by Orlando C. Fernando
Diary 1998 | Diary 1999 | Diary Early 2000 | Diary Late 2000 | Diary 2001
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Philadelphia Freedom Skate 2001. Fellow RISC skater Bob and I departed over the weekend to Philadelphia for the 5th annual Freedom Skate, one of the largest skating events in the nation. This was my second time taking the 6.5 hour trek down to that great "City of Love" for such a wheely event. A new threat, thunderstorms, did not limit our fun too much. One storm hit us toward the end of the Saturday morning picnic, but no big whoop. Another major cloud burst hit just as we stopped our buses to start skating the Saturday evening trail. I opted not to skate the dangerously wet grounds, but fortunately the majority of skaters who took the (crazy) risk were rewarded during half-time. The grounds dried, making for the rest of the skate downtown relatively easy. Sunday's skate was a breeze, literally. It was cooler than last year's. As last year, we worked our way to the Delaware River waterfront, but we took a very different route getting there and going back. This included going through a narrow street which we were greeted by passing teenage girls and boys. Another new stop was Washington Park which had a circular dry fountain. Aggressive skaters did some tricks inside the fountain, while other skaters formed a human chain holding hands skating around the fountain! It was spinning like a dizzy ride at Six Flags! We also went through a series of very smooth grand boulevards to take us to the "Rocky" movie stairs we passed on the Saturday evening skate last year. This time we proceeded up the stairs and took some downhill roads around the area back towards the bottom. At one point, a bunch of skaters even helped push a stalled motorcycle so it could start up! Lots of familiar faces from last year, including the one that looked like George Clinton and our familiar fellow skaters from Syracuse (shout out to Kathy, Dennis, & the gang!). Also many new faces, many new aliens (because of the sci-fi space theme this year), a new young kid, a baby (via carriage), and even a parakeet. It doesn't get any better than this! Boy, I miss Philly already and I'll definitely be back for 2K1! [DIGITAL ALBUM PAGE WITH MORE FREEDOM 2001 PHOTOS][FREEDOM SKATE 2000 ENTRY] |
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Montreal: Old and New. Despite weather threats of thunderstorms throughout the stay. The Rider boys were determined to explore the Franco-European city of Montreal, Canada. Like much of Ontario, it's a progressive town that's not afraid to show its liberal side, whether it is wacky shops, outspoken people, or alternative art. But it retains its class in statues, museums, cathedrals, and the old city. Montreal Tower is the largest leaning structure in the world (yes, beating Italy's leaning tower of Pisa). It's by the Olympic Stadium. Also lined up there is the Biodome, which holds 4 areas of natural environments: rain forest, aquarium, Northeast wilderness, and artic region. All preserved, the Biodome conducts its own measures to save various endangered wild species. On the last day, through rain and cooler temperatures, we checked out Vieux Port, which means Old Port, the olden part of Montreal which overlooks the central island. Walkways are actually popular for biking and in-line skating in the summer. The riverside shops alternate between ice cream stores and in-line/bike rental stores. Further up the town you can go into the Notre Dame Cathedral, passing olden horse carriages...and modern SUVs. :) Inside this holy church where Celine Dion got married, hundreds of years of history show in the stained glass windows. They not only show resurrection scenes, but the founding days of Montreal. In the front has an additional cathedral with it's own organ pipes separate from the main worship area. [DIGITAL ALBUM PAGE WITH MORE MONTREAL PHOTOS] |
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Copyright 2001 by Orlando C. Fernando.
(Superman picture is Copyright 2001 by Hanna Barbara Productions.)This page
is for personal use only and not for reselling nor distribution to people outside
his intended audience.
