Inside the Beltway in Our Nation's Capital:

17:53 Some Guy In Silver Spring (SGISS) puts up a Washington DC Craigslist ad for nice road bike for $150.

20:02 robatsu, also in Silver Spring, sees ad and experiences unbearable longing, especially since it is his size.

20:04 robatsu checks timestamp on ad, realizes that 2 hours and 11 minutes, an eternity on the Washington DC CL market, means this bike is a goner, but a Hail Mary can't hurt. Sends email saying I want your bike, full name, and cell #.

20:10 After robatsu reflects on the email he wrote and CL dynamics, he concludes he should have been even more explicit and writes another response to ad, reiterating so long as frame has no dents or significant disfigurements, he will buy it and meet SSGIS at his convenience.

But robatsu is realistic about the time delay.

21:00 No mail from SGISS in inbox.

22:00 No mail from SGISS in inbox. robatsu concludes that this was a lost cause and resolves to spend more time on CL.

22:42 Mail from SGISS in inbox. robatsu opens it in hopeful trepidation, but SSGIS sends word that wow, this bike is popular and he has Some Other Guy (SOG) coming over tomorrow to look at it and that robatsu is about 5th or 6th in line.

22:43 Sigh.....

23:11 robatsu, still, perhaps unrealistically, feels he sees still a bit of daylight in "SOG coming over tomorrow to look at it". He sends email that says, in essence, "listen up pal, I don't want to look at your bike, I want to buy it" and restates conditions of meet at convenience and no dents/disfigurements. For good measure, robatsu ups the ante to $200.

23:22 SGISS responds in email, "Wow, this must be some bike. Ok, I can meet you tonite" and suggests the fountain along Ellsworth St. in Downtown Silver Spring in 20 or 30 minutes. robatsu is thrilled beyond words.

23:27 robatsu sends email agreeing and asks SGISS to ring robatsu to confirm.

23:29 As robatsu is donning his shoes to leave - his house is Japanese Threaded - SGISS rings and confirms that he will be at the Ellsworth fountain at midnite.

23:30 robatsu is underway in his truck, figures he can hit the BOA drive through ATM on Spring Street.

23:36 BOA Spring Street ATM is out of service. robatsu feels a tinge of uncertainty, heads for Citibank walk-up ATM at Georgia and Seminary.

23:41 Citibank ATM at Georgia and Seminary helpfully informs robatsu that he is trying to make a withdrawal with his old ATM card. robatsu, who almost never uses ATM cards, experiences full blown panic, heads back to truck wondering where in the heck in the pile of mail from last sojourn in Japan a new ATM card may be and excruciatingly aware of the ticking clock.

23:42 robatsu has bright idea sitting in truck, finds a shiny, new-looking red ATM card in wallet that says BOA and walks back to ATM.

23:44 robatsu is back in truck with necessary cash and heading for Ellsworth Fountain.

23:49 robatsu arrives Ellsworth fountain.

23:52 SGISS arrives Ellsworth fountain. Looks like nice early middle aged fellow, somewhat perplexed at the frenzy his old bike has created. While robatsu does standard checks for dents/damage, he honestly explains the situation. SGISS seems satisfied.

23:57 Money is exchanged, hands are shaken. robatsu proceeds to load bike in truck, SGISS heads out for home seemingly a happy man that his old bike has gone to someone who appreciates it.

00:06 robatsu arrives back home, unloads bike in garage, admires it a bit. A little more small scratchy and scattered small rust than on the pristine stuff he usually favors, but more than satisfactory and certainly quite presentable as is. Decals are great. Looks again for dents, no dice.

00:32 robatsu sits down and begins reconstructing timeline for historical record.