the beginning of the end...of the year

Well, in hindsight this wasn't the best day to ride the bike, though I don't regret it. There was a storm warning and gusts and all that -- but by the time I left Oceanside, there was a breeze and barely a drizzle so I thought I was in the clear. Of course by the time I started out of Penn I saw that the wind was still picking up and it was raining. I think there was a day in July or August that was harder than this but it has been a while since I've rode in the precipitous conditions.

The wind was certainly something to contend with (though it may have propelled me once or twice).

The morning's playlist included:
"Thunderstruck" (live) - AC/DC
"I Don't Wanna Change the World," "Perry Mason," and "Black Rain" - Ozzy
"Nobody Weird Like Me" - RHCP

The interesting thing about my band selection is that I can vividly recall that all three artists released albums within months of each other in Fall 1995, so vicariously it was a very creative time and personally a pretty fun one. Gwar did, too, but we'll pretend like I didn't know that. I think I had just about started to play bass that year or the very next year.

The wind kicked up before I even got to Chelsea Piers today so I knew it wouldn't be a cake-walk. There were a few people jogging and biking and that's pretty cool it means they are in it for the long haul, like me -- or it could mean they'd rather not be on the subway, like me. There were very few people along the highway, so when one guy cut me off very closely I found that to be an unnecessary maneuver and that was a momentary agitation.

I sincerely doubt I'll be riding back to Penn tonight, if this keeps up. It's the sort of thing I feel out once I'm outside. There was a day back in July where I rode the bike one-way, so if I don't ride back, it does complete the other half of that day and I'll count it. Yesterday was R/T day #330.

My maroon Key West shirt is soaked as are my gray sweats but I am wearing shorts underneath the sweats so my undies won't be too soggy.

Thank you for reading.