In earlier posts, I've written about "playing chicken with the rain". On days when precipitation the clouds look ready to drop buckets, I might for a ride, all the while daring the sky to deal me a deluge. I feel I've "won" the "game", if you will, when I arrive home (or wherever I'm going) just as the first drops plop against my skin.
Today there was absolutely no risk of rain. It was one of those perfect fall days, with the kind of sunlight that feels as if it's trickling through leaves even though the sky is blue. And the wind and the waves echo a softly crackling flame. At least, they seem as if they should.
The waves...Yes, I took an afternoon ride to the Rockaways. Although the water is still warm enough (at least for someone like me) to swim, the air was cool enough that nobody tried. In fact, the only people in the water were a few surfers.
But I was playing chicken. You see, I started in the middle of the afternoon and lingered on the boardwalk (actually, it's concrete now) at Rockaway Park. A month or two ago, I could have lingered--or ridden--even longer than I did. Well, actually, I could have done that today, too. But I was also thinking about the time of day--or, more precisely, the time at which the day would end.
After lingering, I rode some more along the boardwalk and, after crossing the Veterans Memorial Bridge into Beach Channel and Howard Beach, took a circuitous route through streets of wood-frame houses--some with boats in their driveways--away from the ocean and bay and up the gradual climb to Forest Park, right in the middle of Queens. From Forest, I rode streets I've ridden dozens, if not hundreds of times before as the sun began its descent just beyond the railroad tracks and the East River.
Yes, I got back to my apartment just as the twilight began to deepen into evening and the street lamps were lighting. I had lights with me-- I always keep them in my under-seat bag--but I didn't have to use them.
In other words, I played chicken with the sunset. And "won"!
Today there was absolutely no risk of rain. It was one of those perfect fall days, with the kind of sunlight that feels as if it's trickling through leaves even though the sky is blue. And the wind and the waves echo a softly crackling flame. At least, they seem as if they should.
The waves...Yes, I took an afternoon ride to the Rockaways. Although the water is still warm enough (at least for someone like me) to swim, the air was cool enough that nobody tried. In fact, the only people in the water were a few surfers.
But I was playing chicken. You see, I started in the middle of the afternoon and lingered on the boardwalk (actually, it's concrete now) at Rockaway Park. A month or two ago, I could have lingered--or ridden--even longer than I did. Well, actually, I could have done that today, too. But I was also thinking about the time of day--or, more precisely, the time at which the day would end.
After lingering, I rode some more along the boardwalk and, after crossing the Veterans Memorial Bridge into Beach Channel and Howard Beach, took a circuitous route through streets of wood-frame houses--some with boats in their driveways--away from the ocean and bay and up the gradual climb to Forest Park, right in the middle of Queens. From Forest, I rode streets I've ridden dozens, if not hundreds of times before as the sun began its descent just beyond the railroad tracks and the East River.
Yes, I got back to my apartment just as the twilight began to deepen into evening and the street lamps were lighting. I had lights with me-- I always keep them in my under-seat bag--but I didn't have to use them.
In other words, I played chicken with the sunset. And "won"!
I'm always amazed how quickly darkness decends this time of year. Nearly got caught myself just last week. Time to break out my winter ride, which has dynamo powered lights.
ReplyDeleteI'm always amazed how quickly darkness decends this time of year. Nearly got caught myself just last week. Time to break out my winter ride, which has dynamo powered lights.
ReplyDeleteJim--I, too, am amazed at how quickly darkness descends. I am even more amazed at how much shorter the days are than they were even a month ago. Happy winter riding!
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