[Kbikeva]

1/30/22 – Part 1 (Just to share the rich art traditions in this area)

Huge haul today. Rode down to Segundo Barrio, the historic neighborhood where the international bridge is open from Mexico to the US. It used to be an extremely vibrant neighborhood but between the fight about gentrification and COVID stopping cross border traffic for 2 years, the neighborhood today seemed lifeless. The murals are really suffering decay, and it seems the spirit of the neighborhood has fled. It makes me very sad.

That said, if anyone is visiting El Paso, hit me up for a bike tour. I found some amazing jewels along the route!

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[Kbikeva]

@SFrank 215165 wrote:

1/30/22
#publicartfinder
Public bench at Hyatt Place in Arlington.

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That is so trippy!

[Kbikeva]

@Boomer2U 215121 wrote:

Did you lay on the ground and look up to get this shot?

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I did indeed! There was a tiny square of concrete base surrounded by pebbles and thorns so I very carefully squished and squirmed to avoid pain. Once I was down there, it felt so good I thought I’d stay awhile but then I was concerned someone might call 911 on the drunk woman with the bike at the County probation office building. lol

[Kbikeva]

EVERYONE – Just a reminder that ONE PHOTO is the MAX. This isn’t art – just showing that you were there. Pick the one photo that shows that and post ONLY that one.

And by the way, you all are making me smile and laugh out loud during a very difficult time so THANK YOU and keep it going!

Kelley

[Kbikeva]

@Catedrew 215019 wrote:

1-28-2022 LFL

210 N. Barton Street. It looked like it needed it, so I left a kids book there: 3rd Grade Mermaid.

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I had to look up 3rd grade mermaid. What a hoot!

[Kbikeva]

@HokieBeth 215043 wrote:

1/28 LFL 12 Mt Ida Ave, Alexandria

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This one looks like an anguished face, with the bottom books being gritted teeth. Thanks for making me laugh!

[Kbikeva]

@cvcalhoun 215048 wrote:

5530 Johnson Avenue, Bethesda. Given the ice today, I went for one of my “emergency” LFLs, one so close I could get there on a sleaze ride. I actually managed a decasleaze, but kept to the main roads instead of going in the side streets where the LFLs were. This one has mostly children’s books. It needs some good spy novels to keep the adults entertained.

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Love the barn shape! E-I-E-I-O!

[Kbikeva]

@SFrank 215125 wrote:

LFL in Arlington. Struck out with 2 LFLs that don’t exist anymore. Than happened upon this one at 1704 N Stafford Street.

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I hate when they aren’t there anymore – makes me want to go back and update the “official” map! I’m glad you found a renegade!

[Kbikeva]

1/29

Difficult to say what this piece is and I couldn’t find any information about it, but it was definitely outside a building (public) and set up to be looked upon as … either a cautionary tale or “ART”. I couldn’t tell whether the degredation of the piece is due to climate and weathering or if it was actually created to look like a trainwreck.

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This is another piece I saw today on my first ride. It is the Buffalo Soldier Memorial on Fort Bliss.

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[Kbikeva]

1/29/22 Christmas

This is at Fort Bliss in El Paso at the Old Fort Replica. There are several pine trees here in various stages of decoration. The grove is called “Our Hero’s Trees”, dedicated to military members past, present, and future. It is a truism for a military child that your military parent will miss at least one major holiday in your life, if not several. In my case, we made reel-to-reel Christmas tapes in August to send to my dad in VietNam so he’d get them on time. We never expected him to join us for a holiday and when he was home, we served/helped at the mess hall for part of the day so that soldiers who were away from their families would feel taken care of.

So these trees made me tearful. I imagine that around Christmas, they invite the kids on base whose parents are deployed to come hang an ornament on the tree for that parent. I couldn’t find anything to confirm it, but that’s what I’d do.

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[Kbikeva]

1/29/2022 Buffalo Soldier Memorial, Fort Bliss, Texas (El Paso)

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[Kbikeva]

Not for points (since I’m the sponsor) but what a delightful surprise today! Built into a legacy tree trunk, this LFL had a shelf for adult and one for kids. Both were well stocked!

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[Kbikeva]

SUCH a hard time picking a piece today, so here is what I saw.

The first three are politically robust enough that they’d look at home in DC!

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This one is so quirky – it screamed “BOOMER!”

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And this one is on the side of a closed pet store. I can’t figure out what the letters say. Anyone?

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[Kbikeva]

1/28/22 – Bikeway

About 10 miles from mom’s house, in the middle of the university area, i.e. many young people. This bikeway is really popular, especially when heading back from class – then it’s downhill. At every intersection, my favorite sign is there, “Yield to Bikes” … ahhhhh

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[Kbikeva]

@karenbikes2@gmail.com 214855 wrote:

Charter #82555
148 W. Morse Boulevard, Winter Park FL 32789
Lat: 28.5970294 Long: -81.3518735
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This library was built and installed by G. Thomas Knecht of Boy Scout Troop 62. He donated the Library on behalf of the Winter Park Public Library. It’s easy to find, outside of the Winter Park Train Station building, at the south end of the platform, facing the tracks. Well stocked with adult fiction and a few non-fiction, but only one children’s book, “The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto.” Forgot to bring a book with me today.

I just listened to a podcast about the story of Balto and the Nome Serum Run. Not quite like the Disney version, but still heroic!

[Author]

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