robotech_master

So, I rode 39.7 more miles today.

This morning I got up at 9, and at about 10 biked down to Hardees to get breakfast. Had a little difficulty making myself heard at the drive-through, finally had to wait 'til the truck behind me pulled up to trigger the detector so I could place my order too. When I got up to the window, I found the person in the car in front of me had paid for my order. That was nice of her.

At 11:30, after calling to make sure places were open, I sprayed myself all over with SPF 50 sunscreen and hit the road again. Headed down to a nearby Speedway to fill a jug with ice water, then headed north to Michigan and west to the Monon Trail. Technically, you're not supposed to have e-bikes under motor power on that trail south of 96th, but I've never gotten in trouble for it yet, and I think as long as I ride politely and don't hazard anybody else along the way that I probably won't.

Partway up the trail, at 12:30 I stopped at the Half Liter brewpub, formerly known as Bent Rail. Didn't really care much for their selection of beers, as they're mostly Germanic lagers, and no IPA on the menu. Had a smoked lager, it was okay, and was on the way again at 1. I took the Monon farther north than I ever had before, to 116th street, then headed east to stop in at Cost Plus World Market. Got there at about 1:30, picked up a few snacks and stuff, a Terry's dark chocolate orange (which the cashier warned me would melt in a hurry if I wasn't careful), and a six-pack of assorted novelty sodas—two each of Cheerwine, Moxie, and Earp's Original Sarsaparilla. Put the sodas in my front basket, and left a little after 2. As I was leaving, I noticed a Jeep with Marvel's S.H.I.E.L.D. decals pull into the parking lot. Doing errands for Agent Coulson, were they?

Got to Trader Joe's a little after 2:30. Waited in line outside for 10 or 15 minutes, then got in and did some shopping. Again, I didn't get much stuff, just some snacks and frozen stuff to put in an insulated bag I'd brought with me. (And I chucked in that chocolate orange, too.) Hit the road for home about 3:15.

Just about three miles from home, there was a loud POP. One of the soda bottles in the front basket had gotten jounced around enough that it finally exploded, just like someone had shot the top off it with a six-gun. Really, it's just a little too on-the-nose that it turned out to be one of those Earp's Original Sarsaparillas.

Got home around 4, put the frozen stuff in the freezer, carried the five remaining soda bottles up to my attic to go into the mini-fridge, took the bike out to the garage to charge. And now I'm sitting at my computer relaxing. It was a fun trip, but kind of exhausting, especially since I tried not to let myself just coast on the motor all the time—I made sure to pedal a bunch too, so I would get at least some exercise out of it.

This is just so much fun…I wonder where I'll go next?