Dear J-
The assault on the pass through San Clemente Canyon takes place twice a day; I descend in relative ease and silence but spend the uphill battle sucking down exhaust and lactic acid in equal measures. It is the centerpiece of my bike commute; I prepare for it and still the length and steepness surprise me. According to Google Maps, it is a brief 1.2 miles from Genesee & Lehrer to Genesee & Governor and falls neatly into the middle third of the 3.5 miles I bicycle each way.
Net elevation change is only 6 meters between the two waypoints, but the difference between the highest and lowest points on the route is 61 meters. It helps me center as I work on the task at hand: dragging some two hundred pounds of bike and man up the hill and over to the van; away from the folks at work who’ve figured out that I’m good for more than making the seat warm, away from the responsibilities of learning and teaching at the same time. Up the hill and all I can think of is the next revolution of the crank.
Yet it’s best to come home; I ring the bell and everyone knows who it is; figgy turns expectantly towards the door and the dogs jump up in anticipation. Home again on the magical time machine, home again to everything amazing.
Mike
Tags: bicycle, commute, genesee, governor, hill, home, lehrer, san diego
