Philly Critical Mass September 2008 and Sarah Palin Demo

September 2008 Critical Mass Bike Ride in Philadelphia. This ride coincided with the first debate between presidential candidates senators Obama and McCain, and, coincidentally, governor Sarah Palin was in Philadelphia to watch the debate on TV at the Irish Pub at 20th and Walnut. Unfortunately by the time we got to Rittenhouse Square my camera was completely soaked, and even though it is able to work when pretty trashed I lost a number of shots.

This month's ride was very calm on the whole and featured a few staple locations such as the start at City Hall and the Italian Market, but this time we went all the way down to Penn's Landing, cruised by the four masted Moshulu and rode up the ramp from Delaware Ave back to olde city. This month the ride through the Fifth Street tunnel was particularly eerie, and the hooting of the crowd and the oozing swathes of light called for the addition of the signature tune from Doctor Who (1963 version, thank you very much).

After some meandering around we did go by 20th and Walnut to check out the weird apparition of Gov. Palin in our fair city. There was a huge crowd of people demonstrating against her presence here--isn't Alaska big enough?--and these people were being kept back on the sidewalk. Strangely, the cops just let us through. I stopped in the intersection to shoot some video but got moved on. One guy attempted a bike lift, but got hit by a cop. He later said that he thought that the cop slipped and just meant to push him... a pretty mellow situation considering that Sarah Palin would probably have shot him with a moose rifle.

I got a bunch of flowers at the when I left the ride and make it home in time to see the end of the debate on TV. I kind of wish I'd stayed riding about in the rain. It's much better for a person than listening to those guys telling lies, the both of them.

If McCain wins in November it will be a disaster for this country second only to Bush winning, I expect, so I hope it doesn't happen. Sad thing is that I guess I realized this rainy night that however awesome Obama is, it's tough to be yourself and be the president of the USA

Sorry about the rain on the camera lens. Music is by Ron Grainger (a wizard of a name, there) of the BBC radiophonic workshop who made those sounds years before their time, and Be Your Own Pet, who I'd vote for in a heartbeat. Buy their music!

See you on the streets!

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Philadelphia
• bike
• ride
• Sarah
• Palin
• Critical
• Mass
• track
• demonstration
• fixie
• Philly
• bicycle
• cargo
• dog

[tommcl1979]

Enjoyed the Dr. Who part!

[HowardFair]

Yeah, the combination of a camera that doesn't work in low light, water on the lens and the eerie screams of the riders meant that I just had to add Ron Grainger to the mix!

[terij1030]

Neat--some very arty stuff there....glad to hear you stop at lights, but do always worry about the dog! Did you actually encounter palin? If so, hope you gave her my regards-not!

[HowardFair]

Well, the video wasn't intentionally artsy... there was a lot of rain on the lens. Didn't see Palin, all we saw were bodyguards standing in the doorways. There was a spirited demonstration, part of which you can see near the end of this--blurry people carrying signs and singing slogans.

[ducksducks]

Is the turnout always that bad at the ones in Philly?

[Primus91]

thats me! from 1:03 to about 1:08 with the snow cap on. Great ride!

[megs97216]

HOW IS THE BIKING COMMUNITY THERE?

[kantaraler]

what a nice bike ride yelling in the tunnel and all great stuff

makes me wanna ride my bike

[GlasgowScumHunter]

Gasp......!That doggy had no helmet on! Great music Howard.