Nice experiences you would miss if you commuted by car

[HLaB]

The Traffic Jams

 

[Teuchter]

On Fridays my wife doesn't work so I get to leave for work earlier than usual (she can walk the dog and see the kids out the door instead). This means the chance to take a long route in, letting me explore quieter country lanes, riverside tracks, woodland parks or old disused railway lines instead of just the usual urban sprawl.

When I get to work and tell my colleagues what a nice trip to work I've had, they just couldn't understand why I'd happily choose to almost double my commute just for the pleasure of it.

 

[Boris Bajic]

There is a flipside to this thread....

I went to e meeting by car earlier this week - one to which I usually cycle.

Middle child had an exam and there wasn't a bus at the right time, so I drove him in. His college is about a mile from my meeting.

And it was... Horrid. Rain, wind, biting cold, puddles, splashes, blossom blowing onto everything... For every yard of the fifteen miles.

I came out of my meeting, saw the warm, snug, comfortable car and smiled a smile that went right to my soul.

I do love bicycling, but I was so glad that Boy-the-Elder had an exam... I don't suppose he was.

Am I very naughty to have written that?

 

[compo]

In the past two years I have found two £10 notes and a 10 Euro note (not at the same time). I have also found a wallet containing money and plastic and a couple of mobiles. The wallet and phones all returned to grateful owners. The £10 notes and euros went into the Compo benevolant fund.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

In the past two years I have found two £10 notes and a 10 Euro note (not at the same time). I have also found a wallet containing money and plastic and a couple of mobiles. The wallet and phones all returned to grateful owners. The £10 notes and euros went into the Compo benevolant fund.

I remember finding someone's film camera many years ago. It was on the point of raining heavily at the time and both camera & film would have been ruined, so I picked it up, took it home and dropped it into a police station next time I passed. 2 months later I had a postcard from Switzerland, the camera had been re-united with its owner and they had their precious holiday pictures back.

 

[Teuchter]

I remember finding someone's film camera many years ago. It was on the point of raining heavily at the time and both camera & film would have been ruined, so I picked it up, took it home and dropped it into a police station next time I passed. 2 months later I had a postcard from Switzerland, the camera had been re-united with its owner and they had their precious holiday pictures back.

(Off cycling topic)...

This is one of the things I love about digital cameras. Out canoeing one day, I managed to drop my camera over the side of a slipway into a loch while recovering the canoe. It was only a cheap compact digital (I have bad luck with cameras around water so had already learned to leave my decent camera at home when sailing or canoeing). I know an outdoor pursuits instructor who works at that loch and 6 months later he happened to be in the water teaching while wearing a dry suit. He remembered that I'd dropped my camera into the loch and had a fish around, finding it in the mud under 5 feet of water. The camera was obviously dead but after it had dried out, I stuck the SD card into my computer and was able to retrieve all of the photos I'd taken that weekend... after 6 months under water.

 

[goo_mason]

Smelling the wild garlic at the side of the paths. Just want to stop the bike, get off and get tucked in... Mmmmmm

 

[Hitchington]

Being the office "getting to work on time hero"

 

[Archie_tect]

Not commuting as I live half a mile from the office, but a regular evening ride pleasure:

Passing the Warburton's bakery, down on the Newburn Riverside link, when they're baking hot cross buns... the warm, spicy baking smell is just fantastic.

 

[SatNavSaysStraightOn]

Smelling the wild garlic at the side of the paths. Just want to stop the bike, get off and get tucked in... Mmmmmm

http://foodieschat.net/threads/wild-garlic-pesto-vegan.272/
I did exactly that a few weeks ago. It freezes well and for those not vegan/not allergic to dairy, you can add cheese... very tasty.

 

[sheffgirl]

I wasn't actually commuting today but I still saw some nice sights I would not have seen if I travelled by bus or car. At one point I stopped for a rest and startled a little bunny rabbit And I rode past many fields full of sheep with young lambs; some of them seemed quite interested in me. That and the lovely views of Derbyshire kept me going despite feeling exhausted and wanting to give up at times.

 

[BSRU]

Chatting with a 79 year old on a Arthur Caygill bike, not sure about the spelling, training for a LEJOG in September when he will be 80.

 

[matthat]

Standing on the scale and seeing the needle stop at the 12 stone range.

I wish!!

 

[Shut Up Legs]

Not having to supply a medical certificate whenever I take sick leave. I can't remember the last time I took sick leave. If only my employer would realise* how amazing that is.

* in a monetary sense .

 

[matthat]

There's lots of good stuff, but a recent highlight was following an in-flight barn owl about 10 yards ahead of me, at roughly the same altitude as my head, and flying at about the same speed. Awesome moment - all 10 seconds of it.

I have had a similar experience and i have a pic on other computer somewhere which i shall dig out and post!!