I have been out of my normal commuting patterns of late. Wednesday evening, I rode across the river to the Capitol for a reception. (Note to DC cyclists: the bike rack at the Capitol has been moved from the Senate side to the House side. It is still very convenient to the entrance.) It was great to ride off into the night afterwards with the dome gleaming above me and then spot it again across the river while heading home on the Mount Vernon Trail.

The next morning I put the bike in my wife's station wagon, dropped it off at the shop, and commuted to work via the WO&D trail. It is an amazine experience to ride for six miles with only a few stops -- quite a change from my usual "stoplight at each block" commute.

Variety is great. Tonight, I ride to the shop and pick up the car. The weather is springlike -- my coat stays on the rack.

Paul