Woke up at 5:00 to make sure to get my daily ride in before we left. Again, because of the clouds and occasional light rain, no sunrise to witness this morning. But, I did enjoy seeing the lights on the wet road.
Again, it was a joy riding down the avenues with the streets almost entirely to myself. I crossed the Seine and headed east along St. Germaine Blvd. After a good ways, I crossed back over and continued east, basically following the river and then after a good stretch, planning to cut over to another one-way boulevard back to the hotel. Ah, the best laid plans of mice and men, especially when trying to navigate Paris streets.
I turned left but no one-way street immediately appeared. Instead, I found myself in a circular plaza and followed it around 270 degrees plus to an avenue that seemed to be going in the right direction. But, no familiar street names appeared and I had the distinct impression I was headed further and further away from my destination as if I had caught a current that was slowly taking me out to sea.
Turning left again, I headed for what I presumed would be the river. Block after block passed with no river in sight. Finally, after a mile… land! I couldn’t believe how far I had drifted. With the Paris avenues running as spokes from a wheel, it is so easy to think one is going in one direction when that is not the case.
One of these days I’ll figure the Paris roads out!
At the airport, we had to take a bus to our plane. Standing next to me, I saw Hannah with her henna tattooed arms. No opportunity availed itself while on the bus or departing for a photograph but once on the plane I saw she was sitting only a few rows back on the other side. She said that the henna should last for about two weeks.
Thanks for the great picture, Hannah.
14 June 2011 Ride: 70mins 12 miles. Light rain. Miles YTD: 3,575.19
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