Gorgeous Friday!

I totally lucked out on my ride home! - It didn't start raining, and I was able to get some amazing photographs. It was even sunny and amazing at the beginning of my ride. Even with the sun, the weather was pretty cold, especially as the sun set more and more.

On this particular ride, I was so excited that it was nice weather, that I stopped a lot to take pictures. The weather report says its going to rain for the next full week -- by the time its nice again, all the leaves that are turning colors now will be completely gone!

When I got to the I-90 bridge there was a strong headwind, and it was very cold! I was really glad I had leg warmers and a long sleeved jersey! The bridge was more empty today than it normally is, which I was really glad about; I have been rather nervous about crossing the bridge-deck lately when there are lots of cyclists coming the other direction, or people walking or jogging on the bridge. Once I was across the bridge, I started to see the gorgeous vines on the walls I blogged about earlier.

I think these vines are amazing.

By the time I got to these vines, the sun was almost down and they were in shadow, so I didn't get quite the gorgeous photo's that I had gotten at the beginning of the ride.

Still, amazing.

First pictures of FALL!

I remembered my camera today!

This picture is of some of the first leaves to turn yellow outside my building. Expect more pictures tonight... well maybe tomorrow.

Hopefully it won't be raining on my ride home, I really wished I had a camera yesterday, the ride was SO GORGEOUS!! The I-90 trail crosses a couple of tree lined streets where the colors are just starting to change. Also, there are some amazing vines growing on the I-90 walls.

Ok -- enough about what I wished I could take pictures of -- I promise to take some tonight!

The funniest thing happened....

Last night on my ride home...

I was just doing my thing, about halfway across Mercer Island, when I encountered a rider that I was about to pass, I called "on your left" and then came around him. We smiled at each other, I took off up the hill and didn't really think much of it.

A mile or so later, when I crossed a street I realized that he was right behind me. A few minutes later, he called out "on your left" and wanted to pass me... I jokingly said: "how about I race you instead?" I don't remember exactly what he said, but indicated that having a girl pass him 'hurt his pride' I told him that he should become a bike racer, he responded "at my age?" and then took off.

I don't consider myself particularly fast... but to be upset that a girl on an official race team is passing you?? Oh PLEASE!

~ Abi

I love fall!

Yesterday was absolutely gorgeous, leaves just starting to change colors... I can see a few yellow leaves on the trees across from my cubical. When I ride across I-90 the vines are starting to turn red; and the bushes on Capital Hill are this insane bright red!

I didn't have my camera yesterday, so I couldn't take any pictures; I left it at home again today, so keep your fingers crossed for Friday.

The picture above is one that I took last year. Last year the weather was perfect. Super cold at night, and not much rain, so the leaves turned really bright colors. I hope this year is just as gorgeous.

Bus Tunnel Day

The bus tunnel opened this week!
Last week I was totally excited to be using the tunnel -- 5 stops instead of 10... no street traffic & hopefully a much faster commute!

Well... its not that great.

The buses have to go 30 miles an hour in the tunnels, which is way slower than they used to go, and today the lights weren't working properly so my bus got stuck for like 5 minutes. Aside from being underground, its really not any faster than it was before. There are still the same restrictions on bikes -- you can only transfer them on and off the bus at the first stop, the International District station, and the last stop, the Convention Place station. That doesn't really bother me, because those two stops are where I want to put my bike on or off anyway.

On the way in, there is an escalator to get out of the tunnel, which is a pretty easy way to get a bike out of the tunnel. But on the way HOME, I have to carry my bike down the stairs. OK, honestly its not that big of a deal, and I saw some guy carrying his bike down the stairs today -- but I'm already writing a post complaining about the tunnel, so I might as well complain about that too :)

Other than the tunnel -- I'm really getting this commute thing figured out!
I use this tiny camel back backpack, which holds a magazine, my ZUNE, my 'purse', and any small random things I need, like my slip-on shoes, or the travel pants I wear on the bus. Travel pants you ask? well, you see, I feel totally uncomfortable sitting on the bus, wearing just bike shorts when I ride in to work - but I have this pair of super light zip off pants that coordinate with my team gear. So I wear the zip off pants and either roll up the right leg, or zip it off to ride into work. On the way home, the bike shorts don't bother me so much -- so I roll up the 'travel pants' and put them in my backpack.

Oh, I should explain about my 'purse' -- its not really a purse, its a travel bag that holds my wallet, bus tickets, cell phone, a checkbook, and a pen or two. Sometimes I stick my ZUNE inside too. It works GREAT -- It maybe looks a little wierd carying it around for shopping, but hey - so does wearing bike gear at the grocery store.