Biking to Work
Today I rode my bike into work. I tried to push the pace, but alas, I blew my endurance right away on the first part of my trip along the Ballona Creek Trail. The path along the beach was shorter than anticipated. I started off in Playa Del Rey, got off at Dockweiler and went through the surface streets of downtown El Segundo to get to work. A mile away from work, I almost got ran over by a Lexus. I should remember not to pass on the right. Me versus 3000 pounds wouldn’t make for a very interesting match.
So I was tired all day and I needed to take an hour long nap under my desk. I was thinking that before I head home I should go jump in the ocean. Unfortunately, I just read this:
It was caused by raw sewage dumped from Culver City into Ballona Creek, which is the exact path I rode on to work today. No wonder it smelled like festering shit on the way over. It’s probably going to be even worse when I go back.
I guess my plan to wake up early on Friday and go boogey boarding is out. So is going to the beach at lunch and jumping in the water. But I can still chill out at Hennessey’s after work on Friday. And then it’s off to Midnight Ridazz, LA’s version of critical mass, where 1300 bicyclists start off in Echo Park and wreak havoc on the streets of East LA.
UPDATE:
Luckily for me, it didn’t smell at all. However, I did see some people jump in the ocean on my way back. I hope they don’t get scabies.
On the Ballona Creek Trail, there was a father and son next to the creek, both leaning back on their elbows, smiling at the flock of ducks surrounding them. Bikers and runners of all different colors, shapes, and sizes filled both sides of the trail. Kids squealed with delight as they played with basketball and soccer balls in front of their apartments. A Middle-Aged Gentleman, wearing full spandex racing gear and a fancy ass helmet, rode by me on an expensive road bike.
MAG: Great night, huh?
Me: (grunting) Yeah.
I could no longer partake in the loveliness of the evening, as I felt the urge to keep pace with him. He dusted me after about a minute. I think I’ll keep this biking to work thing up, maybe once a week. After spending the past 7 years driving around the congested freeways with ten million other furious Angelenos, it’s liberating to hop on my creaky red hybrid bike with lopsided wheels and enjoy some exercise on my way home.