a nice reminder

first off, let me start this post by saying i am adamantly opposed to owning a car. they eat money, are impossible to park (especially in the city) and, in general, suck. since going car-less eight months ago i can literally count on one hand the times i've missed having one. and i would still be able to give you a peace sign.

i am, however, extremely glad to have vixen. i have thought numerous times over the past few months about the logistical advantages of selling the bike and going completely vehicle-less. it would be cheaper in many ways (tabs, gas and insurance do add up), and i don't ride that much anymore, unless i'm going to hurling practice, which i could, in theory, take the bus to. but there are several reasons i keep her.

one, i loathe the bus. i'm not opposed to the idea of public transportation, per se (specifically, efficient public transportation), but here in seattle our options are woefully pathetic. the buses don't run very often and they don't always go where you need them to. especially at night. i don't like having to wait an hour for a bus after 7pm. and they're slow. i mean, it takes me 20 minutes on the bike to get from capitol hill to manguson park which, on a bus, can take up to 90. hardly what i would call efficient. and, in general, i hate being reliant on that kind of timetable. if i have to take the bus i'm always checking and rechecking my watch and the bus schedule and worrying about my potential punctuality. i can never relax and rarely enjoy myself when i know i have to eventually rely on a bus to get home.

two, having your own form of personal transport, whatever it is (motorcycle, bicycle, llama), is vital for spur-of-the-moment adventures. randomly heading out to the locks or the park or (like last night) the mama's house for dinner and olympics viewing would hardly be possible if i were reliant on public transportation (see above). it just wouldn't happen. i would resign myself to another depressing night in rewatching californication (nothing wrong with that in principle, mind you) and wishing i could afford beer. yesterday being sunday, i would have had to have waited probably 45 minutes to get on a bus and taken another 45 to get to mama's house in kirkland. without vixen i would not have enjoyed a delicious flank steak and salad, or seen michael phelps win his 17th olympic medal.

and this brings us to three. last time i mentioned that jumping on the bike these days often just feels like getting from point A to point B, without that lovely bliss of a good ride. well, last night, after deciding 30 seconds beforehand to head to kirkland for dinner, i jumped on the bike and had an immensely lovely ride across I-90 (tolls are for suckers). the sun was just above the horizon, giving just enough warmth to keep things comfortable, the sky was clear, the mountain was out and it was fantastic to just be riding. it took me right back to the best mornings from the trip and the feeling of having nothing to do the entire day but ride. it was exactly that feeling that makes me realize i will never be able to go without a bike again, even if i hardly make use of it. that perfect feeling of blissful freedom is worth just about anything.

so i'll be holding onto vixen, thank you very much, and hopefully i'll be able to find more moments like last night, wherever they may be hiding.

rftc,

scott