Day 1, Morning Commute (20 miles):
Sunny in Kirkland/Bellevue/Seattle despite predictions of rain, but high, sustained south winds with gusts up to over 40 mph meant I worked very, very hard to creep along at a whopping 13.3 mph. Lots of blowdown and branches on the roads. Crossing the I-90 bridge was a hair-raising exercise in controlling the bicycle so as not to be dashed into the railing or into the lake (not sure if that's possible, but it did cross my mind). I'm still riding the extremely upright hybrid rental bike -- going on Week 7, I think, although I've kind of lost count -- and I would have given my jacket for a bike with drop handlebars today.

Finished the ride by having a guy in a small pickup truck honk at me as I rode down S. Dearborn St. I was out in the lane, avoiding the bike lane because lots of motorists right hook cyclists and I've seen many narrow misses on that road. When the bike lane went away, he stopped honking. Eventually he pulled up next to me -- I was in the far left lane, turning left, and he was in a middle lane going straight -- and he wagged his finger at me sanctimoniously. I shook my head and pointed emphatically to indicate I was in the right place. He rolled down his window and we had the following exchange:

Him: You have to ride in the bike lane.
Me: No, bikes can ride anywhere on the road.
Him: No, bikes have to ride in the bike lane.
Me: I work for the Bicycle Alliance, I know this. Bikes can ride anywhere.
Him: No, bikes have to ride in the bike lane.
Light turns green and we start to go.
Me: Bikes are vehicles!

...at least I got in the last word. It wasn't an angry exchange at all, just one in which we were clearly in totally different worlds, communication-wise.