I'm old enough (don't ask how old...), but I don't think of it as irony; I 
think of it as cosmic justice. 

I remember sitting at home in our co-op one weekend when a call came in about 
one of our housemates, who needed help because she had hit the payment 
face-first at the railroad tracks. The plastic surgeon who fixed her wound did 
a very nice job, and the scar was almost invisible. 

Luckily, I survived many crossings there without a visit to the surgeon; but 
I'll think of my friend the first time I cross Seminole Highway on the path. 


From: "Patrick Lenon" <[email protected]> 
To: [email protected], [email protected] 
Sent: Monday, September 13, 2010 4:15:02 PM 
Subject: Re: [Bikies] Bikies Digest, Vol 23, Issue 17 

Just curious, anyone besides Michael & me old enough to appreciate the irony of 
the bike path following the trail of the at-one-time-controversial railroad 
track across Seminole? 

For years the track crossed Seminole at a close to 45-degree angle, which 
forced bikers to either 1) go straight across them and risk catching a wheel in 
the gap, or 2) going wide to get a 90-degree angle going across the track and 
risk having cars try to kill you. (You can almost approximate this experience 
today on the N. Sherman Ave. RR tracks if you want.) 

Various solutions were tried, the "best" being paved shoulder bulges that let 
us angle out. 

Finally in the 90's the rail owners gave it up, sealed over the whole thing, 
and it was largely forgotten. Until now. Now, when bikers on the path cross 
Seminole, they'll be at the same oblique angle the tracks were at. Hope nobody 
tries it with a stiff neck... 

Ah well, it still beats road dueling with Fitchburgers. 

------------ Patrick Lenon 




From: [email protected] 
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2010 15:59:39 -0500 
To: [email protected] 
Subject: Re: [Bikies] Bikies Digest, Vol 23, Issue 17 



On Sep 13, 2010, Patrick Lenon wrote: 


The trail may not be Officially open then: 

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/article_fbad01f0-be9c-11df-9716-001cc4c002e0.html
 

The sections I've seen are paved but the shoulders aren't done, so there's a 
sharp drop off. 

Of course, that hasn't stopped a few scofflaws from sampling parts of the 
trail. Nothing I'd ever do personally, of course... *koff* *choke* *koff* 




A *FEW* scofflaws!? Watching the Ironman bikes at Seminole and Whalen on 
Sunday, there appeared to be a steady stream of garden-variety Phreds out 
sampling the trail. 


I very much doubt it will be ready by this Saturday, since as of yesterday, the 
bridges need railings, the shoulders south of (I think) Lacy needed to be 
graded, and the section south of M needed to be paved. But I only know this 
because, I, um, flew over it in an airplane. Yes I did. 


I might go to the opening. I've been looking forward to it since rail 
operations stopped back in the early 90's. 


Michael 
_______________________________________________ Bikies mailing list 
[email protected] 
http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org 
_______________________________________________ 
Bikies mailing list 
[email protected] 
http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org 
_______________________________________________
Bikies mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.danenet.org/listinfo.cgi/bikies-danenet.org

Reply via email to