Christmas weekend included everything one expects, weather-wise, in this part of the world--except snow. Cold and wind cut through layers of insulation on human bodies as well as buildings. I wondered whether even fluffy, shaggy dogs dressed in wool sweaters or down vests (yes, doggie down vests are a thing!) were warm, or at least not cold, as they led their humans along concrete sidewalks and asphalt streets that, I imagine, are even colder than their surroundings.
Yesterday afternoon brought a heat wave, at least by comparison: the temperature broke the freezing mark, if only by a degree. And the wind died down, if only a little. Still, conditions were more inviting for a ride than they'd been in days.
My late-day ride took me to the Malcolm X Promenade, which rims Flushing Bay east of LaGuardia Airport. For the return leg of my ride, I chose a route through an industrial area surrounding the Steinway piano works. It was almost eerily quiet for a weekday afternoon: I guess a lot of people took the week off. I can't blame them, really: Not much happens during this week between Christmas and New Year's Day.
What I saw while pedaling south on Steinway Street made me happy I chose that particular route. The sun set a minute or two later than it did last week: paradoxically, a sign that we are plunging deeper into winter. The glow that bathed the street, trees, cars and people, however, at least felt like the milder weather forecast for a day or two from now.
