Time for a flat

Lopez Island, Washington

Headed out this morning for a ride. Barely made it to the main road before I realized that my front tire was flat as a pancake. Came home and set to work. A tiny leak in the inner tube sent a steady stream of bubbles into the water-filled sink. I haven't changed a flat in a long while, but today I am grateful that if it was time for a flat, I HAD time for a flat, too.

A subsequent test ride seems to suggest that I succeeded...and she's off!

SR 520 + SRT + BG = Big loop

Seattle, Washington

Headed out just after 4pm; the weather was gray. Headed east across 520, and the gray tuned to a drizzle. The weather app had looked promising, but before I could turn north, the weather went south. I got rained on for almost 35 of the 40 miles. Doesn’t feel like it should have been so cold after the lovely weather we’ve been having. But a spring rain can be COLD. By the time I rolled into the basement after 8pm, I was almost too cold to get undressed by myself. But it was a lovely ride anyhow. I am grateful!

40.6 miles

Notes on the Northern Loop

Seattle, Washington

Friday late afternoon and another "work from home" week ends. A beautiful, warm afternoon; to the north! I ride up to the north end of Lake Washington and head east and then south again up, up, up Juanita Hill. Normally I would never do this route on a Friday afternoon, but traffic is still lighter than usual. Still, I hate the cars whooshing by as I head DOWN Juanita Hill. Just as I get ready to head onto the 520 bridge, I see three gentlemen coming at me in matching spandex. "Mongolia" their jerseys read. I am so surprised I can't produce even a word of Mongolian before they are gone.

Crossing the lake on SR 520, I start to slow down, but the sight of Mt. Rainier is stupendous. What a gorgeous, gorgeous evening to be out and riding!

33.2 miles

I wish you were here

Seattle, Washington

I recently spent several days on Lopez, working remotely and riding my bike. My daughter taught me how to make a playlist on our Spotify account, and I set up possibly the most eclectic "riding songs" playlist possible. Hours riding in circles on Lopez blasting, among other things, a song by Alpha Blondy called "I wish you were here." Somehow it felt like an anthem for the last weeks: a year ago I was in Uzbekistan with my daughter. Right now my father is trapped in Europe and my mother in Arizona. Wish you were here. Or: I wish I was THERE. The song itself was a favorite of a house guest from Equatorial Guinea whom we hosted several years ago.

Yeah, I wish you were here--

Listen to the Alpha Blondy version here.

Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here"

So, so you think you can tell
Heaven from hell
Blue skies from pain
Can you tell a green field
From a cold steel rail?
A smile from a veil?
Do you think you can tell?

Did they get you to trade
Your heroes for ghosts?
Hot ashes for trees?
Hot air for a cool breeze?
Cold comfort for change?
Did you exchange
A walk on part in the war
For a lead role in a cage?

How I wish, how I wish you were here
We're just two lost souls
Swimming in a fish bowl
Year after year
Running over the same old ground
And how we found
The same old fears
Wish you were here

May Day flowers, the web version

Seattle, Washington

Dad is in France, more or less "stuck" for the duration. Today when he headed out for groceries, he found most of his usual stores closed. But why? May Day, of course. I think the United States is one of the few countries that does not celebrate May 1st as some kind of Worker's Day. But then there is also (or related somehow?) the tradition of delivering May Day flowers.

So, Dad carefully collected these flowers on his walk today and, poof, like magic, they were delivered to my computer across the endless miles.

Happy May Day!