I came back from vacation Saturday, and Monday's commute was my first bike ride in 17 days. We stayed on a small, roadless island where all transportation was by boat or foot.

It's about a 20 mile round-trip commute. Traffic, needless to say, seemd very unfamiliar to me, as does pavement. After more than two weeks of walking, it was like everything was on fast forward as I rode. It reminds me of the first time I rode a bike -- that feeling of effortlessly gliding over the ground.

This weekend, I will drive my car for the first time in three weeks. I wonder how that will seem.

Paul