Why a duck?

Twenty file miles or so on a windy Friday p.m., over Interlaken, through Downtown and to the Pike Place Market. Headwinds are fine if you know the route to avoid them!

The Seattle Waterfront is both a popular destination as well as frequent route on my rides. Looking south from Steinbruck Park at the Pike Place Market, you can see the elevated highway, as well as the sports stadiums. But the Alaskan Way Viaduct needs replacement and is due to collapse during a major earthquake, for which the region is well overdue. The consequences of a big shaker would be dramatic, at least according to this video.


D0 we take unnecessary risks when we ride on the trail next to the 'sure-to-collapse sometime' Viaduct? Will we be able to dodge the chaos?

And, according to the video at 1:50, (this one with a sound track!), the Frankfurter will tumble into the sea! Oh, the humanity!

Returned via the Locks and then crossed Ballard, over Phinney Ridge to Green Lake and Ravenna.

What to Eat

Kent does a great job explaining how we should eat on those long rides.

October North End Loop

Neighbor Rob sent out the call for a Sunday ride, and I responded, inviting CAL along for the spin.

North on the BGT and up Brookside and Perkins to upper Shoreline, down to 155th and over to Greenwood, Sunset Hill and back on the BGT. Damp leaves, drizzle, wet pavement, ah, back in the real Pacific NW after a couple of weeks away from the bike or so it seemed.

Rob got a flat on of his 23 cm tires (another reason to appreciate the fatty Schwalbe marathons) just north of Gas Works. We stopped so he could fumble with his patch kit as the piece of glass punctured both sides of his tube, resulting in the need for two patches. I snapped photos while waiting. Most of the subjects were friendly, offering help, waving, saying hello. But one, this one, was riding hands free on her fixie while yakking on the phone. Just after a snapped the picture, she flipped me the bird, scowled, rolled on, and continued with her cell phone conversation. I guess you don't have to drive an SUV to be a jerk.

Life Cycles and Bicycles

We were treated to another spectacular autumn day, today, strong and chilly north wind, like those Santa Anas in So Cal. The past few weeks have brought a new academic year at TLF, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, now a Full Moon. Zach landed safely in Guadalajara on the first leg of his latest adventure, and his parents exhaled.


I rode about 300 miles in September, which is more than I thought I booked. And, that doesn't include a 30 mile circuit today of Magnolia and then down to Pioneer Square to catch a bit of the M's season finale.


One of the many great things about Safeco Field is that you can peer into home plate from outside on Royal Brougham. Saw Felix strike out the side and Junior drill a line drive in one of his last at bats. Will he be back? We'll put a big we'll see on that, but as they say, "Wait 'til next year!" Is it the end or another beginning? Yes is the answer.