We've got wheels!

January 23, 2026

Today was my originally scheduled surgery date, so there's an excuse for checking in. Also, there's the very exciting news that our bikes arrived yesterday and I've got wheels again. I feel so liberated, and am looking forward to driving out to the Columbia Slough for a birding loop, hopefully tomorrow. I've got a list of about fifty new birds I want to watch out for while we're in town, so I should get started and make good use of these 27 days until surgery.

New haircut! It's about time - it must have been close to half a year. I was happy to see that there's a new barber in the neighborhood just across the street from here, and that I liked the shop enough to go back.

New outfit! Well, newish. Rachael's enjoying a change in wardrobe now that we're back by our storage unit.

We're enjoying making the rounds of our favorite local restaurants. We've been coming to Justa Pasta for over twenty years.

Yesterday the Trek shop called to let us know our bikes had been delivered and were ready to be picked up. We've got wheels again! I'm so excited to have an option other than the car for getting around.

It really is nice that we're in such a large space for the next three months. It's no problem figuring out what to do with the bikes.

A bike, a new CD from Frank, a CD player, an IPA. Pretty much all you need, really. We'll be fine here.

I was really excited about being able to bike to the coffee shop this morning rather than drive there - it's a pain backing out of and back into our tight parking spot, and there's always a question of whether I can find a parking spot close to the cafe (and yes, I know I should apply for a temporary disability parking permit). Now I can just wheel the bike out the door, use it as a saker down our long hall, and then bike right up to the front door of the cafe.

My plan afterwards was to bike down to the waterfront for a short spin to look for birds, but it didn't go quite as planned. For one thing, it's too cold - around forty degrees with a 10-15 mph wind was enough to cramp my ambitions (although it feels silly saying that after talking to our son in Minneapolis last night, calling to say that they're looking at a high of -10 today).

Mostly though, the ride was cut short because I crashed a mile into it, which was pretty discouraging. I was crossing the tracks beneath the Steel Bridge and suddenly lost control - I think I went off the edge of the sidewalk and into the rocks and gravel, but I'm not sure. No injuries thankfully, but it was kind of a mess. I was upside down, wedged between my bike and a chain link fence. I could have unpinned myself, but it was really nice that a homeless guy came over to make sure I was okay and then lifted my bike off me and offered a hand up.

Two things were going on. First, the saddle was too high - I think the shop that received the bikes must have taken it out for a test ride - and I really wasn't quite stable. It took me awhile to realize it and adjust the height. Also though, I was temporarily blinded by the light and shadows and couldn't see where I was going. It's a problem here going south into the sun on bright days, particularly at the edges of the day in the winter when the sun is low. I need to start wearing my Ray-Bans.

I was really quite discouraged when I got home, wondering if I was really safe to bike any more and in particular worried about my eyesight. I've been having significantly more trouble with bright lights since we returned, and was starting to wonder if my eyesight was deteriorating - a fear that's never far from the back of my mind.

An hour later though, I'm feeling better about it. I remembered how much of an issue this was here last winter, and how I couldn't really get out biking in the mornings too early because I was blinded by the sun low on the horizon. I remembered one morning biking over to Clinton Street and having to dismount and walk across the Broadway Bridge because I couldn't see far enough to see if anyone was in the path ahead of me. I just need to adapt. It's another argument, as if we needed one, for why it's better to spend the winter further in the south.

So much better getting here by bike, where I can park right outside the door.

The mural on the wall has been here for a few seasons, but I think the rainbow striped skateboard park must be new this year. Brilliant!

Today's ride: 3 miles (5 km)
Total: 175 miles (282 km)

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Suzanne GibsonGreat you have your bikes again. And if it's just for riding down the long hallway.
We live at about the same latitude as you and being blinded by the low sun is a problem for me, too. Not to mention the cold.
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3 days ago

Rich FrasierScott, I was having the same problem with low sun angles yesterday when I was out on my bike. We're about the latitude of Grants Pass. I'm not telling you not to get your peepers checked. I'm just concurring with Suzanne that it's a winter problem in these northern latitudes.
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2 days ago

Scott AndersonTo Rich FrasierThanks, Rich. I just need to readapt to the winter light. It's definitely more of an issue for me than it was pre-GSA, but I don't think it's worsening. I've got an ophthalmology visit scheduled for after surgery, but it does feel like my vision is stable. I'm just grateful that I didn't break or injure anything in my fall. I was really pretty tangled up between the bike and fence. I should have handed my android to that guy to take a photo!
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2 days ago