Journeys 3.1

Cycled a loop along mostly rail trails today. The Kenilworth Corridor, shown here, had been closed for several years during the construction of the Green Line light rail. I’ve really missed this connector between two other rail trails. From left to right, there’s a pedestrian path, a two-lane cycle path, the LRT, and just enough room to squeeze in a freight line.

Spotted this mural as I walked through the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood on my way home from a tutoring session at the Franklin Library. In the late 19th century, this neighborhood was home to Scandinavian immigrants; several waves of immigration later, it is now home to a vibrant Somali community. Today, 54% of the population speaks a language other than English at home. Learning English plays a vital role in lifting these families up.

​Washington Avenue is the main drag near our home. On Thursdays, it’s where I pick up coffee at FRGMNT before catching the bus to school. Today, a QR code on a flyer intentionally stuck to the sidewalk caught my attention. I scanned the code and learned the county plans to make this section of road safer, including physically separating the bike lane at the top of the photo from traffic. An interactive map is collecting pinned comments, all of them highly constructive. I give the plan 👍👍.

On the way home from the dentist after a cleaning and an all-clear checkup, I rewarded myself with lunch at Bde Maka Ska (lake). The vegetable curry, fried plantains, and dirty rice nicely suited the steaming hot day. The Park Board recently built this new pavilion after a fire and contracted the catering to a local vendor who specializes in Jamaican cuisine.

My friend and I started our bike ride a bit earlier than usual today to beat the afternoon heat. We paused here after cycling along Victory Memorial Parkway. The parkway and its surrounding area were created after World War I to honor the servicemen and nurses from Hennepin County who lost their lives in the conflict. As we were about to head back, we spotted something we’d never noticed before, partially hidden by the trees: a bronze statue of Abraham Lincoln.

As we honor those who died defending freedom, I am reminded of when a federal force of 3,000 descended on our city, threatening our liberty and endangering American lives.

For over 30 years, I’ve installed irrigation drippers almost every spring. This year, I played sensei as I showed the leader of our building’s gardening club how it’s done across half a dozen planters on the pool deck without decapitating the plants. The tubing and dripper heads will vanish as the greenery grows. I plan to keep up the tradition, but it’s good to have a backup.