Posts Tagged ‘Allentown’
Ritmo
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Your humble narrator always attempts to follow a certain rhythm to his life, a staccato beat that was interrupted by the ankle injury last year.
Despite my servicing of the ultramundanities of daily existence, the rythyms of the walking schedule are increasing in frequency somehow. For much of the last six months, I’ve been hampered by physical constraints and limitations, but that’s mostly behind me. The ankle still hurts, pretty much all the time, but pain (like fear) is the mind killer. Best to just tough it out and get on with things.
Launching myself up the steep hill I dwell at the bottom of and towards the T light rail has become a bit of a ritual for me. Heart rate gets noticeably quicker by the time I reach the next corner, after climbing up that steep elevation, and after a ‘catch my breath’ moment, it’s a quick and easy push up to get to the Patomac Station on the T. I try to keep my ticker ticking at an elevated rate for the length of these endeavors, but not racing or pounding.
Along the way, this scene caught my eye for some reason.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
It was a misty and foggy day in Pittsburgh, with temperatures in the 50’s. Despite all the atmospherics, rain was not forecast, and one decided that at the end of this day’s effort a pint or two of beer and a set of locomotive photos would be on my list of things to do.
This was one of the walks where I was working on ‘speeding up’ my gait. As mentioned previously, one finds himself casually striding again, but I’m moving a lot slower than formerly, before the injury. I’m concerned at the moment with regaining ‘burst speed,’ aka the ability to ‘maximum boogie’ if needed. I’m hoping to get to being able to manifest about 100 feet worth of ‘boogie’ by the end of the winter.
Maximum boogie? Yeah, that’s when you sprint across an intersection or bust a move while trying to catch a train or a bus.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Pictured is a T moving away from Pittsburgh towards the South Hills section. It’s a better shot than the one of the actual T which I rode into the city on, as I dig all of those catenary wires forming into the background.
On the platform, I was chatting with some dude that was a recently retired Army Drill Sergeant, while we were mutually waiting for the train, and he was a surprisingly nice guy for someone whose entire career was based around telling people they’re not good enough and calling them weaklings or sister lovers.
I should have asked him what he’d charge to follow me around, and yell at me to move faster, while questioning my ancestry and telling me how much I suck. It would be like my Jewish mother had come back to life.
It’s just over a half hour’s journey from Dormont to the end of the line on Pittsburgh’s ‘North Shore.’ That’s the part of Pittsburgh nearby the stadiums, and a mass of entertainment and night life businesses. I wasn’t going there, though.
On this occasion, I was going to be debarking the T in Allentown, at a temporary stop which the T people have established while they rebuild a transit tunnel that the service normally uses.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Stepping off the T actually triggered the PTSD I’ve been experiencing regarding steps, but such moments of existential panic have become common. This walk was focused on exercising the calfs and the top and frontage of the thighs, so the City Steps of Pittsburgh would once again be utilized as my gymnasium.
The camera bag and camera strap were adjusted and set into a comfortable manner against the decay of my pre-corpse, and then off I scuttled. I was ‘wearing’ the camera under the filthy black raincoat, just in case it started raining. It didn’t.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This time around, I was listening to music on the headphones, specifically a ‘mix tape’ playlist on my phone. I don’t do Spotify or any of the streaming services for music, instead I buy and download from the Apple Store. I’m told that I’m old fashioned, which cracks me up.
My problem with streaming is the same one that I have with those little air buds which everyone uses – doesn’t fit my lifestyle.
When I go out, it can be all day. I cannot run the battery down on my phone for something frivolous like streaming music. The audio files on my phone have virtually zero impact on the battery when they’re playing through wired headphones. I use the white Apple wired headphones, which pop out of my ears on their own accord all the time, and then dangle on their wires until I place them back in my ear holes.
The only piece of gear which ever gotten away from me and was lost, in all these years. was a ‘rocket blower’ which ended up splashing into Newtown Creek (nearby the Metropolitan Avenue Bridge).
Those super expensive air buds which are the current ‘de rigueur’ use Bluetooth to connect wirelessly to the phone and thereby eat a lot of battery juice. I really don’t want to have to carry a power bank and a cable around with me, too. I do so when traveling, but for day to day? Bluetooth headphones just create a problem that needs additional gear for me to solve.
Best to use the wired headphones, for me.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I can’t help but take advantage of serendipity and crack out a shot when a vista just appears like this.
This section I was scuttling through, dubbed the ‘South Side Slopes,’ is carved onto a very steep elevation. Multiple posts over the last few months have explored several of the many, many pathways from ‘up here’ to ‘down there.’
Back tomorrow with more.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“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.
Many, many, ramps
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This particular scuttle, here in Pittsburgh, began with a ride on the T light rail. The plan, as it were, was simple – and involved a walk of about three to five miles. Your humble narrator was fully ‘kitted out’ camera wise, and the weather was somewhat chilly and rain was threatening.
Misty, it was, misty.
The T light rail was ridden all the way to its terminal stop on Pittsburgh’s North Shore. There’s a shot I wanted, one which hadn’t coalesced the last time that my presence was noticed in this area. Pictured is what it looks like when riding the service. The area that the rail unit was moving through in this shot was one of the busways, one which also has rails and catenary wires.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The T soon deposited me on the North Shore elevated platform that functions as a terminal stop, and after a quick adjust of all the straps and whatnot involving the camera and bag, one leaned into it. I was ‘wearing’ the camera under the filthy black raincoat in case it started raining, a long standing habit which started back on the deck of vessels in New York Harbor, all those years ago.
One descended down to the street, where he belongs.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This area directly touches the football stadium where the Steelers dwell, and it’s sacred ground in Pittsburgh. Said holy spot is to the right.
A maelstrom of black fabric whipping about in the breeze, wrapping itself about a decaying human husk, wherein my brain inhabits, one began his fitful imposture of human locomotion and attempted to blend into the background.
This isn’t always possible, given how children point and cry when I’m passing by. Old Ladies clutch at their purses, men start forming violent posses, dogs howl. Cats are indifferent. Always, an outsider.
Thump, drag, thump, drag… that’s my walking rythym these days.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One cannot complain. Last year, it was questionable how much mobility I might have after the shattering of my left ankle. It has been an act of pure will (along with the attention and the expertise of a team of medical professionals) to get back to ‘doing my thing.’
What is ‘my thing’? Why is it ‘my thing’? Where do I go to do ‘my thing’? Is it just wandering aimlessly, or…? How is…
Best not to ponder such esoteric concepts and motivations, as the only ideation that really matters is to remain in constant motion, and enjoy the consequent unstoppability. Juggernaut, that’s the word you’re looking for.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One feels like a corner has been turned quite recently, and aspirational thoughts have been blossoming. Ambitions, goals, all that crap.
A Jedi craves not these things.
Thump, drag, thump, drag…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
That’s the Merchant Street Bridge, which was described in a prior post.
Thump, drag, thump, drag…
The mists then began to slightly precipitate. Wasn’t ‘umbrella rain,’ instead it was just a fine layer of droplets suspended above ground level. Very atmospheric, but had to clean the lens of moisture often.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“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.
Jingle janglity jingle
Friday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Allentown PA., it’s not the one in the Billy Joel song, although it might as well be. Kind of the same story, up here in Pittsburgh, though.
Here’s the wikipedia page describing the area. It’s can be a bit dicey, Allentown. 99% of the time, you’re going to be just fine, but that 1% chance involves meeting the wrong people at the right time. Outside of my experience, so far, but police statistics are statistical. I’d kind of analogize this area to Flatbush Avenue at Church for you New Yorkers, given that all things in the world are merely reflections and shimmers of the infinity of NYC’s Brooklyn.
Roger Zelazny’s ‘Chronicles of Amber’ comes to mind, regarding the way that I think about Brooklyn – as the world’s one ‘true place.’ Anywhere you are that’s not Brooklyn, just like the fictional Amber, is ‘walking through Shadow.’ A reflection, distorted but still a reflection.
Due to construction, the T has been moving through Allentown all summer, and the agency which operates the service has created a temporary stop more or less at the apogee of the hill. That’s about to change as the construction project winds down, and I’ve been taking advantage of the temporary stop all summer and fall.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
One started on the downhill section of my day, after debarking the T light rail. A quick adjustment of camera bag ensued, and all the straps and other crap I carry, and then I was scuttling along again – all peaceful and calm like.
This is Arlington Avenue pictured, which curls down the face of Mount Washington and around the base of ‘Billy Buck Hill,’ on its way down to the flatlands of the Monongahela River’s flood plain. On its way to the bottom, Arlington passes by the entrance to the Mount Washington Transit Tunnel, Liberty Bridge and Tunnel, and the PJ McArdle roadway, providing commanding views of the Monongahela River valley which helps to define the Steel City.
It’s a challenging drive, I’d mention.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The rail tracks are set onto curves up here, and they just tear into your tires. If you’re on a bike, the biggest problem you’re going to have is controlling speed, due to the grade of the pavement. Since the early summer, T light rail traffic has been rerouted through this corridor.
Downhill courses like this have been essential in regaining my strength and mobility over the last six months. It’s fairly easy to find places that blast the big muscles in the back and sides of the thighs as well as your butt, but it’s more difficult to hit the fronts of the thigh and calf.
My not so secret weapon in pursuance of rebuilding flexibility and endurance, as well as stretching out all the rubber bands in my still recovering ankle, this has been. I told my surgeon about this effort, and he seemed impressed by its ingenuity.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Everybody asks. Yes, it still hurts. Can I sit around and cry about it? Done enough of that last year to last a lifetime. I have a half pound of titanium in my ankle now, braces and screws. Huge scars from the surgery which are quite ugly to behold are on both sides of the limb, as well. The only way forward is to walk away from it.
Hey Now, there’s a Pittsburgh bound light rail train set.
Here’s the operator flashing me a thumbs up in an extremely cropped shot. I wasn’t sure it was a thumbs up until I zoomed in, btw.
At last – somebody who apparently doesn’t mind a random stranger taking a picture of them while they’re at work. Finally.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Another T, moving away from Pittsburgh, was thereafter recorded. Yes, vehicle traffic and the T move through the same space here. When the tunnel retrofit is finished, these tracks will only be used during emergencies, but are maintained. Going back to the Brooklyn analogy – man, oh man, would the MTA have ‘effed this entire operation up…
My next set of moves involved more of the ‘City Steps,’ but this time around I was heading downwards, towards the South Side Flats area.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
City Steps, in Pittsburgh, have the legal status of sidewalks. The ‘public way’ as it were. I’ve walked this pathway before, but haven’t done so since the ankle incident and the installation of the PTSD software into my brain box regarding stairs.
If something scares you, go over to it and give it a kiss. Fear then dissipates.
Back tomorrow.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“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.
Downhill, from here…
Thursday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Recent endeavor found your humble narrator in Pittsburgh’s Allentown Section, where a last minute change in my plan for the day manifested. I had originally intended to take a somewhat longer walk, starting from a spot about a half mile away, but changed my mind at the last minute and took a different path instead. Serendipity!
Pictured above is the T light rail turning out of Allentown for its long descent towards the Panhandle Bridge, over the Monongahela River.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The path I decided to take is a bit of a backwater, and – driving wise – is the one which you use to skirt around rush hour traffic by ‘taking the local streets.’ It’s a winding ‘mountain road’ sort of situation, with lots of switch backs and blind sharp turns to negotiate. Very exciting. This road is called ‘Brosville Street.’
There’s a location along this path which I’ve been wanting to get a look at, and I owed the still recovering ankle a serious exercise day, so…
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Cool, an abandoned house. There are so many of these in Pittsburgh that it’s actually staggering.
Brosville Street, and the places it leads to, are set into a steep section of Mount Washington. This scuttle would involve walking down a severely angled series of streets, with my intention being to absolutely blast the muscles in my ankles, calves, and those ones in the front of the thighs which lead up into the hips. Hard to reach muscle groups, these are.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
The grade of the land forces one’s gait to land the foot on the balls of the feet (the bottom forefoot, or metatarsal head) rather than the heel. This alters the gait, and causes one to constantly seek balance. This helps to condition the discrete musculature and the tendon/ligaments which were hyper extended during my injury. Walking up this hill would also use a completely different set of leg and back muscles, but those aren’t the ones I’ve been having problems with since the broken ankle incident.
It’s all life’s rich pageant, ain’t it?
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Habit sees me avoid taking pictures of people’s homes, as it can get a little weird. Saying, couldn’t resist recording that set of steps leading from the sidewalk down to that house. I’ve often wondered about the logistical circumstance of bringing in the week’s groceries, a piece of furniture, or just getting a pizza delivery at locations like this one in Pittsburgh. Wow.
I should mention that in addition to my neuroses about being on time or early to assignations, I’m constantly worrying about personal logistics. To be fair, I’m always managing a constellation of camera gear that’s strapped to my person, so planning ahead makes sense to me. It annoys people, however, this incessant need of mine to ‘walk through’ and minutely plan an event prior to committing to it.
In my defense, it’s reasonable to ask – for instance – ‘where do you intend to urinate,’ amongst several other existential factors, when ‘out and about.’ Plan on thirst, discomfort, and fatigue when on a walk and you’ll never be surprised by them.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
I was wearing my silly $7 Costco fishing hat, along with the usual duty uniform of black army/cargo shorts with a white guayabera over shirt worn over a white t-shirt, and my trusty Merrell hiking shoes of course.
It was warm, and I was trying to travel light on this particular day. My massive camera backpack was left back at HQ, and I was using a sling bag instead. Three lenses were with me – a zoom on the camera, and a couple of prime lenses in the bag. No tripods or extraneous gear on this scuttle.
Tomorrow – the Knoxville Incline Greenway – as it were.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“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.
It’s all going down, man
Tuesday
– photo by Mitch Waxman
Explorations of Pittsburgh’s ‘City Steps’ continue to fascinate me, and recent effort found a humble narrator once again scuttling along in the Allentown section of the South Side Slopes section, and marching inexorably towards another set of the City’s municipal stairs. Legally speaking, these stairs have the status of sidewalks or streets – open to the public, 24 hour, and all that.
This area is part of Mount Washington, although it is significantly lower in altitude than the prominence of the land form that is served by the two surviving funicular ‘inclines.’ There are hundreds of instances, and variants, of these municipal steps to be found in Pittsburgh.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This set, dubbed ‘Lauer Way,’ is a relatively shallow example of the phenomena. They lead down to a one lane street and after about a block, connect to the German Square steps which I’ve mentioned in the past.
Also as described in prior postings, descending down these stairs offers one a pretty good workout for the legs, hitting hard to reach areas in the front of the thigh and the entire calf. The views are pretty sick, too.
The shot above depicts the South Side Flats and the South Tenth Street bridge crossing the Monongahela River.
– photo by Mitch Waxman
This photo looks back up to where I started and as you can see – these stairs are fairly steep. Glad I was walking down them rather than up.
A few weeks ago, somebody in the comments asked ‘who maintains the steps and cuts back the foliage?’ As you can see, the answer is pretty much ‘no one,’ and I’ve found that holding onto the bannister is a pretty good idea when one is negotiating them.
Back tomorrow with more.
“follow” me on Twitter- @newtownpentacle
Buy a book!
“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 