big Dry Creek Trail

jogging

This land was Arapaho Indian territory until Denver gold seekers prevailed. The Church Ranch grazed cattle here until real estate ventures became lucrative. It is fortunate that the 12 mile Westminster off road trail system, and its slice of open space, was spared from development. Stepping out of the Westin Hotel is City Park. The Big Dry Creek bisects this park so head for the foot bridge and cross to the other side to join the route. It is generally flat and follows the creek with hard packed crushed rock sand. [ GPX ]

Addendum

social

Responding to well wishes of friends and family I conveyed a feeling of relief that our community had been spared the wrath of local tornado spawns. However, strewn about the neighborhood on lawns and in gutters are deposit fragments – shredded pink or yellow attic fiber insulation carried aloft in fury from homes unlucky. Sobering evidence.

Grandeur

places

As a road warrior I can, as often as not, find myself in a plain vanilla generic Marriott Garden Express. While there is some benefit to consistency and comfort in routine expectation it is a delight to sometimes stay in an older property with historic flavor. The Netherland Plaza is that. Adjacent is the storied Carew Tower The whole shebang came to fruition due to the lucky financial timing of Cincinnati tycon, John Emery. Find a copy of the Walking Tour & Pocket History booklet from the Bellman and immerse in the splendor of a bygone era. Much of the Brazilian rosewood panel, marble, and French Art Deco has been restored and preserved. The Pavillion Caprice, a three-tiered setting, is said to have been patterned after the ballroom of the USS Leviathan. This room was originally the hotel’s nightclub and boasts Doris Day’s first professional appearance at age 16. There are, of course, other grand spaces to view and tales of famous visiting personalities outlined. But, this review was meant as a sample taste and not the spoiler.

crossing the ohio river

jogging

It’s kind of neat to jog two states all in one event. The Cincinnati Riverfront encourages this. I used the Roebling Suspension Bridge to visit Kentucky and then the, closed to traffic, Purple People Bridge to return. The Ohio side features a recent park redevelopment paved with concrete. Skyscrapers and sport stadiums serve as backdrop. The route is easily lengthened by including picturesque historic Newport. All that was missing are some authentic old time river packets.
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Anastasia State Park

jogging

Valentines Day brought warm sunshine to St. Augustine which inspired a jog on white, wide, flat, firm packed sand. There have been coquina quarries featured here for 300 years but these were obscured by massive ancient dunes populated with Sea Oats and hardy grasses on this beach run. At one point, however, the St. Augustine Light was visible between the mounds. Our spot was delightfully quiet due to an admittance fee required. 6 miles