Martha over at Living Among Tourists threw down a challenge this week. And I quote:
"Today I offer a challenge for you to photograph your usual ride, the one that most illustrates the path most taken - the drudge, the glory, whatever it is that you see all the time on your way to work or play. What's the view?"
Challenge accepted.
This morning, even though I was in the cage (standard operating procedure for my commute) I had the camera out and ready to take photos of my whopping three mile drive. The drive consists of a right turn, followed by three left turns and one more right turn into the parking lot. If I stop at the post office first I can extend it by two more rights and two more lefts.
My favorite part of the drive is along West Hills Road. A short section with a 25 mph twisty in it followed by a little hill.
This picture is heading west on West Hills - single twisty up ahead.....
 |
| (Heading East on West Hills) |
Around the twisty and up the hill.
 |
| (further East on West Hills) |
There you have it, my daily drudgery Monday through Friday. I won't bore you with the rest of it. You know, all two stop signs and four stop lights of it. It only takes me ten minutes maximum to get to work and that is through the OSU campus so it isn't too bad really.
The road I really wanted to get a picture of is the route we always take to go to Eugene, but I can't get down there until at least the weekend. At some point I'll put a photo up of the view. It is beautiful as we ride through the rolling foothills of Christmas Tree farms.
If you are up to the challenge and want to post up your road most traveled please do so and remember to visit Martha and leave a link in her comments section so that she knows who has participated.
- Au Revoir
"Clearly, then, the city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo." - Desmond Morris, The Human Zoo
.
Three mile commute! That's almost walking distance! Keith could land surf you there. Or is that land paddle...
ReplyDeleteIt's still a pretty road. It may be short, but I can see how it would be somewhat calming rather than to have to jump out into noisy traffic. It seems very pleasant. Of course not with some clown on your tail.
Thanks for taking the challenge! I love the glory AND the drudge. There's always something special. I'm looking forward to the tree farm views, too!
It isn't a bad drive. I can't complain compared to what other people have to commute when going to work.
DeleteWe used to live in Lebanon 18 miles to the East and that was a pain commuting everyday because we had to ride Highway 34 and it is just a nightmare highway. Speed limit is 55 mph, but you get run over unless you are doing almost 70.
A three mile commute, ten minutes, and I thought my commute was short... Looks like it could be a nice walk, too.
ReplyDeleteI have walked on occasion. I can cut through campus on the multi-use path and it is a bit shorter. It takes about 45 minutes to walk it. I've been known to bicycle too, but my beach cruiser bike isn't great for the hills and head wind coming home.
DeleteI wish!!! A three mile commute, color me jealous. :) Pretty little road.
ReplyDeleteYou give me hope. Since I rarely ride I was thinking I wouldn't be able to participate. I think I can now.
I didn't think we had to ride the road so I took the pictures while driving.
DeleteHow are you one handed with the camera. At a stop light you can balance it on the steering wheel and it helps.
3 miles? Dang! Get that bicycle or 49cc scoot out of the garage, girl!
ReplyDelete(or Rollerblades!)
:=)
Roller blades are dangerous (to me). Motorcycling is much safer.
DeleteI have a bicycle but it is a beach cruiser and not great for the hills. And we don't have a scooter, although it would be way better on gas than the Subaru.
I might bicycle again when the allergies stop. Another 3 weeks or so when the grass is done seeding and they cut it to harvest.
gorgeous commute!
ReplyDeleteThanks Mq
DeleteTrobairitz:
ReplyDeleteI also thought we had to ride, and right now I am ride challenged (in a funk). I have my bike parked on the street, under a cover, chained to a construction trailer. I have to remove all my accessories and RAM mounts. It just seems too much trouble to detached everything to get it released . . . maybe tomorrow.
I think 3 miles is bad for your car engine, not so bad for a m/c engine as it heats up faster. I would opt for an electric bicycle as it does not reguire tags or insurance, and you can ride it on the pathways through the University, and virtually park anywhere without paying
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
3 miles is probably bad for my car engine. That I wouldn't doubt. It is one of the things about living close to town and shops. 3 miles to work, a mile or 2 more to the store after work, and 2-3 more home from there. Repeat. We have less than 10k miles on the car in 15 months and that includes our trips to Seattle.
DeleteTrobairitz:
DeleteOKay, I did it. I rode to work today and took some commute photos. I am 25km each way to work with views of concrete, signal lights and traffic
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
That is about 15 miles each way. Pretty close to Brad's commute. I think his is 13 miles.
DeleteI've been thinking about your drive to work. I bet you want to stay looking nice for your office job. I bet you don't want helmet hair or have to fuss with all that gear when you get to work. I understand. You don't have a jeans and t-shirt type of job.
ReplyDeleteHa, thanks for assuming I look nice to go to work. Luckily I have a very low key office because most of what we do is court appointed criminal defense. I admit to wearing jeans and blouse to work on a daily basis unless it is really warm then I'll wear a summer dress and scare the crap out of everyone because it is such a shocker.
DeleteI really have no excuse except for being lazy. Grabbing my lunch and keys is so much easier than gearing up. Couple that with always running errands after work and having no luggage on the bike and I drive. Sigh.
Trobairitz:
DeleteOther than that scrumtious photo you posted a while ago I have never seen you in a dress. Bring your summer dress and those non-Crocs© to IMBC2012
BTW: you would look good in rags
bob
Riding the Wet Coast
My Flickr // My YouTube
If I wore a dress all the time it would ruin the surprise of when I actually wear one.
DeleteFYI - I had already planned to take a summer dress with me to the IMBC. They pack small and are so easy to change into after a hot day of riding as well as being super comfy.
I understand about driving to work when it's such a short commute, I do it too. Sometimes it's just too early in the morning to want to go to all the trouble of gearing up , not to mention getting the car out of the way so you can get the bike out. So much easier to just take the car.
ReplyDeleteYou do have a pretty commute with all those trees.
You pretty much just summed it up. I will ride on Monday though as it is International Ride to Work Day. The one day a year I am guaranteed to ride to work, rain or shine.
DeleteWe are lucky that Corvallis considers itself a tree town and most of our streets are lined with them.
Blimey! It's a challenge that without helmet cam I can't take up! My daily commute is 75 miles each way.
ReplyDelete75 miles each way, holy crap. I hope you at least have a nice view for the ride.
Delete