Summary
This August was hot with fifteen days of highs above 85; and busy, with a move. While I love this project, sometimes it is a chore. So in August, I’ve been slightly more relaxed about running with friends or just for an adventure, without regard to the streets I’ve covered. I’m keeping my knee problems at bay with a combination of new pair of shoes and using KT tape. (I’m back in a new pair of Altra Escalante 1.5’s.)
As of end of July 2020 As of end of August 2020
I’ve made large strides of progress in the South Hills, including Beltzhoover and Carrick, and continue to fill in the gaps in the North and West sections of Pittsburgh. August’s 97 miles was considerably more than July, and doubled my elevation, increasing it to 11,189 feet. Of the seventeen runs I recorded in August, fifteen covered new streets.
Without further ado, here are the rest of the August runs.
RATS #00279

Just a short evening run to cover some streets before it got too dark. Looking at the pictures, maybe it was already too dark. Long dim streets filled with kids playing and adults coming home from work.
Lamps along fence Ghostly Ivy Enshrouded House Spooky Steps on Bernd Street
RATS #00281

Another evening run, this one in Carrick with its busy streets and close houses. Georgia Avenue dead-ends into a ghostly cemetery, especially at dusk.
Setting Sun Grimes Avenue Dusk at the dead-end
RATS #00284

Hammering it out with the evening runs in Carrick. This one took me down Overbrook Avenue to Saw Mill Run Boulevard. The uphill slog was epic. Nighttime phone pics + running = streaks.
Maytide Street Whee! Overbrook at Saw Mill Run
RATS #00286

Finally, a daytime run! This Sunday run was intended to clean up a few streets Erin and I had missed the previous day. Turns out, one of the alleys in Bon Air which I had ‘missed’ doesn’t exist anymore. No worries, there were plenty more alleys, with more cars rolling down them than you might expect! If it sounds like a broken record, it is… at least you can still hear “Tubby the Tuba” on Youtube. Between this run and the previous, I covered 95% of Bon Air.
Bernd Way Parked Too Long Carrick Dead End Garage Door Art Hills and Houses Brick Alley in Allentown Tree Down in Carrick Alley Broken Record, “Tubby the Tuna”
RATS #00287

For a change, I headed north to Brighton Heights and traversed the small streets ending high above Route 65. These small streets are quite the mix and you can see the smokestacks of Brunot Island from several. Davis Avenue ends in steps down to Rt 65 and one house on Verner Avenue sported a manatee guarding its mailbox. That’s a first.
Davis Avenue Steps Calico Purring in the Parking Lot Brunot Island’s Smokestacks The only Mailbox Manatee I’ve seen Neat house
RATS #00288

This was short run to catch some alleys in Bloomfield. Within the first mile, I had most of the target streets done, including all of Jordan Way in Garfield. I was surprised to find the painted doors along the alley. Not only were there dozens of bird houses in that tree, there’s also a “Little (Bird House) Library” in front of it.
West Penn at the end of the alley Bird Houses Galore! Alley Art looking at you More Alley Art Sun setting along alley
RATS #00289

This last run, on the last Saturday of August, hit another section of alleys and streets in West Liberty. I think the auto artifacts along an alley’s garage and the yard decorations were the most surprising finds of this run. I get a kick out the various little libraries I see.
Auto Artifacts watch out for the dino dogs! Norm Weiss White Rabbit Salon Relax… Hills and Houses
Finally, there were several sets of steps; long ones like Ray Avenue and Belle Isle Avenue. There was also a shorter set of steps, Templeton Street, but the lower section was too overgrown to use. Ironically, the City of Pittsburgh’s steps webpage give these a fairly high score. Here’s the Belle Isle set.
Belle Isle top Belle Isle keep going Belle Isle and on Belle Isle and on and on
Here’s the Templeton set.
Starting at West Liberty Ave Becomes overgrown From Woodward to Plainview
And finally, here’s Ray Avenue.
Start at West Liberty Up and Up, now past yards Now crooked
On to September
So, that’s all for August. I’m looking forward to cooler temps and a reprieve from moving boxes.