Urbana-Champaign Bicycle Commute

You know it's an endorphin morning when you arrive at work and you're just sure that everything and everybody are just going to be ALL RIGHT, really... when you actually didn't get any of those little things done this a.m. that you were going to and... well, there's no *logical* reason for that feeling. (Note to self: consider knocking off the 8-mile loop at 6:00 a.m. and seeing if bliss helps productivity or not. And who knows, maybe it was just a psychic moment...)

Would have liked to have a camera on my helmet this a.m. three times. First for the incredibly sweet snapshot of the grey-haired man walking with the little kid who was clutching a flag; both of them contrasting visages of ambiguous ethnicity. Second and third for the contrast in motoring styles where vehicles come in from Duncan Road to the college. I'm riding Southbound and a northbound-but-turning-left car should by all means yield to me but because he sees the layout quickly, he cuts over and is on his way before I'm even in that first part of the intersection. The Westbound exit lane is separated from the Eastbound entrance lane by a gore of sorts, about 20 feed wide? ... So. I'm moving forward 'cause it's my turn, and the "coming into college running late" folks are easing in, too... mostly curling through and going right, which this lady is doing with like gobs of time and room... and then she sees me, a completely distressed expression comes over her and she brakes and waits for me to cross. She was going the same direction as me, and faster, with two car lengths between us... but when I entered her field of vision it was a surprise and she didn't have time to process that. (I know that because I have been there and done that. This is why I don't suck the wheels of strangers much, but that's yesterday's story!))