The Winner of the Buffalo Marathon

 

We held the Buffalo Marathon today here in beautiful Buffalo, N.Y. The results are in.

The winner is me!!

I do not think anyone in the world, let alone in this city, topped what I did today which was bike 30 miles.

Not only that but I biked it on a Reddy Bike. You burn a million calories just hauling the heavy thing up and down curbs.

I did not intentionally win this race and set this record. The fact that the marathon was going on necessitated that I bike downtown to Mass in the morning. All the streets are closed off every year for this race. You just cannot get anywhere. Last year, I remembered, I made the mistake of driving and only a miracle got me there just in time for the opening hymn. If I was going to spend hours in transit, I may at least enjoy myself while I'm at it. And I do enjoy riding a bike!

The 7:30 a.m. bike trip, on one of those city Reddy bikes, went well. The rental bike's gears did not work -- there is always something. The only gear was the one you use on hills, a gear I have never used. However the good news is, I got used to it, and it was kind of pleasant, because when I was riding uphill, I really didn't notice. Also, I have to admit, it was nice having no traffic on the roads. They enforce this race. I kept seeing motorists being pulled aside and interrogated. Not me! I just sailed through on my bike.

I enjoyed that ride so much that later I ended up attempting to bike to the Outer Harbor to meet my friend Brenda. What could possibly go wrong? La la la la la la la.

Long story short, after an idyllic ride down Niagara Street and a glorious segue along the riverfront, a lot went wrong. Hence the 30-mile daily total.

Thirty miles! It was like biking to Niagara Falls and back.

Top that, Buffalo Marathon runners!.

The secret neighborhood

I have a new tradition going with myself. Every evening I go for a bike ride and I sketch.

Those are the only two rules! The bike ride may be long or short. It can be a workout, or not. It can be my own bike, the beautiful Huffy Harvard Limited, or it can be one of those red rent-a-bikes.

About the sketch: I can do one the way I did last night, or I can do three as I did two nights before that. Or more. The important thing is just to do one and -- this is important -- not to sweat it. I want to relax and have fun.

One night I ended up riding 15 miles. Another night it was just a mile or two. That was the night I drew the building up above. The wonders that are in your back yard! That is Medaille College, just around the park.

Medaille College's cornerstone reads 1922. I seem to remember reading that it was originally a convent. Those nuns must have had some money. It is a beautiful place. And I had fun drawing it as darkness was falling.

That night I did a lot of exploring that area on my bike. I noticed that on Agassiz Circle, right there by Medaille College, there is a fascinating little neighborhood. It is hidden. There is a small network of cul de sacs and it is the most enchanting thing. 

It looked so private that I was not sure I could bike into it. Then I thought: I do not see any sign that says I cannot. So I biked on in, on my Huffy.

It was hushed in there with magical houses right on the sidewalk, with shaded front porches. Lights were twinkling on in the yards. Was this really only two minutes from my house?

I cannot believe the secret things I find.

You discover so much when you go out drawing on a bike!