"How was the ride. D'ja getwet"? I'm touched that so many people in my office were so concerned about my ride home last nite.
Yes I did get wet. And no, it didn't bother me at all. It took me over an hour for the eleven mile ride. The puddles forced me to time my riding so I could swerve into the road to avoid both the standing water and the speeding cars.
Yesterday the animal control officer was in front of the home of a dog that greets me every time I ride by. He runs the fence line as I pass, ending up on top of a woodpile sending me on my way with his barking. I wanted to stop and ask if something had happened, but the owner, controll officer and a guy in a big ole pickup truck were in the street talking.
This morning I stopped and asked a woman walking her dogs if she knew anything. She also saw the dog officer but thinks she heard my buddy barking later in the evening. I really hope he is there tonight when I ride by. I'll get a photo.
Also this morning the "duck dog" was back. He is a golden retriever who is stationed at the pond in front of a neighboring business. His job is to chase the geese away. (They do make a mess because there are so many.). He came charging at me when I approached to take a photo. Stopping at the electric fence, I think he noticed the camera, looked right at me, sat down and posed. He gave me two shots before moving off to check the pond.
Only two trucks were idling in the driveways today. Ironic that I was perspiring while riding, while these guys warmed up their trucks so they won't be chilled. I always though guys who drove pickups were tough. How wrong I am on that huh?
The birds are just starting to chatter as I drive though the country part of the commute. The city's bird culture was quiet this morning.
Welcome to how I feel in the chilliest of winter days. People sit there and let their vehicles idle for 10, 15, or 20 minutes at a time so that they get warm and the ice melts off their windows.
ReplyDeleteI step outside without scraping any windows, but give a brisk shiver as the cool air begins to weave its way through the fabric of whatever it is that I'm wearing. I hop on the bike, and within a minute or two, I'm comfortable and just as warm as I'd be if I were in a pre-heated car. 15 minutes after I step outside, just as the temp. needles of those cars are starting to inch away from "Cold", I'm at my destination. Even if I had further to ride, cycling would be a huge time and money saver if the alternative is waiting for my car to warm up over the course of 20 minutes.