Well, since I didn't have any big plans for Easter afternoon and it was a nice day, I decided to go rollerblading in a park in the neighboring town that has a paved loop going around the middle of it. However, it wasn't all that great because of all the cars going around said loop (it connects to the streets around the perimeter by several driveways and has some parking areas off of it). I really don't see why they have to allow people to drive around there--most of the parking areas are right near the entrances to the park, so why not let people only drive in that far but not around the main loop? It's a park--people go there to get outside, get some exercise and relax so they should be able to WALK a little bit from the parking lot to get where they want to go. How lazy are we? Not to mention that people walk (including pushing kids in strollers), run, skate etc. around that loop--it's the main path for such purposes, there are a couple of short dirt trails (good for walking/running but not for skaters and parents pushing strollers) but that's about it--and it's fairly narrow so it can be dangerous when cars are coming through. I was skating on the left side, as I should be, and at one point somebody driving through (who had plenty of opportunity to see me and didn't have anyone coming the other way) moved CLOSER to the edge rather than giving me some room to pass, causing me to have to squeeze past them and step onto the dirt with one foot and almost crash. Now, I doubt this person was intentionally trying to be a jerk and run me off the pavement--maybe they saw the couple walking on the other side before they saw me and were trying to give them more room--but it was pretty unpleasant nonetheless. Fortunately I managed to stay on my feet. I think I'll try to find somewhere else to skate next time, or at least not go to that park on a weekend day when it's busier. Dodging cars constantly in a place like that really takes away from the enjoyment.
2011 Surly LHT
1995 Trek 830