Race Expo and More Random Shots Around Philly

Today I went to the Race Expo to pick up my packet for tomorrow's Philly Triathlon. I also met some of the members of the Tri Club I just joined, and they seem like really cool people. Plus, it’s nice to be able to talk to people who are actually interested in discussing training techniques, nutrition during races, paces, times, equipment and pretty much all the stuff that most folks find generally mind-numbing! The Expo was in a place called Memorial Park, which I probably would have never gone to, had it not been for the race. I rode through the park last weekend and decided to cruise around it today on my mountain bike.

Anyway, here are some pics I took while out getting some fresh air.

This is the entrance to Memorial Park - it's a Civil War Memorial, and this is a picture of the plaque on one side. Pretty cool words.




This is a picture of what will soon become the Philadelphia, "Please Touch Museum." While that name at first may conjure images of a kids museum sponsored by Michael Jackson - it's actually a place for all ages where you get a "hands-on" science experience. The Franklin Institute is a very science oriented place, and this is one of its off-shoots. Neat place. I just thought the front of the building looked cool.

These are some more pictures of Boathouse Row. The last couple I took a while back were hazy, but these are much more clear and from across the river.



This was just a cool statue near the transition area. "St. George and the Dragon." Apparently, there's some kind of society for him here...anyway this is also a picture of the transition area for the race. It's HUGE! Something like 3000 racers this year.




Finally, here's Rocky! He used to be at the top of the Art Museum stairs (remember in the first movie - the steps he kept running up?) but some uppity moron decided the statue wasn't "artsy-fartsy" enough. They briefly moved him to the Wachovia (then - the Philadelphia) Spectrum where he fought in the movie. They finally decided to bring him back to the Art Museum, and he's now on the ground to the left of the staircase he ran up. It's nearly impossible to get a picture of the statue without some tourist standing there in the same pose as the statue. Since I did - this picture is probably worth something!