Missing a Gear: Pulling the Hills of Western PA

I should probably point out here that I live in Pittsburgh, so this should not have surprised me. Have you heard about Uber using Pittsburgh as a test city for their driver-less cars? A spokesman explained that, "If we can do it in Pittsburgh, we can do it anywhere." What he really means is this: "If we can keep a driverless car from getting lost in the most haphazardly-planned city in America, we'll probably do okay everywhere else."

 

Yeah, I had shut down in Aspinwall last night so I wouldn't have to fight through the Fort Pitt this morning. The parking lot was Butler St. between the Highland Park Bridge and 51st, so not sure if that had anything to do with the Liberty closure on the other side of downtown, but who knows?

My real issue was that when I got to Aspinwall last night, it was 9:30, so I couldn't leave until 7:30 this morning. But hey, how long could it possibly take to go 4.7 miles...? Apparently, it could take 39 minutes...add a few more minutes for a pre-trip, and I came out looking like the idiot who couldn't plan a simple trip. Because I actually AM that idiot!

 

Sears warehouse. I think you CAN park overnight there, because a buddy of mine did earlier this week. But when I asked if there were restrooms, he said, "I think there's supposed to be a night shift working, so if you find someone you can ask."

No thanks. I have standards. They're not high, but walking around a darkened warehouse parking lot in the middle of the night hoping to find someone is JUST below where they start.