What Do You Do When They Make A Special Day For Something You Do Already?

I ride my bike to school nearly every day (although, since the relay and being wicked sore, it’s been inconsistent).  It’s just under five miles each way, very flat, and oh-so-pleasant.

Today was Bike To Work Day, here in sunny California.  I felt the need for something to recognize the day beyond the usual commute.

So, last night, I got rode Caltrain with my friend and math colleague DC to his house in SF.  We carbo-loaded and were up at 4:45 this morning to make the 38 mile journey to our place of employment.  We started in the dark and wound our way through the city…by City College and UCSF, Lake Merced, up to Skyline Boulevard.  From there, we were practically following the same route as the relay two weekends ago.  Skyline is hilly in a challenging way.  Up and down.  Big ups and big downs.  It leads to the best bike path I’ve seen around here…miles and miles alongside the reservoirs and foothills.  I don’t love the dam that made the reservoir, but it was beautiful this morning in the fog and early light.  At one point, a deer was alongside the path, just looking at us, as if she was waiting for us to come.  So sweet.  A bit later, a coyote trotted right in front of our path and then stared us down as we flew past.  Ah the joys of early morning exercise.

Here we are, safe at school.  Three hours and 38 miles later.  There’s never a bad time for a ride.

Oh, and when we got to school, PE testing was underway for the 9th graders.  Their teachers got into it.  Really, really into it.