The Newtown Pentacle

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.

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