great commuting day! rode in this morning with a brisk headwind but it was sunny and beautiful. saw two of my students riding the opposite way partially inspired, I think, by seeing me ride in for my classes every day. Taught my last class today!~

The ride home:

So here I am, my last day of teaching this year and I've got more energy than ever with the thought of a summer off (the only thing I like better than teaching- is not teaching) so I'm flying home. Up ahead is this tall athletic looking cyclist in yellow wind jacket and black tights on an absolutely gorgeous road bike. He seems to be warming up and limberly stretches one leg out to the side and as I fly by him I jokingly say, "hey, cool, yogic biking!" I hear a little chuckle and I look and lo and behold it's John Kerry!- yeah, the Senator, the guy who ran for President. I confess to being a fan of the man. So I asked him if it was okay if we rode together a bit- he was amenable and I expressed my appreciation for his service as a Senator and thought well, 'nuff said let the man have his bike ride and off I go. But I look back and he's right there with me and I couldn't have been happier to have this man who willingly enlisted (no draft dodger, Kerry) hanging off my wheel. We buzzed along and then had a little more time to chat. You can say what you wish about his politics but he's a good bike rider and one of the friendlier cyclists I've met on the path. He was extremely complimentary to me when he found out how far I commuted and that I did it right through the winter. His bike is an absolutely drop dead perfect Ben Serotta custom and he brightened far more when I expressed admiration for his bike than he did when I expressed admiration for his politics.

Feeling, at the very least, well represented in the Senate, I had a beautiful rest of the ride home. You don't get commutes like that when you drive in a car. What fun!