Tourist in Your Own Hometown

June 7, 2012 PEDALS adventure.  Thursday's excursion was short on distance, but long on variety as we pedaled around downtown Ft. Wayne.   After Wednesday's 18 mile ride, Tom decided riding INTO downtown Ft. Wayne as we normally do was beyond him, but I convinced him riding AROUND downtown would actually be easier than walking around it.  (NOTE: I went on a downtown architecutural scavenger hunt with 5th graders last  year and can attest to the energy it takes to walk all around FW...it's bigger than it seems.)
After picking up some tickets for a future Tincaps baseball game, we parked at the library lot (free parking w/ library card) and unloaded.  Although it was only 10:30, we were hungry for lunch and we pedaled to the new Auer Arts United Center across from the Art museum and Performing Arts Center which is almost to the most eastern side of the downtown.   I read about a  cafe/bakery there, so we passed on going to our favorite restaurants in favor of this new one.  We each got a 1/2 a sandwich (Chicken salad w/apples on apple artisan bread) cup of split pea soup with northern European seasoning and a cookie.  It is significant because of the Mexican Chocolate Snickerdoodle I chose....there was cinnamon, there was chocolate, but there was a TON of cayenne pepper in it...the spiciness just kept growing in my mouth and the top of Tom's head started sweating.  It certainly NOT a cookie for those old bitty judges at the State Fair to taste...they would HATE it.  Me?  It was interesting but I rarely like anything that overpowers the taste of chocolate, so I will opt for the chocolate chip cookie next time.
After lunch, we pedaled north to the new MLK bridge that is FINALLY reopened and am happy to report that the downtown portion of the Rivergreenway that also was closed is also re-opened.   We continued west along the Greenway to The Depot bike and kayak shop, then went to Downtown Pizza and Ice cream for something cool and creamy (see above lunch comments).  We were now almost as far west downtown as you can get.  I was sad that the caramel preztel ice cream was sold out, but did enjoy blackberry cobbler ice cream.  However, the smallest portion is a double scoop and from now on it will be shared with Tom....too much ice cream for one sitting (or pedaling for that matter).  I hate when supersizing is automatically done to you!  
After ice cream, we did a quick pedal back to the more central area of downtown and attended a free organ concert at the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception.  While I've been to many of the downtown churches to hear their organs, this was my first at the Cathedral.   It was a lovely 1/2 hour concert (sponsored by Germanfest) although it always seems strange to hear organ music but not be able to watch the organist.   It was just early afternoon so we did a short pedal to Freimann Square to watch the fountains and play Mr. Word (scrabble) on my IPAD.  The day ended with a pedal back to the library for a quick checkout of a couple of books, a ahort chat with a teacherfriend of Tom's at the library and then we were done.   All in all, bikes are a great way to get around town by using the Rivergreenway when possible, the dedicated bike lanes on the east/west streets, and lesser traveled surface streets when necessary. 

Ride Stats: 4.2 miles; Time: 37 minutes  ODO: 247

Notable Nature Sightings:  None, unless you count some of the interesting people we spotted at the fountain and around town!