Why I ride a bike: Reason #3

Summer Nights

I know, it technically isn't summer.

Last night my wife and I rode down to a local eatery to enjoy the evening and nourishment. My cousin and girlfriend rode over from Minneapolis so they could enjoy the evening as well. We then all rode over to have some dessert and if you have never been to Izzy's, I suggest you go. By the time we were all finished, it was around 10:30 and time to ride home.

My first thought, as it was still extremely warm, was to ride over to Minneapolis and then home. But both my wife and I were tired and I wasn't on the best bike to keep up with skinny wheelers. So we just noodled the 2 miles home. It was gorgeous! The temperature was around 70, barely any wind, humidity was non-existent, hard to ask for a better evening. As I waited at the light at University, I had a memory triggered from when I lived in Florida. At that intersection, there is a lot more pavement and concrete and not much vegetation. It's one of the main reasons I could not continue to live in FL.

Leaving that road behind, we entered my neighborhood streets. Overgrown with many a great old tree, the smells and overall feeling of being closer to nature returned. Cruising on the bike, not wishing for different (especially more) clothing, great conversation, smelling life from the earth (which we are trying to kill to the best of our abilities), how could that not be one of the greatest things ever?