Nashville is something of a blue dot in the red state of Tennessee. But even so, this Bible Belt city is no slacker when it comes to churches. Below is only a few of the churches that can be found along my commute and in my neighborhood.
This one was just begging for the Hipstamatic treatment
Of course, I also pass multiple restaurants and one wine store (right across from one of the churches!)…what do you see in quantity along your daily ride?
What do you see in multiples along your commute?
Let's Go Ride a Bike 
On my current route to work, it’s all residential until I reach the river. Then it’s a hike and bike trail and highway for the last two miles.
On my previous route to work, though, I saw somewhere between three and five Montessori schools. I sometimes joked that in south Austin, Montessori schools were more common than Starbucks.
I read the name of the church in that last photo as “Mount Pariah” — now that’s my kind of church.
My commute is a pastoral mix of superfund sites, enterprising hipsters and the people they (we? sob!) are displacing until I reach the Williamsburg bridge. Then it is downtown Manhattan clusterf*ck until I reach the Village.
There isn’t really a way to make it pretty but I still love it. And my ride on the subway at rush hour yesterday reminded me, yet again, that when I’m riding my bicycle I am less likely to see people without pants on.
I thought that was the name, too, for at least a year.
People without pants — one thing I’ve yet to discover along my commute! Thanks for the laugh.
Hi Trisha – As i work at home my commute is circular. Sparkles, our dog, always enjoys the morning ride though. This AM we saw several piles-o-coyote-poop and an owl. And she smelled some really great things on the breeze which escaped me.
Nashville might be a blue dot, but if you start connecting all the dots, it could be an eye-opener!
Thanks for the great photos. I agree w/neighbourtease about “Mt. Pariah”. That must be the one across from the Spirit store. In Minnesota there’a a town named Sacred Heart –
and of course there’s a Sacred Heart Liquor Store. I’m feeling that old time religion!
Ha. Love the idea of naming a liquor store after a church. Sparkles sounds like a lucky dog!
Certain areas of Portland have a lot of churches, but I don’t think there are that many overall around the city. There are a few that I pass often, but I pass about 5 times as many pubs/breweries, 10 times as many restaurants, and even a couple of medical marijuana distribution centers :)
Ah, the real difference between the Pacific Northwest and the Bible Belt. Aside from the weather!
If you ever come visit, you will not want for lack of good food, coffee, beer, or books, that’s for sure :)
Cows. Lots of cows. And booze / beer bottles. Those cows must party hard at night! :)
Ha. Who says the country is quiet?
In Salt Lake City, you can’t go a couple of blocks without hitting a church. I have to admit, church parking lots are the BEST for practicing bicycle skillz. It’s where I learned to ride a bike.
On my commute there is a huge mural of the Lady Madonna on the side of a brick building. It is quite lovely.
Not so many churches. But plenty of lefty bumper stickers. It’s Portland, after all!
I do pass one volcano, but go in the wrong direction to hit a second one. But I think it deserves mention nonetheless.
Volcanos definitely deserve a mention.
Oh yeah, I was just saying the other day what a mess it would be if Mount Tabor became active again :)
Yeah, Portland seems to be a city of bumper stickers, everyone has to complain about something passive-aggressively :D
I hate all bumper stickers almost as much as I hate the Westboro Baptist Church.
That sounds lovely! We need more murals in the world.
Mostly I see nature in all its seasonal glory. We have distinct seasons in Northern Arizona and people usually move here to enjoy them and the great outdoors. Lately, I’ve enjoyed ponderosa pines covered in whipped cream-like snow, with the white capped mountains in the background. Along with that I see scavenging ravens and red tailed hawks in search of food.
Sounds beautiful, Karen!
Pubs! I go through pub and bar heaven. And I see lots of charity shops too.
Ooh, I need to ride your commute. Two of my favorite things.
I wish I saw bicyclists in multiples!
Me too! I keep thinking they’re going to come back out now that it’s spring but so far, nope.
2 or 3 churches on every block in Baltimore, right along with 3 or 4 bars.
I wish our church/bar ratio was a bit more favorable. :)
Clearly, you need more Catholic churches.
-lots of senior cyclists in the rural neighbourhood, huge packs of cyclists training/riding the highways for distance/speed, lots of goofy dogs + the odd horse, and miles and miles of open prairie! There are +++hot summer days when I’d kill for shade, and not being a Prairie girl originally I still can’t get used to the wide open spaces (and no Starbucks! :o( )! Right now, I see miles and miles of snowdrifts … they’ll melt, right? right??
Ah, makes me think of the Little House series! Sounds beautiful. Sans snowdrifts. :)
Ha, “a blue dot in the red state” made me think, as over here in Holland (and a number of other European countries, now that I mention it) red = socialists and blue = conservatives. I’m so glad that at least traffic lights are uniform the world over.
Churches galore, by the way. 250 denominations on the Protestant side alone, on a population of 16 million (half of which say they’re non-believers).
Trees. White snow. Yellow snow. :)
On Wednesday, I saw the asphalt of the bikeway for the first time this year! There was a small ice & snow free patch on a south side of a hill where the sun gets through first.