Saturday, November 14, 2015
There was a cold and rainy forecast for the day, but my early morning eye out the window showed a calm and dry roadway. I could most likely squeeze in a bike ride!
Susan had a taste for breakfast sandwich and we were out of eggs. Next best thing -- an errand run to McDonald's where I could also get my bonus teaneuring trip in ;'-)
Teaneuring at McDs??? As I always say, these trips are not all about the tea ;'-) |
Yep, we are at McDonald's |
I bundled up quite heavily and started my ride by about 8:45 to cheat the rain that was coming by late morning or early afternoon (they said).
Our rain gauge out our front window. A dry spell! |
Put on my stormsocks against the cold but my toes ended up a bit chilled anyway |
Red on red |
I feel so fortunate that I can start riding from my door and have a decent 15-25 mile ride (depending on my choice dictated by weather, time and energy level). The neighborhood roads I ride are very light in automobile traffic, and this morning I see a few joggers and many walkers -- most with the exercise inducing dog at their side. I stop for several photos but don't want to linger too long as I am trying to beat that rain.
Some fall color lingers |
At first look I thought there were more than one tree here. I walked around it to confirm -- it is a multicolored single tree |
Beyond the rainclouds, the sun shines onto the Olympic Mountains |
I had a fine time meandering the neighborhoods and made my way to the highway to cross over to McDonalds. I rolled my bike inside without asking and no one bothered to notice or say anything. The customer count was low and I tucked my bike into an inconspicuous out of the way spot, got my goods and sat with my tea. I normally use my own mug (to be a little green), but needed some evidence that I was here ;'-).
I often ride this route (minus the McD stop) and try to vary it a bit which I did today. I ride through a couple of school grounds, but today I took a path I have not taken before. It led me behind the buildings and showed me a piece of artwork I would not have seen.
The butterfly emerges |
The climbing wall at the front of the school |
With only minor meandering, my return trip home is basically the same route I took to get here, but has a different viewpoint. As I ride along the road, I don't know how, but I spotted some graffiti art in a very hard to spot place.
This view is looking back on the road from where I was riding. In essence, one cannot see this art from that perspective. |
There is a ravine here that the bridge I rode over crosses. I don't know how the artists did it, but they got the bridge side decorated. |
The photo of the graffiti is deceptive in that it looks like one could simply stand by the wall and art away. Not so. The bridge is up high and the ravine is below it. This is as close as I can get to it for a photo, so some is left out of the picture.
All too soon it was time to get home -- not too soon for Susan who was awaitng her breakfast sandwich deliviery. And guess what -- the sun was out and accompanied me for my final few miles ---- and stayed out the remainder of the day! So much for weather forecasts around here. I may have been just slightly over-bundeled, but the morning 39 degrees did hit my toes a bit! It was quite nice to get out early in the morning however, and I had a grand time for my self.