Shanghai Thunderstorm

The streets as everyone begins to flee to shelter

The complex clovers of highway overpasses with the Nanpu Bridge in the distance.

On my way home I got caught in a thunder storm. As I rode, it was like the sky was on one big dimmer switch. The sky turned dark and ominous, the shops put up umbrellas and turned on lights. When I realized that I wasn’t going to make it home before the thunder storm caught up to me, I found shelter under the Nanpu Bridge. I parked my bike and noticed one significant flaw in my plan. Although the bridge does provide a large covering above my head, that covering is at least 80 feet above ground. In other words, if the rain decides not to fall straight down, I will be soaked. On the plus side, I wouldn’t be struck by lightning because the bridge is much much taller than I am.

Nik called to make sure I wasn’t out in the middle of the storm and when I told him where I was, he was jealous. We had some great times waiting out storms in Thailand, so this would have been a good one to add to the list. He would have loved dodging the rain behind the huge bridge supports. He would have loved watching the water fall from the bridge drains in huge archs as the wind shifted creating a waterfall for those of us standed beneath. He especially would have loved watching the old Chinese man do kung fu/tai chi while thunder boomed and lightning flashed all around us. (I didn’t take photos because I thought it would be rude…but boy did I want to)

Looking South towards the river

Thunder Sky

Looking North

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In other completely unrelated news, I went to the ceramics studio again yesterday and finished another pinch pot that I am actually proud of! After completing this set, I think I’m done with hand building and I’m going to start throwing again. It’s just so much more satisfying and therapeutic. To me anyways.

From the side

From above