You pick up your car!

Back story: I went to my parents' house to change my oil the other day, but to get there, I had to drive to the ferry landing, get picked up in Anacortes, and then ride the motorcycle back. No problem, except that my car was parked at the ferry landing.

Wasn't sure how long it can stay there, but the commuter lot (all of 30 spots) in town there has a 72-hour limit. I didn't want to push it by much. I left it an extra day, but felt I had to retrieve it ASAP.

Yesterday, since I had no bookings for today, and it wasn't likely that people would spontaneously book on a Friday morning, I blocked out my calendar until noon. I got up this morning, and was on my bike at 7:00am. Dropped off the mail in Olga by 7:30, and got to Eastsound, 12 miles so far. Breakfast at Enzo's (coffee, blueberry muffin, potty break), then back on the road. The last 9 miles were easier, but warmer than the first leg. I wound up stripping down to bike shorts and a cotton tank. Liberation! When I stopped to divest myself of the shirt, I also helped myself to 5 or 6 of the sweetest salmonberries I'd ever tasted. A true joy.

It was so nice to hit that last piece of winding, steep highway, because it meant I was 2 blocks from my car. There she was, Gracie the Subaru Outback, right where I'd left her, safe and sound.

Bike went in the back. I was on the road in a minute. And in ten minutes, I covered the distance it had just before taken me 45 minutes to ride. Wow. Cars are so convenient, and so calorically wasteful. I felt spoiled to be moving so quickly, so quietly, so comfortably. Amazing. And eye-opening.

Ate leftovers for lunch, and looking forward to something quite lovely, as yet undetermined, for dinner. Took a lovely soak, washed my hair and my stinky, tired body, and here I am. Ready for a nap. Feeling pretty good about the day.