Inspired by a recent Finkelstein post, I visually captured one of my morning rides. I like the twenty-mile loop because it's familiar, close to home and lets me zoom by cars, gas stations and dealerships trying to unload their archaic gas-hogs.
Rolling out of The Clem at 5:55 AM is tranquil. Cars are not polluting the streets and the sun brimming over the houses is a perspective most don't experience.
It's at this corner that I was almost hit. A youngster driving around the corner while yapping on a phone, opted not to look where she was driving. Fortunately, I was looking out for myself and swirved to safety.
It's not the Mighty Mackinac Bridge, but it gets me over the corner of Metropolitan Parkway and Groesbeck safely.
With apologies to Robert Frost...
"Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear..."
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear..."
The two roads were the path down Metro Parkway through the woods or the road. I opt for the woods.
After heading west on Metro Parkway, it's time to roll north on Schoehnner. The drivers are calm the road is flat.
Another benefit to riding on Schoehnner is the trip down memory lane. I always give the former Antoons bike shop a nod. This morning somebody was working out on a treadmill at Snap Fitness, so at least physical fitness is still a theme.
Cutting through the Lakeside Mall parking lot offers several benefits: drafting garbage trucks on open roads is one of them.
I leave the parking lot and head east on Hall Road. I know what you are thinking, but Hall Road is actually a good place to ride. There is plenty of room to ride on the right side of the white line. It gets a bit tricky when that lane becomes a right turn lane but alert riders and driver can coexist peacefully.
Ahhhh, construction. I love the irony of this sign.
The benefit of a morning solo ride is I garner all sign points. Brandt: One, The Competition 0. 
Heading south on Gratiot gives me a great view of The Clem
A sprint to this city limit sign gives me more points and the comfort that I'm heading home.
The Faces of Macomb planted on the old County Building look over The Clem including those rolling through on two-wheeled steeds.
A good place to end and contemplate another beautiful summer morning.
5 comments:
Ohh Mr. Brandt. I sincerely miss having you as a teacher. Martin showed me this blog && I love the opportunity to still enjoy your life stories. Although I will admit that it does scare me that you can photograph so many things while biking. Next time I'm the opening manager I'll look for a biker in the parking lot as I walk into Lakeside at 6/7 AM.
Nice post, glad to see you're back in saddle!
RIP: Antoons...ohhh how I miss it so. Not only did it springboard my involvement in the sport but it also marked the care-free transitional time from college graduation to submersion into the "adult" world where my only concern was how many dura-ace parts were hung on my bike and how many miles I rode. Wait a second, that is still my life.
24hr race tapering phase begins in about a week and a half. I will be looking for candidates to join me in easy-paced, social strolls with stops for decaf java (no caffiene for me two weeks prior to the event).
Can I count you in?
I'm in. I'm off to Chicago Wednesday and Thursday, but after that I've got nothing on the schedule. How about a morning ride?
my next post will come when you decide to post again, Mr. Brandt.
I miss that sweet Clem.
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