Hey thanks. That was my feeling. It brought me all the way here to ask you guys about it.
I plotted an alternative route on byCycle.org that runs on some street/path parallel to 26. I'll have to look into that to see if it is any more realistic.
Safety is definitely my highest concern while bicycling in traffic.
I still think I might go down it. Eh eh? All Zoobomb like, except more vehicular.
It took 25 minutes this morning to get from Catlin Gabel school to Barnes and Miller by car. They're less than a mile apart! My bike was in the back, and I almost parked and rode into town instead. The only thing that stopped me was that the only way I knew how to get back was the same way I came.