Bike ride, the sequel

Beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) at Washington Avenue Green

Today's bike ride was a little longer than I had planned, 10.6 miles mostly because we were having such a good time. We rode slowly, with many stops. They included:

• Sister Cities Park, a new park near the Free Library and Franklin Institute, designed with kids in mind -- small pool for wading or launching boats; a hill to climb by twisty paths next to an artificial stream -- plus, thank goodness, a cafe where you can stop and get coffee and then sit in the shade. I didn't take any pictures, but there are plenty online:
  http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/galleries/72157629922186938/
  
  
• Franklin Institute. We didn't go in, just stood and watched the Red-Tailed eyasses crane their necks out of the hawk next on the ledge outside the board room. They're causing quite a stir this year -- the tiercel was killed on the Schuylkill Expressway, but a new male has expressed a desire to be stepfather to the three eyasses and the formel seems to be okay with that. http://www.fi.edu/hawks/ and http://sunnydixie.blogspot.com/
  
  
• Race Street Pier. We tied up our bikes and walked out to the end of the pier, enjoying views of the Delaware River and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. They were setting up for a Latino festival. http://www.delawareriverwaterfrontcorp.com/index.php?pageID=65
  
  
• Penn Treaty Park. The site of William Penn's treaty with the Lenni Lenape Indians. The park could use a face-lift, but is well-used by the community.
  http://penntreatypark.org/
  
  
• Washington Avenue Green. One of my new favorite places. http://planphilly.com/welcome-washington-avenue-green -- and my pictures are here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/lblanchard/sets/72157627370108087/
  

I'm pretty tired now, but my knees don't hurt and that's a good thing.