A relaxing bike ride in the city
Jack Hughes
Jack Hughes
Members of the Three Rivers Rowing Association glide along the Allegheny River in their boat.
Jack Hughes
The fountain at Point State Park in Pittsburgh is a highlight of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail.
I had occasion to be in Pittsburgh to meet old-time friends for breakfast recently. We all grew up together in the 1940s and 鈥�50s. We meet once a year to reminisce about old times and share new aliments. We have all been friends for more than 70 years.
While in the 鈥楤urgh, I decided to ride my bike over to the Strip District from Mount Washington and explore several of the bike trails that traverse the city. It was Sunday morning and the streets were nearly empty.
First, I rode the portion of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail that follows the river on the Southside, crossing the Hot Metal Bridge and then into town on the other side of the river. The fountains at The Point were beautiful in the early morning light.
The Strip District is also special to me since my Uncle Joe ran his produce business from this location and my Uncle Johnny was a 鈥渂ookie鈥� in the Strip. Bookies were the equivalent of today蘑菇视频 lottery stores and the whole system was built on trust. Johnny was a bit of a character since he also liked to drink and he only had one leg, but he made his living booking the numbers. If you were lucky odds were 600 to 1 and lots of times the winners would give Johnny a few extra bucks which on occasion he would pass down to 鈥渓ittle Jackie鈥� as he used to call me.
After breakfast, I rode up to 31st street and then crossed the bridge over to modern day Washington蘑菇视频 Landing, an island in the Allegheny River with beautiful town homes a few offices, a boat marina and a restaurant. A small trail also circles the island and offers some beautiful views of Lawrenceville and downtown Pittsburgh. The island also houses the Three Rivers Rowing Association.
When I was a kid the island was known as Herr蘑菇视频 Island and was a meat rendering plant and stunk to high heaven. Today, it is truly one of Pittsburgh蘑菇视频 gems. Coming off the island, I rejoined The Heritage Trail and rode into the North Shore of Pittsburgh where you can rent kayaks and explore the city from the river蘑菇视频 point of view. The trail passes PNC Park as well as Heinz Field and then heads off down the Ohio River.
I decided to head back to Mount Washington via the Fort Pitt and Fort Duquesne bridges, both of which have a pedestrian and bike lane protected by a concrete barrier. The bridges lead to the Duquesne Incline, and a trip to Pittsburgh isn鈥檛 complete without a ride on the Incline. Bikes are allowed and as a senior citizen the fare is paid for by the lottery ticket sales. If Uncle Johnny could have foreseen the future, he would be proud of where all the money is going.
On the way up the Incline, a few deer could be seen browsing the hillside. Mount Washington also has many turkey and a few fox. In Fact, my son is able to archery hunt for deer and turkey at Chatham Village in Mount Washington.
My ride through the city totaled 16 miles. it蘑菇视频 time for a nap.