One gol-darn lucky gaucho

There's a fair amount of utilities construction on the surface streets near my house, so to avoid people like the crazy minivan lady who was driving way too fast and way too close in the narrow gravel part (and this was after she left the bakery - - - shouldn't she feel calm? or did she need to race to her destination so that she could eat her pastry?), my commute to and from work has been less direct.

This morning, riding in the fog as the weather shifted from a cool overnight to a hot and balmy day, I was thinking that I probably have one of the best commute routes ever:

1. I ride half a block to the park, and ride a third of the way around Lake Hiawatha.

I did not take this picture, but this is what it looks like right now.

2. I turn left and ride for a couple of miles along the creek, near the falls (not shown here because I don't actually see the falls when I ride to work, although I go by them).

I didn't take this one either, but it's pretty close to what it looks like right now.

 3. I do a sort of swoopy connector maneuver and ride over the Mississippi River, and then turn left/north and ride along it for a few miles.

This is the view from the bridge I ride over. This is obviously the fall, rather than the summer.
Today it was foggy and mystical.

4. I ride along Summit Avenue, a wide street with a bike lane and historic mansions, including the governor's mansion, although I ride along the end of it that is less dramatic, consisting of less old stone block. I ride for a few miles on Summit, which is the street where my office is.

I didn't take this photo.

Or this one.

     


So, it was a peaceful ride in. More peaceful than the hot, sticky ride home where a police car with lights and siren was speeding up behind me and maneuvering around cars while I hoped that my fluorescent shirt was visible.

We're really lucky to have such nice scenery. I'm looking forward to the scenery on the TRAM, too, which starts in less than a week! Proctor, Biwabik, Hibbing, Duluth, Two Harbors - - great, scenic North Shore and Iron Range towns.

http://main.nationalmssociety.org/goto/MaggieTRAM2015