Seems like every autumn there's a night when I wake up and think, "How did I sleep through that? Surely there was a massive ka-WHOMP when all those leaves hit the ground?" Last night was that night, about 6" of leaves all over the back yard this morning. (Come to think of it, maybe that's what woke me up...)

So I started out the ride with two concerns. What's the minimum amount of work I need to do today, so I can get home early and get the leaves up before the rain hits and they get all wet? And how to get to work today without taking the MUP, which is probably covered over since it's been too cold for the runners to clear off the last few days -- and it probably got re-covered with leaves last night.

Naturally, it started raining a mile from the house. Not too heavy, probably less than a quarter inch in 40 minutes, but I don't have to worry about getting the leaves up before they get wet -- too late now! And my routing concern changed to how do I get to work the fastest from HERE? Took a few streets I almost never ride, then up and over the hill to miss the MUP, and the rain stopped before I hit the downhill.

Not the best of rides, not the worst of rides.