Bus Ride Connecting To

I enjoyed your (Eddy Gilmore) commentary in the Budgeteer 1-10-09. It reminded me of my last bus ride and for some reason want to share it with you.

I too had a similar experience while taking a rare bus ride. It was last fall on a rainy afternoon. My wife and I planned on seeing a 3:30 movie at Lakes 10 on a Saturday. The plan was to meet her downtown near a bus stop and walk to the movie. She had taken one of our two vehicles to work downtown so why have both vehicles down there when I can take the bus. Also gas was in the high 3 dollar range.

I thought taking the bus would be fun and I had the time so what the heck. I checked the schedule on-line and also reviewed the "Precision Real-Time Bus Monitor” system and found that I could make it downtown at the same time the movie started so it was worth a shot. Who knows maybe it would be early, how full could a bus in Duluth be on a Saturday anyway? If we made it in time great, if not, we could find something else to do.

It was raining while I stood waiting for the bus to pick me up at 3:05 on Grand in the Smithville area. 3:05 came and past with no bus in view, so much for real time or near time. It showed up 10 or 15 minutes late so I am thinking the movie is a bust but the trip turned out better than any movie I had seen all year for the very reasons you mentioned, community.

The bus was about 1/4 full when I came on board but would soon be full. At one stop, we picked up a guy who was riding a bike. He had a hard time getting the bike rack to work so the female bus driver waited a bit then went out and assisted the rider. As we were slowing down for the next stop, people in front of me sitting on the seats near the front where they face each other got up and moved. One of the riders asked the driver "which side". I was confused by the question until I saw who we were picking up next. It was a lady with a baby in a wheelchair (it is raining). The bus driver lifts the bench on the side she mentioned in her response the riders questions. The lady in the wheelchair then negotiates her chair into position so the driver can attach a four point fastening system to the chair and the bus. The driver kneels down on the floor to install the straps; this takes a bit to complete safely. No one makes a fuss on how long it is taking or the fact that we are late by at least 15 minutes.

I sat in my seat and enjoyed seeing the neighborhood from a bus’s view much like you mention also with the expectation that the bus would be empty on a Saturday afternoon. This bus was packed by the time we hit 57th West and Grand Ave. This bus driver did a great job and I was amazed at all she had to do.

The conversations that were taking place were fun to eavesdrop on which wasn't hard as one guy I think wanted to share what he had to say with anyone who was near.

I had not seen my neighborhood or the city from this view for some time and I had the similar epiphany (my feeling) you expressed in your commentary. I wish I had away with words that I could describe what I saw and how I felt. In a couple words it was just a wonderful feeling to be on this ride. I am more fortunate in a monetary way then most on that bus I would guess but I have less of a connection with my community then the other riders. I am not sure which is better but I suspect that having both might be or then again maybe not. You often hear about the Midwest being apart of the “fly over” portion of the USA, one could say when we drive around town that we practice a similar deal that could be called a “drive by” or “drive over”.

I love public transit for the reasons you mention, I can only wish that others would slow down a bit and take a ride so the perception of public transit would change from the "have-nots" only ride the bus and switch to “why-not-ride-the-bus”. I got a strange feeling that the world might be better place if we see others by being in the same space with them rather then hearing and seeing about it from the media.

Now, if I could only get a job on a bus route.

Thanks again for your commentary,


Mike

PS
I enjoyed your description of “waiting for the bus”.

A little map of things to do near my home

What to do Oh what to do?

This is a quick map of things i like to do around my neighborhood.  I may add to this later.  

As you can see I like to eat, golf, hike, take walks, boat and fish.

All this is available out along the river corridor with out jumping into a car.  Thats what keeps living out west!

First Looper From Shore

I finally got my shore fishing gear set up after a wet and breezy trial run last Sunday. On that Sunday morning Larry, my neighbor who has taken me looper fishing from his 14’ boat for the past 10 plus years, came along to give this shore casting technique a try. The wind and waves have been too much for the small boat this past week and the looper fishing has shown a sign of coming back to the level it was about 4 years ago so why not try shore casting. We arrived at a spot on the North Shore and by the time I got down to the water Larry was set up with two lines in the water. A minute later Larry yells “fish on”. A few minutes after that he has his first looper by shore casting on the rocks. It normally takes a few trips to get one from the shore but oh no not Larry, his first time out, BANG! I give up about 30 minutes later after the weather and the loss of my rig snagging up on the rocks. The weather is light drizzle high winds and ice all over the rocks.

Fast forward to yesterday, Saturday a week after the trial run. Weather is much better, sunny no rain and the waves are out of the south about 1 foot or less. While I was setting up my rods Larry landed a small Coho. Figures, he is good at this fishing thing while I’m always out for the fresh air and view, he is strictly out for meat.

Anyways the shore has some ice on it so I made a mental note not to run on the rocks. About 60 minutes later I run over to one rod that looks like something could be on it and fall almost straight on my face. I'm sure the people watching from the restaurant (about 200' behind me) got a good laugh.

It took another hour but as I was posting a photo to my face book page I heard something that sounded like a fishing reel’s drag. I woke up out of my virtual world just in time to see the line running out of my reel.

“Fish on”, I yell, but neighbor Larry is out of site inspecting something up the shore. So now I need to bring this fish in on the shore. I have never done this before and I don’t want to lose my first fish shore casting. From where I’m standing there is about 3 feet of ice covered rocks then 3 feet of wet rocks. I'm thinking I need to get as close as possible to the edge of the water while reeling in a nice size fish. Needless to say I again gave my audience in the restaurant a great show. Down I go on my back with my fishing rod still pointing up, I keep reeling in this bad boy from my back on icy rocks just feet from Lake Superior. I get on my knees then my feet and start to move to dry rocks while keeping tension on the line. By this time I can see my prize in the water just a few feet from shore, a nice 4 lb looper. As I move to dry rock my back is to the looper I’m just hoping he stays on the line. When I turn around to land this guy I see him on the rocks so I quickly drag him to the ice covered rocks where in slides up onto dry rocks where I jump on this whooper. My first looper caught by shore casting. Life is grand!

Wish I had a video of this. Not the greatest landing but what the heck.

I’m back out here Sunday morning at 8:00 AM. Beautiful day, a bit cloudy but 24 degrees with a light wind, waves under 1 foot from the south again. Not much action so why not post something to my blog from the rocks of the North Shore. Maybe just maybe moving myself into the virtual world will once again bring a looper to my worm. It’s not to be, after giving it 4 hours, nothing. I will be back. Landing a looper on the shore was a great experience that I hope can be repeated many more times this winter. I have a lot to learn but just being out is what I enjoy. Having fish on the rocks will be my bonus!

Fish

Got out fishing with Neighbor Larry finally Saurday. Didn't do great but took one home, looper that is 8.5 ponder. I sure hope it is sign of things to come.

Back Door Paper

Have you noticed that the roll of paper hanging in your library has changed size?
We needed a few rolls pronto so I stopped at the local Mart store (K) which is not our preferred supplier of paper products but will do in a pinch (no pun intended). Got home hung the paper on the hook. Something looked a bit odd or sloppy. It turns out the roll is about 3/4" narrower then what has been the norm for as long as I can remember.

Now it’s not a big deal but just another change that reminds me that I'am getting old and some kinds of change just suck. Not so much when I use the paper as intended but when I use it to blow the nose it seams just a bit small. I might have to start using Kleenex.
Looks like I will need to do some research on where the paper is still as wide as the good old days. I can only hope that it is still available somewhere. If not maybe we the paper consumers can demand a full width paper again or boycott the product all together. Not betting that many will follow.

Betsy's 50...Lets Party! Hope to see you there!

If all goes well I will post some photos either here or on my photo web site.

Day One

This is my first Blog and Blog post. I hope I enjoy this????