Headed out from work tonight 45 minutes late.

The sun was very low, but the wind was from the south, and temps were very comfortable. I was confident I would have a nice ride home, even as the sun went down and the temperature dropped. Man, it felt great, even if I was due for a partially dark ride home.

When I hit the "straight road," a lane paralleling the railroad tracks that is the best "bike highway" because it heads due east and is the most level road, I heard a train horn.

I looked left, and there she was--a long freight train, moving at about 25 mph. I could almost keep up with her, it seemed. What a wild sensation, cruising alongside a train while she passed me at a very slow pace. I began to feel as if I had canine blood, wanting to chase. She just kept comin', seemed to have no end to her. I kept watching the train as if we were riding together.

I began to notice the lack of cars that usually jammed this road along the tracks. "Of course!" I realized, "the traffic is trapped on the other side of the tracks!" Man, I had the whole road almost to myself, with nothing but solid green lights and "no left turn" signs lit up for miles. And since I was pacing the train and it was running interference for me, I hoped I'd have free reign.

And I did. I don't think I hit one red light for 5 or 6 miles.

Wo, what a feeling!

So have you called the rail company to get the train schedule?

Sometimes it just works, right Pete?

Nice writing, Pete. I almost felt I was riding there with you.

You didn't perchance spy a girl with a little black dog accompanied by a Tinman, Scarecrow and Cowardly lion did you?

Click your heals together 3 times and repeat "There's no place like home, there's no place like home....."

That is awesome... a train running interference for a bike!! Gotta love that.

PBW

sounds great

a bit like the scene in Superman with the football...

and of course the cherry on the top is all that freight on the train isnt on trucks on the road.

Yes look out 18 wheeler or suv you could get broken in to little pieces.