It’s the middle of February. Only two more months of winter! Ugh. And it’s a sure sign that Cabin Fever has taken hold when you start admiring your city’s potholes.
Yes, after four months of frost heaves, we have got some doozys out there. The best ones are hidden under puddles, just waiting to throw you over the bars. They’ll flip you. Flip you for real.
If you are cycling around Portland, you might look at potholes as an impromptu archaeological dig, exposing layers of the city’s past. Just under the asphalt is a whole nother world of cobbles and traintracks! Potholes are windows into another time! Who knew?
Michelle over at Strange Maine has some excellent posts about Portland’s cobblestone streets. Did you know that the cobbles came over from Europe as ballast on the ships? They would empty the cobbles from the ship’s hold, and load up with New World riches before heading back.
Also, did you know that Kid Fink loves riding over cobbles? “Bumpy!” He’s got the right idea. There’s nothing like cobblestones to make you slow down, look around, and think about where you are.
Coming soon: A ride that takes full advantage of Portland’s cobblestones. Stay tuned…
