Morning Routine

I took the long way into work. It was great and I need to share it with someone. Having gotten to bed at a decent time, I woke easily and was in the pool by 5:30am with four lanes of flat water all to myself. By 6:30 I was heading east through thick fog, comfy behind my fairing and trusty leather jacket. As water accumulated on my helmet shield, I blessed the designers for including a little rubber wiper on the index finger of my new gloves.

Ten miles of fast freeway and then through Santa Paula; a little town busy with heading to work. Up the hill and finally out of the mist at Mupu. Past Thomas Acquinas College, brilliant sun and blue skies were my companions to the summit, across the Upper Ojai and down Denison Grade (swoop, swoop) into Ojai. "Hello, Fog!" around Creek Road as the road led us down to the coast again and now I sit, chilled, in Franky's with my notepad and a book. Is this a great way to start the day?

Why did it take so long to figure this out? The clues have long been before me. My favorite part of traveling is the rare, unhurried breakfast in the hotel restaurant drinking coffee with a good book or scribbling my thoughts onto a pad. My other favorite mornings have been those that started with a long bicycle ride or ocean swim. This newest routine combines the best elements of both. Add to that a long motorcycle ride....too much of a good thing?