Texas Street Hill--Revisited

Well, I had meetings meetings meetings today and so we dart out on the bike to the meetings. With my Puma bag upon my back and my sassy shoes all packed, I took on the Texas street hill--again. I had a meeting at Maria Maria Carlos Santana's lunch spot at Hazard Center. This was motivation to pedal faster. Off I went with tacos on the brain and caution on my mind. Google maps said it would take 27 minutes. RideTheCity.com said 21 - 27 minutes. The route--Texas--straight down to SD River Bike Path to Hazard Center--really straight shot. Texas is an uber busy street through NorthPark and I know it's illegal and unsafe..but..I need my tunes to ride the bike. Adelle told me to do it, so, I did. As I cruised through Texas, passed University and to the corner of Madison/Texas I was stopped at several lights. The lights take forever. It occurred to me--when Bike Route Google Guy and RideTheCity Road Mapper are creating routes...do they take into consideration the time it takes at lights? I mean, how do they pinpoint these times? Who's pace are they using??? I figured I would know how accurate it was when I got there. So....I maneuvered through town, down the hill and proceeded with great caution passed the 8E and 8W merge. I have to admit--I have a dying urge to enter the highway at some point. Mark my words---at some point in my bike life, I will merge onto a freeway on my bike. It's that big big "no no" that just beckons my name every time I cruise past. It's like yelling really loud at church when it's totally silent or screaming "fire" in the airport line. All are illegal--or socially unacceptable--but---it's just so tempting. I made it past both merges without hopping on the freeway, then cruised over to the SD Bike Path--easy peezy. On my way down the Texas Hill I noticed the overgrown trees. They are overgrown more than ever before. At a couple points I had a choice to get hit in the head with a branch, or swerve to the left. So many cars speed down that hill so fast without regard for bike riders that swerving was not an option. However, I was not wearing protective goggles and didn't want to poke my eye out with a tree branch--so--I ducked. Four ducks and sore abs later I made it down the hill. Hopping on the SD River bike path is cool. Birds chirp, trees with a breeze are pretty but, there was an air of creepiness. I felt like at any moment a goblin was going to jump out and attack me on that trail. Note to self: do not ride that trail at night. During the day it is a good link from East to West in Mission Valley---Mission Center to Fashion Valley--perfectamundo! I made it to Maria Maria in record time. I got lucky with another HUGE bathroom at Barnes and Noble at Hazard center. Quick wonderwoman change and a lady spritz or two and away I went. I can never tell if people I meet with think I am crazy or cool when I am all decked out with my lipgloss and business attire but am sporting a grey puma back pack. It's like Trump meets Facebook or something. These are the treasures of running your own business but am still curious what my business cohorts think at first meeting. Post meeting I made my journey back up Texas hill home. I walked the bike most of the hill up, but still was it a good workout! Made it down there in 26 minutes and 59 seconds....google guy and ride the city were right--I don't know how because everyone's pace is different but they hit the timing on the head. The biggest thing I noticed about this trip was the road rage. On my way there, I think it was mostly due to it being lunch hour, everyone was in a hurry and were mad. I think drivers need to take an educational class on the rights bike riders have. I think that would make them more understanding and inspire less road rage. People get so pissed, and speed up passed you so quick when you are in the slightest way of the road. An old man came up to me as I waited at the light on the corner of Texas and El Cajon and said: "I will try not to punch you". Yes, an old man sans 1 front tooth, with a cane, on a street corner who looked like the wind would blow him over if it blew harder, he hit the walk button on the traffic pole and stared straight at me, with a smile and said, "I will try not to punch you." I smiled and said "Thank you". As I rode off--unpunched by a blue hair--I was stunned. What did I do to this guy? And....he wasn't even one of the road ragers....So crazy....

Anyway--that was the day---Texas hill did me well....no one ran me off the road...I got a great work out and did not get punched by an old man. Tomorrow is Ride your bike to work day---the official day---More details on plans for that--later!