Minneapolis in the morning

I wandered off course this morning. This is almost always a good thing. Before work, I drove down to the now defunct Maine street along the river to have my coffee. I carry a thermos in order to remain cloistered and not engage in cultural relevant matters at Starbucks. The entrance to the steps was barred, but I stepped over the 3 1/2 ft barrier and descended the surprisingly irregular steps. One would have a heck of a time running up and down these because the steps vary so much in size. Once the trees fill out with leaves this sort of photo, already oddly composed, will be even more difficult. Surprisingly blue.

Excelsior Bay undone.

Where is it?

Ice out report. Carson's Bay.

Shorewood Marina In March

Running Along the Lake Minnetonka Trail you take a couple little dips as you pass over the entry to the Shorewood Marina. It is March and the Marina has all the charm of a cold stone quarry. The Lady of the Lake is still ice bound and the buoys are locked up like kids in detention. Similarly distressing are stacks of concrete and stone blocks in shackles.

Chained.

Dylan learning the weave poles. Agility 201

Excelsior St. Patrick's Day 5K: Notes of an aging runner.

The weather was damned near perfect. As we crossed the little bridge over St. Alban’s Bay on Minnetonka Boulevard I could hear the runners sigh along with me. In front of us stretched the hill. About a third of a mile of uphill running. I thought we would be running the trail, never considering the logistics. So I cut my stride and slowly worked my way op the 2 part hill. Then we turned left into Greenwood and ambled through the rolling streets, to eventually return to Excelsior and a finish passing Maynard's. I overheard a man sy to his daughter “go ahead take off, so you can break 30 minutes”. This was very disheartening - and proved to be a bad estimate. We were well ahead of that pace. But I sill slowly, almost trudged, into the finishing arch in front of “The Dock”. I was beat by the first hill and had just struggled my way in. Still I did OK. My finish was unnoticed because a local VIP raced passed me to the blare of the Public Address heralding her finish. I had forgotten to drop my camera at the finish so the only photos I took were of competitors eating free range bananas and drinking a the courtesy brew. Such is the life of the over 60 runner. I clipped a minute off of my earlier 2015 5K....OK, about 50 seconds. Thanks to everyone for a well run and accurate event!

Jake O Connor's St. Paricks' Day 5K

I am anxious to join the running of the green this Saturday. Th weather will be fine. They have a day long string of musical groups and fun planned and I am hoping to get some photos of the activities. I have opted out of carrying a camera during the 5K, just because it would distract me from my mission: Survival. Here is a pace setting example from the 2013 5K.

Dylan and his "puppy" training as an agility dog

Dylan the blossoming agility puppy. He has completed his first class in “Agility Puppy” at DogWorks and graduated with honors. Well, they don’t have honors, so he graduated with treats. At eleven months of age Dylan is quick to catch on and as the yard clears of snow, he will have a large course to train on.

The small world of Leopolds & Lamps

I stopped in to the crowded isles of Leopolds. A local retail landmark. A souvenir shop, a dusty book store (featuring a 1960 Boy Scout Handbook) and an array of lamps and lampshades that would make the life of the party envious. I wander around with a camera taking photos of some of the articles of interest. The house cat walks up to me and rubs its body against me. I know it is marking me, but I prefer to think that the cat just thinks I am cool. I have had my lamp repaired at Leopolds. I have purchased vintage postcards. I have perused books on knitting and 1940s Farm Economics. That’s Leopolds.

Crossing patterns of March