Come Take a Ride With Me
Come take a ride with me to and from work. I get to see some neat stuff during my daily commute. Please ignore the dates on the photos as it took me several days to get the shots. For some I had to wait for a red light to get the photo. In the end it is a complete trip to and from work,,,at least until I hopefully move closer to work in October.
Thanks to a co-worker I found a way to work that did not involve all the stop and go traffic on I-10, I-95 and Butler Blvd. My speed varies from 35 mph to 65 mph, but at least I am, almost, always moving. Two miles north of my neighborhood I turn onto Beaver Street. At this end it is all very rural. Then it becomes very commercial & industrial before reaching downtown Jacksonville.
Depending on the trains, more on that later, I may take a small detour to avoid a construction zone on Beaver Street. Part of the detour takes me down McCoy's Creek Parkway. After a heavy rainstorm this street floods, otherwise it makes for a scenic detour.
Once I reach downtown I pass Hemming Park. This shark was placed in the pond in March of 2015. It is now gone and I am not sure what will replace it. Previously there has been a large rubber ducky and a ginormas Goldfish cracker. It is some part of a UNF project. Hemming Park hosts numerous festivals and events during the course of the year. If you look carefully, right behind the light post, you can see the cars for the automated Jacksonville Skyway. It connects different parts of downtown. There is currently discussion on whether to remove it or renovate and expand it. Either choice will cost some big bucks.
Update: 04/14/2016 The shark has been replaced with a giant chicken.
Just past the park, at the corners of Laura and Monroe Streets sits this neat church and across the street where the blue mural is sits Chamblin's Book Mine. Between their two stores and one warehouse they have about one million books. 98% of their inventory is used/rare books with new books making up the remaining 2%.
Another church in downtown. There are several that I pass and they are beautiful. This is the Basilica of The Immaculate Conception.
Here is just the top of another church, there is a better photo of it further down. Oh the joys of one way streets.
As I reach the eastern end of downtown I get onto the Commodore Point Expressway. I pass the Maxwell House company. Depending on the time of day the smell of freshly roasted coffee is heavenly. Every day at noon they sound the lunch break whistle.
In the distance you can see the Isaiah Hart Bridge, I cross that twice each day. The bridge is named after the founder of Jacksonville and crosses the St. Johns River.Jacksonville is names after President Andrew Jackson. One of 5 motor vehicle bridges that cross the river in the downtown are. There is also one train bridge.
Once on the expressway I pass Everbank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On my right, I pass Metropolitan Park. I have seen some great concerts there, Pat Benatar, Chicago and Jackson Brown. It also hosts a large boat show every year.
I am now about 10-15 minutes from the office. This crossing guard always smiles and waves at every car passing by, I guess she was checking a text message this morning. Behind her is a Pawn Shop. Their lighted sign offers "Free Air Guitars".
At work, this pair of Canada Geese have been hanging around a lot lately.
On the way home, after I cross the bridge I drive right past this church, same one that only the top of is posted earlier. I think it is St John's Cathedral, an Episcopalian Church.
Next up. the United House of Prayer,or UHOP, Where Everyone is Welcome.
A block down from the House of Prayer is this unassuming place. It is currently being renovated. An extension has been added to the back with an elevator shaft and a heavy duty external staircase.It used to be an old hotel, wish the photo had come out clearer. It was originally opened in 1912. Once the renovations are completed it will house Veteran's Services on the first floor and provide housing for up to 30 Veterans on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
We have now left the downtown area and are entering the commercial/industrial portion of Beaver Street. This is one of a few Farmers' Markets in the Jacksonville area. I have got to get here one weekend.
Trains, let's talk about trains. CSX is based in Jacksonville. Back in the Civil War days Jacksonville was a major shipping point for hogs and cattle. Many, many years ago the town was originally named "Cow Ford" because of all the cattle. During the Civil War, a little ways west of here, the Battle of Olustee took place. It was all about control of a train track. The Confederate Troops won the battle, soundly decimating the Union forces, and there is a great re-enactment every year. Next to the Farmer's Market is a huge train yard. If I don't take the detour I cross 5 sets of tracks, each way. If I take the construction zone detour that number goes up to 7 sets of tracks, each way. On this particular day I got caught by a very long train crossing Beaver Street. I am always looking for trains sitting on the siding that runs parallel to Beaver Street. If there is a train sitting still you can be guaranteed there is another one coming right on through. This guy was sneaky and crossed over from the north side or Beaver Street.
Look familiar? Same darn train, maybe 4 miles down Beaver Street and it is crossing the road I live on. Two miles from home and I get stopped by a train, again.
I am now in the home stretch, literally. Less than two miles south of the last photo is my little neighborhood. Sometimes I really enjoy living out in the rural area, but then I have to drive to work.
I hoped you enjoyed our drive and will take another trip with me sometime soon.
Thanks to a co-worker I found a way to work that did not involve all the stop and go traffic on I-10, I-95 and Butler Blvd. My speed varies from 35 mph to 65 mph, but at least I am, almost, always moving. Two miles north of my neighborhood I turn onto Beaver Street. At this end it is all very rural. Then it becomes very commercial & industrial before reaching downtown Jacksonville.
Depending on the trains, more on that later, I may take a small detour to avoid a construction zone on Beaver Street. Part of the detour takes me down McCoy's Creek Parkway. After a heavy rainstorm this street floods, otherwise it makes for a scenic detour.
Once I reach downtown I pass Hemming Park. This shark was placed in the pond in March of 2015. It is now gone and I am not sure what will replace it. Previously there has been a large rubber ducky and a ginormas Goldfish cracker. It is some part of a UNF project. Hemming Park hosts numerous festivals and events during the course of the year. If you look carefully, right behind the light post, you can see the cars for the automated Jacksonville Skyway. It connects different parts of downtown. There is currently discussion on whether to remove it or renovate and expand it. Either choice will cost some big bucks.
Update: 04/14/2016 The shark has been replaced with a giant chicken.
Just past the park, at the corners of Laura and Monroe Streets sits this neat church and across the street where the blue mural is sits Chamblin's Book Mine. Between their two stores and one warehouse they have about one million books. 98% of their inventory is used/rare books with new books making up the remaining 2%.
Another church in downtown. There are several that I pass and they are beautiful. This is the Basilica of The Immaculate Conception.
Here is just the top of another church, there is a better photo of it further down. Oh the joys of one way streets.
As I reach the eastern end of downtown I get onto the Commodore Point Expressway. I pass the Maxwell House company. Depending on the time of day the smell of freshly roasted coffee is heavenly. Every day at noon they sound the lunch break whistle.
In the distance you can see the Isaiah Hart Bridge, I cross that twice each day. The bridge is named after the founder of Jacksonville and crosses the St. Johns River.Jacksonville is names after President Andrew Jackson. One of 5 motor vehicle bridges that cross the river in the downtown are. There is also one train bridge.
Once on the expressway I pass Everbank Field, home of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
On my right, I pass Metropolitan Park. I have seen some great concerts there, Pat Benatar, Chicago and Jackson Brown. It also hosts a large boat show every year.
I am now about 10-15 minutes from the office. This crossing guard always smiles and waves at every car passing by, I guess she was checking a text message this morning. Behind her is a Pawn Shop. Their lighted sign offers "Free Air Guitars".
At work, this pair of Canada Geese have been hanging around a lot lately.
On the way home, after I cross the bridge I drive right past this church, same one that only the top of is posted earlier. I think it is St John's Cathedral, an Episcopalian Church.
Next up. the United House of Prayer,or UHOP, Where Everyone is Welcome.
A block down from the House of Prayer is this unassuming place. It is currently being renovated. An extension has been added to the back with an elevator shaft and a heavy duty external staircase.It used to be an old hotel, wish the photo had come out clearer. It was originally opened in 1912. Once the renovations are completed it will house Veteran's Services on the first floor and provide housing for up to 30 Veterans on the 2nd and 3rd floors.
We have now left the downtown area and are entering the commercial/industrial portion of Beaver Street. This is one of a few Farmers' Markets in the Jacksonville area. I have got to get here one weekend.
Trains, let's talk about trains. CSX is based in Jacksonville. Back in the Civil War days Jacksonville was a major shipping point for hogs and cattle. Many, many years ago the town was originally named "Cow Ford" because of all the cattle. During the Civil War, a little ways west of here, the Battle of Olustee took place. It was all about control of a train track. The Confederate Troops won the battle, soundly decimating the Union forces, and there is a great re-enactment every year. Next to the Farmer's Market is a huge train yard. If I don't take the detour I cross 5 sets of tracks, each way. If I take the construction zone detour that number goes up to 7 sets of tracks, each way. On this particular day I got caught by a very long train crossing Beaver Street. I am always looking for trains sitting on the siding that runs parallel to Beaver Street. If there is a train sitting still you can be guaranteed there is another one coming right on through. This guy was sneaky and crossed over from the north side or Beaver Street.
Look familiar? Same darn train, maybe 4 miles down Beaver Street and it is crossing the road I live on. Two miles from home and I get stopped by a train, again.
I am now in the home stretch, literally. Less than two miles south of the last photo is my little neighborhood. Sometimes I really enjoy living out in the rural area, but then I have to drive to work.
I hoped you enjoyed our drive and will take another trip with me sometime soon.
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