Cliffhanger 2012

 A thousand participants have placed the 2012 Cliffhanger 5K 8K in the record book and raised money for worthy causes at the same time.  The race was held today along Cliff Drive in Historic Northeast.  Above, the start of the Elite Division at 8am...

 Above, the Brother's Dicus... Kent, on the left, is President of the Northeast Kansas City Historical Society and Steve is just a normal guy :)

 Shots of the second race which began at 9am.  Below foreground, a rare sight, two Baldridges in the wild... their wife/mom Mel was assistant race director.

 Above, famous local publisher, Mr. Bushnell...  who ran in the second race... although I had to line him up with a tree to detect movement.

 Four-footed friends were welcome as were wee-ones in strollers.

 This was the 27th Annual Race put on by the KC Trak Club... it benefits Northeast Neighbor to Neighbor, Special Olympics, and Gladstone School.

 Afterward, Chris Cakes provided the grub.  Hyper was granted special dispensation to partake. 

 Flipping cakes was entertaining.....   below man is HUNGRY.

 Above, one of the youngest Audrey Smith, age 10,... she was blazing fast.   Below, world-renowned, local columnist from the STAR.

 Great weather and a clean, beautiful course.

Another shot of the beginning of the second race.  

We Came Close in '93

Kansas City came close in 1993 to major flooding... the Missouri crested at 48.9 feet on July 27th.  The picture on the left and other "aerials" I took on that day from the top of City Hall.  

 Above, the old Paseo Bridge.  Below, during the flood period an old paddle wheel the William S. Mitchell broke away from its moorings and headed down river from Kansas City, Kansas..  Despite the best efforts of a lone tugboat, the vessel crashed into three bridges.  Wreckage shown in some photos below.

Above, under the Paseo Bridge.

 Above photo taken on July 12th shows the bank-full Missouri with the ASB Bridge in the background.

 Above, the water is almost level with the Downtown Airport.

 Above and below, more shots take on July 12, 15 days before crest. 

Elmwood

 I'm not going into a lot of history about Elmwood Cemetery here.  If you desire more information you can visit their most excellent website:  http://www.elmwoodcem-kc.org

Suffice it to say it's one of the oldest in the city and contains the remains of many famous citizens... from mayors to madams.   I occasionally like to walk through the grounds and look for pictures.  Today I was also looking for a deer that has taken up residence.  I did find her, but not until I got home and looked at the pictures.  See if you can find her.  

 The grounds were designed by George Kessler who also did Cliff Drive, Kessler Park and many, many of our Parks and Boulevards.   His original design is somewhat intact... although it included a lake which is gone.

 Above, all nationalities are buried here.  Below, lambs guard a child's grave.

 Elmwood is very well maintained considering it's age.  And Armour (the meat family) Chapel still functions for funerals and weddings.

 Many Civil War Veterans are  interred here.

 Above, the tomb of Jacob Loose (Loose Park).. founder of the Loose Viles Biscuit Co.   Below, we now know where he is....  :  WALDO

 Mr. and Mrs. Stevens now separated by tree.

 Above, a bit if irony for Sean.  Changes on a crypt.