Osler's Razor

Partly because of beautiful weather, partly out of a need for exercise, and also because my car broke down, I have been a bike commuter much of the summer. It has been wonderful. 

Because of construction on a new light rail line, my usual route into downtown has been closed, forcing me to explore new routes. That has led to a new adventure every day, pretty much. One great thing about Minneapolis is that there is always something else to explore.

Often, I will ride around the curve onto Zenith Avenue, a quiet street with well-kept houses on each side, up past a church and a park and a bike shop and on to the Western shore of a glacial lake (formerly Calhoun, now Bde Maka Ska). I ride hard on the path there, past the early morning joggers (there are separate trails for riders and those on foot) and a sailboat or two. I cross Lake Street and then bank up a ramp onto the Midtown Greenway, an old railbed that is now full of bike commuters. It's there that I furtively evaluate the other bikers: how fast they are going, how much stuff they are hauling, guessing at their vocation. But, in just a few minutes, I am back off the Greenway and onto Bryant Ave. Bryant is technically a "bike boulevard," but that appears to mean that it is a regular street upon which someone has painted a picture of a bike every few blocks. Then I veer off onto an overpass, ride down past the Episcopal cathedral and the Catholic Basilica, and race through Loring Park. At the far end, I jump onto Harmon St., go a few more blocks, and there I am-- going in the door to my law school.  

Inside, I wheel my bike into my office and lean it against the bookshelf. The handlebar rests gently against the shelf where I have all the books my friends have written, and sometimes I stop for a moment and look at them, this beautiful tapestry of wisdom. And then... I am ready to begin the day.