April 10 Rides

[mimitabby]

Today, April 10th is the first day I felt comfortable enough to commute to work ALONE. I don't like riding in the dark and it finally is light enough in the morning.
I dress differently when I commute to work. I wear my work clothes, since the entire trip is flat or downhill. I wore a skull cap under my helmet but did nothing else for the cold except wear my brilliant raincoat.
The large long hill that takes me from Beacon Hill to Boeing field (a filled in river bed) was devoid of traffic. I heard the birds chirping and felt my fingers freezing, but I knew once I got down to sea level that I would work hard enough to warm those fingers up. At the intersections, I encountered reasonable motorists. I didn't have to stop for every light! and then finally, I was on company property. A friendly guard waved me in and I cruised along AT THE SPEED LIMIT of 15mph, along with the jitney drivers, the trucks and a few cars. I crossed the street at the light, leaving company property for a moment and then entering company property for my favorite part of the commute. I went under the bridge that takes you to South Park, and into the very hangar that they used to build bomber planes in during world war II. but this building is not what it used to be. Once it was filled with hundreds of workers and noisy machines, and cars and bikes and
all sorts of vehicles going up and down the road. The road going through these buildings was so busy that it was nicknamed "Burma Road" And there I was, riding down that road surrounded by utter silence. the pavement is so smooth that there was no sound at all as I cruised through. I can't ride through that building without thinking of the thousands of people who worked there over the years, the Rosy the Rivetters, and all the fathers and grandfathers who made this work their career, and now, there is nothing left in that building except storage and memories.
I got to work with rosy cheeks and a smile. AND i was awake.
Coming home was another story. The lovely sunny (windy) day had turned, the sky was angry and the wind, haha, was still there. It started to rain on me the last mile of my journey, but even with my tired legs, I got up the hill okay and home.

[mimitabby]

Starfish, 8 miles and 1000 feet of climb is QUITE a ride!

[silver]

Mimi, neat commute!!!!

21 miles on some hillier roads and through neighborhoods to shield from the wind. 12.9

[Kano]

Starfish, 8 miles and 1000 feet of climb is QUITE a ride!

I was thinking that too! I know how I'd do on a climb like that! I'd still be wroking on it tomorrow!

Karen in Boise

[Starfish]

Starfish, 8 miles and 1000 feet of climb is QUITE a ride!

I live in a little town sandwiched between salt water and glaciers. I live on a hill, and I can either ride down, or ride up, or put my bike on the car and drive it 20 miles to where there are some flat areas. So, if I only have time for a little ride out my back door, choices are limited.

I have a road out the back door that climbs 5000 feet in less than 18 miles, up into the Olympic National Park. It is beautiful, and handy, but it climbs 1700 feet in the first 5 miles. (I have a triple AND a 32 on the back!)