The Newtown Pentacle

Wednesday

– photo by Mitch Waxman

The terminal stop for a recent and roughly three mile long ‘short walk’ ended up where I often find myself these days, alongside the CSX Pittsburgh Subdivision tracks on the southern shore of the Monongahela River. This is where that brewery I like is found, but given that this was mid afternoon, no beers for me. These days, alcohol induces rapid onset somnolence within your humble narrator, after his long broken ankle related hermitage.

One hung around a little while. CSX #6142 appeared, heading in the direction of Ohio. The internet opines that this is a General Motors GP40-2 model locomotive. Exciting, no?

– photo by Mitch Waxman

Next up was a Towboat navigating the Monongahela. Given my current inability to scuttle quickly, which the rest of you might conventionally refer to as ‘running,’ I just had to zoom in on it from where I was standing.

Really, I do enjoy this particular location. Probably a bit too much, and I promise that Newtown Pentacle isn’t going to be solely focusing on this spot forever. Right now, however, as I’m still a bit disabled…

I have limitations.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

This shot is out of sequence, as it was captured on the final leg of my scuttle towards that fertile location which I like so much. Hey, a sure thing is a sure thing. There’s a LOT of activity thereabouts.

The goal at the moment, however, isn’t novelty or serendipity, it’s exercise, and although I’m actually feeling ok at this writing, a recent spout of rainy weather has fully confirmed that I now have ankle arthritis. That’s even more reason to burn in a bunch of miles, exercise wise. Stretch and strengthen, that’s the medical mantra.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I’m mentally starting to refer to this spot as ‘Ole Reliable.’

CSX #5256 was next through the choke point. One of the things that distinguishes this spot from nearby trackages is that there’s several grade level crossings which precede this particular spot, so you can hear the chimes of the signal arms in the distance, as well as the train’s horns.

Nothing like an early warning signal, to me at least.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

#5256 was hauling a mixed up collection of cars – tankers, automobiles, all sorts of shapes and sizes. After this one passed, I decided on discretion being the better part of valor and summoned a Lyft to carry me back to HQ. While waiting for the car to arrive, I waved the camera around a bit.

This one, coupled with the Panhandle Trail walk and a couple of other walks, mostly described last week, saw me finally break twenty miles of intentional scuttling in a single 7 day interval for the first time in better than six months.

– photo by Mitch Waxman

I mentioned this the other day, but during the first week of June, your humble narrator will be returned to the nest for a few days. The plan is still forming, and I’ve got a lot of people to see, but… the Creek.

The Creek. The Creek. I intend on walking my Newtown Creekathon pathway, that 12.5 mile death march around the currently undefended border of Brooklyn and Queens. I need to be ready… stretched and strengthened.

Back tomorrow with something different, at this, your Newtown Pentacle.

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