Newburyport Today is pleased to be able to bring our reader’s the comments and observations of Newburyport Pedicab driver Paul Kelly. This is Paul’s 3rd season pedaling, and he has been kind enough to agree to share his experiences with us.
This past weekend was a study in contrasts. I barely managed to pedal passengers Corey and Rachael to the Plum Island Grill Friday night for her birthday dinner before the rain started; the rain lingered on into Saturday to make it a washout. But after the storm came clear skies – Sunday was a perfect autumn afternoon, an ideal stage for a playful pack of dogs behind the Custom House and a jumping disco in Market Square.
Mommy, can we take this one home? I hope everyone caught the Big Dog Show by Haverhill artist Dale Rogers ( www.TheBigDogShow.com ). He brought his pack of 20 rust colored American Dog steel dog sculptures over the weekend to the lawn behind the Custom House; Newburyport was one of six cities privileged to host this solo exhibit. You may have seen the American Dog before – Dale has kept a larger 16 foot sculpture for the last few years in a field at the Ward Hill exit off 495 in Haverhill. So how do you take Super Fido for a walk? Each dog is 8 feet high by 10 feet long and weighs 500 pounds. Dale uses a two wheeled dolly with hoist and straps to nudge his creations around.
Sunday Night Fever: It’s the last weekend before school starts – what do you do to wind up the summer? For some, it’s time to take that pedicab ride that you have been meaning to take all summer. But for Newburyport High students Max, Owen, and Pearce, you host your own disco in Market Square. All it takes is one bright yellow boom box and an excess of uninhibited spontaneity. The opportunity to join in was very contagious. I thought all five dancers were from NHS, but it turns out Briana (pink top) and Travis (black top) were from Sterling and Lancaster MA respectively, and just happened to be strolling through Market Square.
It’s been a relatively quiet summer this year, but as the Bee Gees put it so eloquently in “Stayin’ Alive”
“Feel the city breaking and everybody shaking,
And we’re stayin’ alive, stayin’ alive …”
Paul
Paul Kelly spends some of his free time pedaling at Newburyport Pedicab where all profits are donated to the Pan-Mass Challenge. To schedule a ride with Paul, call 978-225-0009
