Had really odd dreams last night and slept on my left shoulder again (it's been bothering me for a few weeks now - need to go see a doc about it) - almost overslept. Quickly got out of the house with coffee in tow and unshaven - good thing it was Friday with little drama to expect at the office. Wore my Bridge to Bridge t-shirt, jeans and sandles - ahh gotta love casual Fridays.
Work went by relatively fast will all sorts of shit to finish up, watched the weather all day - it hot really hot for a late September day, and we were gonna have thunderboomers roll thru in the late afternoon/early evening. It rained hard for about 10 minutes at @ 5pm, then was just humid. Decided to bike out to Purcellville.
I get out on the trail, hardly anyone out there - guess they were all getting drunk at the bars or shopping to avoid the rain. Well, it continued to threaten, but it didn't rain during my 44 mile ride.
After I passed Ashburn, I see this gentleman walking his mountain bike - with a flat tire. I slowed down as I always do and ask if he needs help "I've got a flat, no biggie" he says. I said, "need help fixing it?" (I can change a flat in less than 5 minutes). He said, sure - if you got time, how long will it take? - I replied 'bout five minutes. Sure enough, I fixed his flat in about 4 minutes and I asked him where he was biking to. He said Hamilton. Oh crap...he was gonna walk 15 miles to Hamilton. That woulda sucked. He was really appreciative and I biked with him to Leesburg before I sped off. "Pay it Forward" I said to him as I clicked into a higher gear and zoomed on uphill out to Purcellville.
Finished up my ride in the pitch black. First ride I realized that I need to break out the lights. Last 5 miles was a little dicey - past twilight, I skidded to avoid a deer that was in the road. But the weather was perfect - I just zoomed thru the Autumn air feeling the bliss, but angry that it was getting darker. Ran a few errands afterwards, picked up a few cool things at Home Goods - a 90 dollar All Clad brand turkey roaster (with removable rack) for 29 bucks and a really cool stainless steel vertical paper towel holder with a funny almost sex toyesque contraption to allow a quick grab-n-snap of paper towels for under 10 bucks. Went to the grocery store and stocked up on the usual weekend provisions. Came home and unpacked, cracked open a beer and sat out on the deck after watering my garden - was sitting there thinking...this is such beautiful weather...I'm spoiled...I feel for those folks down in Galviston area of Texas - what's gonna hit tonight. Hurricane Katrina's bitch sister, Rita is coming for a visit down there. I hope people are able to be sensible and take cover/evacuate. My thoughts are for all of them...and the continuing disaster of Katrinaville.
Will be a relaxing weekend....