Yesterday, after heading out for a bit in the evening I chanced to have a conversation with my friend Connie. She rides everywhere as far as I know. I’m not sure about surfing, she may use a car to get to the beach with her boards. In general, however, she rides.
In any case she applauded my recent efforts and even got a laugh out of the fact that my riding to and from work isn’t enough and I find myself drawn to go out again for a “constitutional” if you will. What she said, before hopping on her bike and riding off into the dark (she does use lots of lights) is that, “it [riding] really changes your relationship with the city.”
It really and truly does, at least when one can get off of the main arteries and spend time looking around instead of worrying about traffic. For me it really has a been a rediscovery of my neighborhood. There a lot of little streets I don’t think I’ve ever seen in the 30+ years I’ve lived here.
In any case it was another lovely morning, quiet and cool and mostly devoid of traffic at 5:15 A.M. when I left the house. I did another 15 minute loop to work so I could soak up at least a little of the the morning goodness instead zipping straight in.
But quite frankly, it’s the end of the day I’m looking forward to with this planned ride home…
And ride it I did. I do need to repeat to myself, stay out of Waikiki. While a bike is the fastest thing moving on Kuhio Avenue, it’s too crowded to make for comfortable ride.
Aloha!
Slower, cheaper, less useful…