Foo - Photos from my ride (many giant pics inside)

I decided to take a different course than I planned yesterday....it was still a nice long ride though. I rode from St. Pete, over the friendship brdige into tampa, and all the way up Bayshore to the next bridge, then went back home, taking the backroads near Wheedon Island.

These are the better pics from the trip. I was only taking quick snapshots, so I wasn't taking the time to get good shots, so bear with the crappiness :)

These are some shots from St.Pete, looking upon the waters near Wheedon Island. I actually live about 2.5mi south of there.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0105.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0106.jpg


This is near the top of the "crest" of the friendship bridge, the wood things in the water you see are guides for ships.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0107.jpg

This is a shot of Bayshore Blvd....I love the wide sidewalk here...it's perfect for a nice leisurely stroll.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0109.jpg

An absolutely gorgeous home I saw on the way up Bayshore...I dream of a home like this.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0111.jpg

A view of East Tampa, from Bayshore.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0112.jpg

.... continued in the next post.

Some rocks protruding from the water...I thought it looked pretty cool.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0114.jpg
My beloved Talus! (smooch smooch)
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0116.jpg
Now give each photo a good look, you'll notice the shadows the two buildings in the first pic are laying upon the water!
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0117.jpg
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0118.jpg
on the way home....who said Florida didn't have any climbs? :p
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0119.jpg
On the way down from that incline, you need to be careful, it's very easy to break 40mph in seconds, even on a mountain bike.
A lone fisherman...such a peaceful sight.
http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a238/catatonic_cyclist/tampa%2011-06/DSCN0120.jpg

Well, th-th-th-th-that's all folks! :D

Nice ride. I have done that trip many times when I lived in Tampa on Dale Mabry. Too many 'bladers' on the Bayshore though. But it is a ride that is hard to beat anywhere in the country. Live in Riverview now, with a big ass mortgage, so more work and less ridin' right now. enjoyed the pics, Thanks !

Love the pics cata, plus the bike aint too shabby :)

Yeah, way cool!

Nice pictures! Usually when people post pictures of their ride, they are boring pictures of the road in front of them. It's nice to see some cool pictures for a change.

Cool pics Cat. I've never ridden the Friendship bridge, but heard it was REALLY NOISY since the new bridge is right next to it. Did it seem really noisy to you?

Was Bayshore really windy today? It was pretty windy today.

Nice ride. I have done that trip many times when I lived in Tampa on Dale Mabry. Too many 'bladers' on the Bayshore though. But it is a ride that is hard to beat anywhere in the country. Live in Riverview now, with a big ass mortgage, so more work and less ridin' right now. enjoyed the pics, Thanks !
LOL...I used to live over there and live in Clearwater now. Technically, my address said Gibsonton, but I always told them "South Brandon"....would never admit I lived in Gibsonton. ;)

I didn't notice traffic noise...the wind was that bad.

I also had the pains of realizing the bridge is an incline all the way to Tampa. I had to walk the last half of the crest climb on the way to tampa.

The ride back was sooooo easy though, thanks to that same evil wind.

wow, great pics, so serene...
made me wish I was there!
thanks for sharing!

Nice pictures. I'm jealous!

Cool pics Cat. I've never ridden the Friendship bridge, but heard it was REALLY NOISY since the new bridge is right next to it. Did it seem really noisy to you?

Was Bayshore really windy today? It was pretty windy today.

I have ridden the Bridge many times. Noise was never an issue. Wind always was. It is only 3 miles from end to end, but with a stiff wind coming across the open bay, seems like 10 miles.

Nice pics Cata, makes me want to come for a visit! Beats the snot out of thirty degrees at dawn. :(

LOL...I used to live over there and live in Clearwater now. Technically, my address said Gibsonton, but I always told them "South Brandon"....would never admit I lived in Gibsonton. ;)

That is too funny! I actually live in a new subdivision off Symmes and 301. So if I head west and go to the other side of I-75, I end up in Gibsonton. The place is a dump! No wonder the circus geeks and carnies all live there. [ I hope your not one!] I would never claim to be from anywhere near there! No offense to you "Pinellas Parkers" over there in St. Pete, but Pinellas Park is next in line for the good ol' boy award.

Heh, it's been cold enough to see breath on occaision, but that tends to clear up by noon. Never any snow though, and that depresses me some....I miss snow.

The part that bugs me is when it's so hot that my glasses immediately fog up when going outside.

I also had the pains of realizing the bridge is an incline all the way to Tampa.


Huh? I do not get this. Is the Bay on an incline to Tampa?:) Gandy Blvd. on BOTH sides of the bridge start about 14 feet above sea level. [bridge height]

Heh, it's been cold enough to see breath on occaision, but that tends to clear up by noon. Never any snow though, and that depresses me some....I miss snow.

The part that bugs me is when it's so hot that my glasses immediately fog up when going outside.


True dat. Have you been across the Skyway to a place called "Fiery Foods Warehouse"? Just before Palmetto. Since you are a "hot" junkie like me.

I know....my apartment complex is like Jerry Springer live....every single day.

The current drama is some woman who chases her man dow yelling at him to go on and hit her, because she will hit him if he tries to get into his car. This is a regular occurance, same bat-time, same bat-channel.

It was better than the bloody murder chick.....she kept pounding on people's doors screaming as if a killer was after her. Turns out her boyfriend has a habit of locking her out of his apartment when he's sick of her crap. Well, one day she finally manages to get the cops called on her....then she points to his place and screams that he's got a pound of pot in there....he did :( That's great....I now have a very irritating family next door thanks to that....at least he was super mellow.

We also had the guy that got gang-beat by some women when they discovered he was two-timing them....he was blubbering like a little punk too "please don't hurt me, but but but I love youuuu!".....just take the beating like a man already.

Oh, and the white guy downstairs that was arrguing with his girlfriend, and started calling her "*****" (she's white, WTF?)....well this rather large black guy on the floor got pissed off at it and knocked him the *bleep* out. I wasn't the only one laughing hard on that one....some folks watching from another building were too!

True dat. Have you been across the Skyway to a place called "Fiery Foods Warehouse"? Just before Palmetto. Since you are a "hot" junkie like me.
Nope...gotta get down to 180lbs (about 45lbs off from that), so I fulfill my promise to myself and then get a car before I go that way.

For now, it's the hot sauce shop inside the pier. It's got a decent selection.

Huh? I do not get this. Is the Bay on an incline to Tampa?:) Gandy Blvd. on BOTH sides of the bridge start about 14 feet above sea level. [bridge height]


The ends might, but I'm pretty sure the long "st pete" side of it is actually an incline as it makes it's way to the crest....so the majority of the eastbound travel is uphill.

I know....my apartment complex is like Jerry Springer live....every single day.

The current drama is some woman who chases her man dow yelling at him to go on and hit her, because she will hit him if he tries to get into his car. This is a regular occurance, same bat-time, same bat-channel.

It was better than the bloody murder chick.....she kept pounding on people's doors screaming as if a killer was after her. Turns out her boyfriend has a habit of locking her out of his apartment when he's sick of her crap. Well, one day she finally manages to get the cops called on her....then she points to his place and screams that he's got a pound of pot in there....he did :( That's great....I now have a very irritating family next door thanks to that....at least he was super mellow.

We also had the guy that got gang-beat by some women when they discovered he was two-timing them....he was blubbering like a little punk too "please don't hurt me, but but but I love youuuu!".....just take the beating like a man already.

Oh, and the white guy downstairs that was arrguing with his girlfriend, and started calling her "*****" (she's white, WTF?)....well this rather large black guy on the floor got pissed off at it and knocked him the *bleep* out. I wasn't the only one laughing hard on that one....some folks watching from another building were too!


The place we lived on Dale Mabry was all Drama, all Night! I am sure glad I saved and bought my own place. Bought in a nice neighborhood and all houses are new, but wouldn't you know it that our next door neighbors are striaght up hillbillies from P. Park and brought there three kids, 4 dogs, 2 harleys, and attitudes with them! I can never win.

The ends might, but I'm pretty sure the long "st pete" side of it is actually an incline as it makes it's way to the crest....so the majority of the eastbound travel is uphill.

I see what you are saying.

I would never guess from those beautiful photos, that the crime rate would be so high:

"...the nation's second most dangerous metro area for pedestrians..." (http://www.epodunk.com/cgi-bin/genInfo.php?locIndex=8896)

Hell, I was all ready to pack up and move there!

I know....my apartment complex is like Jerry Springer live....every single day.

The current drama is some woman who chases her man dow yelling at him to go on and hit her, because she will hit him if he tries to get into his car. This is a regular occurance, same bat-time, same bat-channel.

It was better than the bloody murder chick.....she kept pounding on people's doors screaming as if a killer was after her. Turns out her boyfriend has a habit of locking her out of his apartment when he's sick of her crap. Well, one day she finally manages to get the cops called on her....then she points to his place and screams that he's got a pound of pot in there....he did :( That's great....I now have a very irritating family next door thanks to that....at least he was super mellow.

We also had the guy that got gang-beat by some women when they discovered he was two-timing them....he was blubbering like a little punk too "please don't hurt me, but but but I love youuuu!".....just take the beating like a man already.

Oh, and the white guy downstairs that was arrguing with his girlfriend, and started calling her "*****" (she's white, WTF?)....well this rather large black guy on the floor got pissed off at it and knocked him the *bleep* out. I wasn't the only one laughing hard on that one....some folks watching from another building were too!
Sounds like good old American entertainment!

Yay for pictures-of-rides threads! Thanks, catatonic! It's always fun to see another part of the world.

Nice pics Cata, makes me want to come for a visit! Beats the snot out of thirty degrees at dawn. :(
You have a spare room here, any time, Stacey. ;)

How about from eleven to three every second Wednesday? :lol:

How about from eleven to three every second Wednesday? :lol:
Sounds like a splendid time to share my king size bed. :D

Kewl, more room for my rats. :D

Kewl, more room for my rats. :D
Hmmm....I was thinking more along the lines of bringing your girlfriend.

Hmmm....I was thinking more along the lines of bringing your girlfriend.
I don't know man... Let me go ask my wife, she's kinda funny.

I don't know man... Let me go ask my wife, she's kinda funny.
"I know, everybody funny, now you funny too"

Now I ain't seen my baby man, for nigh on a week. Gonna get drunk man so I can't even speak....

Thanks for the pics!!!

One bourbon, one scotch and one :beer:!

Nice pics and I'm jealous and all that. But, I have to point out with a touch of irritation, I did not see ONE picture of a giant. What gives?

A giant what, pup? :p

Nice pics...thanks for views! :)

Heh, giant as in the size of the pic, ye pup of many explodys.

http://img231.imageshack.us/img231/6669/img0752mc1.jpg

There! I fixed your thread.

Awe Pup, that's just a Sears giant, here's a REAL giant!

http://www.giantsandgirls.com/images/personalities/andre1b.jpg

Oh, André, Man among Men, this world is a sadder and colder place without ye.

Beautiful pics! I wish I was walking along that beach at sunset! Thanks for sharing! :)

Arghhhh...

You're making me miss Florida (I used to live in Melbourne).

I moved there because of my then wife. And being a mountainy New Englander, I didn't start off as a big fan of the Sunshine State (overgrown sandbar seemed a valid description), but dammit if it didn't grow on me.

Fire ants still suck though.