Stop and Smell The Roses

Many have asked when the updates will be posted and if there's any new routes.

So, here is my first blog of the 2010 Spring season.

Many of changes happened to Detroit over the winter. So to make sure I enjoy all 16 miles of my daily commute, I wanted to stop and smell the roses every time I passed a beauty.





The sun rises behind the abandon building. Last year there were families and kids playing in that alley but this year you can see blight taking over.











Last year there was two ladies that used to sit on chairs outside of this apt building. They would listen to the radio and wave to a crazy white guy wearing a bike helmet. I wonder where they are now? At least the wood that boards the homes have not been stolen... yet.





Just rows of empty homes. No one around 7/Schoenherr anymore.





Sorry for the blurry shot but I always liked this house. All brick, breakfast nook, hardwood floors. Nature is starting to take over the house.



Same house as prev but wanted to make sure it was all brick.





The smell from the burned wood still permeates through the wind. Nothing like the smell of charred wood in the morning! In fact,I can still taste it... yuck!!




I like the new siding but I think I would have done more with the porch. A little boy used to live here and play with his dog in the lot next door. More faded memories.

How would you like to live next to this gem?




The from occupants moved out gracefully I hear. They left the furnace too. Anther 1940's all brick gem.




This house is not abandoned (yet) but I loved the fence so much I just had to capture the moment.








The porch is very cool. Do you know how much $$ this house would cost if you tried to rebuild it?





I was very sad to see this. As you may recall, I captured this hotel last year in a previous blog. All those many years and happy customers. No more Hotel Paris :-(

Put out the fire and leave the building to sit for decor.




This is the corner of 6/Gratiot. There used to be a Remer Drug store on the corner which sat there for years empty but the sign has been up since the 70's. That too up in smoke.





Finally, a Rose that still grows in the city. Assumption Grotto is taking real good care of their shrine. Very tranquil here.

See you on the road

George Town Run

Awesome Run down the old canals of Georgetown.

Crossing over from Virginia on the Key Bridge

The Key BridgeLooking down from the Key Bridge is the canal trail

The main road in DC in the 1800's. Can you believe getting around town on a Canal?

Local Merchants that once was prime real estate

Homes in George Town

Pass the Watergate Hotel

Crossing over the Roosevelt Bridge

Trial coming home in the dark. I ran too many miles tonight and had to get home on some dark path.

Came across the bridge to Theodore Roosevelt Park. The sun was going down but I wanted to do this loop. Only 1.5 miles around so I thought I could to it in 10 minutes.

15 minutes later I am still on island park. Look how dark it was running through the woods!

Look closer, it's a deer that would not move for me. I stopped for 5 minutes while this deer stared at me. It was creepy.

A well lit building at night. I thought it was very cool to see this, especially coming out of the woods.


The Route:

Fort Wayne Run

Fort Wayne Run
I have not posted here in a while due to some personal issues (pulled groin). But it looks like all is well now.

Here is a nice 9 mile run in the city's dirty and gritty southwest side.

Learn about Fort Wayne of Detroit by pressing here







This is West Jefferson. Yes Jefferson turns into an old cobble stone street near and after the bridge. In fact, some sections still have the trolley tracks embedded in the streets.



Down Fort Street is an old restaurant that we run past. We often wonder what it would be like to get a meal there. Any takers?

Remember getting on the Boblo boat? Somehow this area was prettier back in the 70s.

ahh, 4.5 miles and I finally arrived

how cool is this Fort.

War seemed so simple back then.

You are looking through a rifle slot in the Fort.

Bad pic of me but great shot of the old Fort.

Now for the the route: