On the Dave Clark Path on Nov. 19, 2023, a red-letter day, for me anyway.
Several times a week I take the bike along the Dave Clark Riverfront Path in Albany. That’s what I did again on Sunday because I wanted to take advantage of the weather, which was exceptionally fine.
I also wanted to mark the occasion in my usual way, which is to take a ride. The occasion was that on Sunday I turned 80 years of age, a milestone in life I’m kind of surprised I actually reached.
I stopped on the riverfront path and hauled out my phone to record the scene. If you’re up to it, you can see the result:
Later on the ride, I noticed a couple of things.
One was that there has been no progress for the last couple of months on the reconstruction of the eastern of two viewing piers on the Willamette River.
The pier remains inaccessible while its reconstruction is at a standstill.
But there has been progress in tearing out a small pedestrian crossing on the Water Avenue railroad line.
This asphalt walkway across the track between Ferry and Broadalbin streets was still there, but the shrubbery and walk in the parking lot have been removed.
This was one of the walks across the track to be removed as part of the $21 million Albany Waterfront Project, the main elements of which are reconstruction of Monteith Riverpark and a few blocks on the west end of Water Avenue.
The point of this ride was not to check on the riverfront project but to enjoy a nice November day on the bike. And that, dear readers, is what I did. (hh)
Happy Birthday, Hasso.
Happy Birthday!
Happy Birthday Hasso!
Happy Birthday Hasso and good wishes for many more.
Happy Birthday Hasso. Nice way to celebrate your 80th birthday and the weather cooperated.
Happy Birthday Hasso and thanks for the ride along.
A very Happy Birthday to you. And a big thanks for keeping us up to date on the happenings in Albany, Both big and small. Keep on riding
I forward your bike chats to a friend who is an avid rabid bike rider. He always says that he hopes he is riding his bike in his upcoming years! HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HASSO!!
We all love you and that is why we are here.
Congratulations Hasso. As you get “more mature” those days seem to come quickly. My mantra is a song by Tobey Keith called “Don’t Let The Old Man In”. Happy Birthday and keep pushing the pedals.
Happy Birthday Hasso.
You make a great contribution to our community. I’m 3+ ahead of you.
What nice weather to get out for an enjoyable birthday ride! Thanks so much for sharing the simple pleasures in life that sometimes are so easily overlooked!
Happy Birthday HH!
Happy Birthday to you! and thanks for all you do to keep us updated with what’s happening here in Albany. Keep on biking and reporting the news
Happy birthday!
Such a beautiful day and way to enjoy your birthday. We enjoy your posts.
Happy Birthday!
Happy BD Hasso – keep riding! I appreciate you and your posts.
Happy Birthday! I sure do enjoy reading your columns. Here’s to many more!
Belated birthday wishes Hasso! Thanks for all the articles and showing a better side to Albany. Most of the people that post here feel the same way you do about Albany and want it to be a city that keeps the good things that make it special.
Wow! I waved at you from the sidewalk yesterday morning just before you were entering the Salem Ave Round-about. Thanks for the smile and wave back. That made my day. Now I find out it was your 4-score birthday! Happy belated Birthday! And thanks for sharing your investigations with us. You help us to care about Albany.
Happy birthday Hasso and best wishes for many more. We appreciate you sharing your rides with us.
Hasso, you are a municipal treasure, a credit to old-school journalism, & an inspiration to anyone who thinks they’ve aged out of beloved activities. In your wildest dreams, did you imagine that at 80 you’d be selling ads? Onward!
Keep on keeping on…and also keep on reporting on Water Street rail crossings, and Dave Clark Path, and Monteith Park, and the river-viewing piers, and the river, itself.
Hasso, belated happy birthday! I turned 60 this year, and one of our longest-term co-workers turned 70 I believe; the old DH gang is, well, getting old … but it beats the alternative. Mary Parkinson would have turned 80 on Nov. 14.
Best wishes to you throughout this holiday season and always.