Alta Via
Monday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It was a ‘short walk day’ which greeted your humble narrator, on a recent morning, and desire to get out of the City center of Pittsburgh dominated my waking thoughts. A half hour or so’s drive to the nearby community of McDonald, and the confluence of the Montour and Panhandle rail trails, was thereby executed. Along the way I found a farm stand, which had phenomenal apples and some pretty decent sweet corn on sale. Yum.
Pictured above is the McDonald Trestle. I’ve brought you here before, and offered a couple of posts about the location.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Down below, the water is still running orange due to drainage from a historical slag heap that shadows it. One was in need of a quiet and somewhat contemplative scuttle on this particular day, as weighty personal matters would be playing out in the next few days.
A medical procedure was scheduled for the end of this particular week, one which would involve anesthesia, and I was required to do a preparatory ‘water fast’ (amongst other things) for 24 hours in advance of the test. The docs insisted on this one, and I complied, but couldn’t pretend to be happy about it.
This procedure is normal stuff given my age, history, and various other medical conditions. I’m not supplying specifics, but if I describe the procedure as a ‘real pain in the butt,’ you can probably guess what it was that I was going to have to endure just a couple of days after these shots were captured.
Truth be told, the entire thing was just exhausting and no fun at all, but I got see a side of myself otherwise hidden so the ebullient joys of novelty were experienced. It was like that old movie Fantastic Voyage.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
A humble narrator’s lizard brain was busily trying to cook up some excuse or logical reason that would allow me to back out of the procedure, as that inner voice was screaming in terror the whole time. More mature thinking superceded my howling terrors, and I thereby marched gleefully forward into the clutches of the medical enthusiasts. Saying that, knowing that I’d be down and out for a few days afterwards, an attempt to get as much exercise in as I could prior to the oncoming ordeal.
I don’t feel well if I don’t follow my normal exercise patterns.
The normal day on/day off pattern would be broken by the medical situation, however, and the walk pictured today and tomorrow occurred directly following the one you saw last week in the city’s center. This spot is probably no more than 20 miles from the center of things here in Pittsburgh. Urbanity scales away pretty quickly to small towns here.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
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“In the Shadows at Newtown Creek,” an 88 page softcover 8.5×11 magazine format photo book by Mitch Waxman, is now on sale at blurb.com for $30.
The Newtown Pentacle 
surprised it was only your first one
Steve
September 16, 2024 at 2:47 pm
Yeah, but you’ll feel s-o-o-o wonderful when you wake up. And what’s with the pussy-footing explanation of the colonoscopy procedure? I’ve had a few. Can’t wait for my next one. Any cancer-threatening polyps get snipped right off. Hallelujah. So, man up.
georgetheatheist . . . feel great
September 16, 2024 at 4:46 pm
Man down is more appropriate
Mitch Waxman
September 16, 2024 at 5:52 pm
Wishing you well and a speedy recovery.
dbarms8878
September 16, 2024 at 5:40 pm