bike congestion

another ride into work this morning. they decided to play with the steel bridge and leave it up (it's a draw bridge). the first is the bike/pedi path i take on the bridge, the second picture is bridge up and third picture is bridge as it is normally.

work people informed me bridges will be up and down this week and next monday for Fleet Week. i kinda like watching those big navy ships roll in, as long as it doesn't make me late for work. maybe i'll post pictures if they're coming down the river on my evening commute.

so the bridge was raised. it's annoying because it makes me late but at the same time seeing "bike congestion" makes me happy. there were so many of us waiting on the bridge, on both sides. yay bike commuters! so we're all waiting looking around for the boat or barge because that's what they raise the bridges for. no boats. no barges. there's nothing except for some canadian geese swimming back-and-forth under the bridge honking away. raise the bridge for the royal contingency of canadian geese. honk honk.

one-by-one the bike riders start turning around to find another way to get across the river. i decide to join them and right when i get to the switchback the bzzzzzzz of the bridge moving happens. i wait. it stops and a voice says something about 10 or more minutes for the bridge. ugh. forget that. i continue up the switchback to interstate to head up to the broadway bridge. i stop and call work to tell them i'm late before i hit the hills. the hills aren't too bad, more gradual than anything but still a work out. i think i added another mile to the ride? maybe.

so despite making me late i was happy because i had more time on the bike and rode on some different streets. how many people can say they were happy to be detoured on their morning commute? if i was in a car i'd be annoyed. on a bike it's no big deal, i'm just happy to be out there riding around.

my favorite part is when i have a good stretch and i have a steady comfortable rhythm going with my legs and i feel 'one' with the bike. i know, cheesy. it just feels great! now if i could just learn how to (or have the huevos to) balance and ride with no hands like the other fancy bike riders. i could dance around too....because you know i would.