124. I just flew in from the windy city...

the windy city is mighty purdy,
but they aint got what we got
no sirree
(etc)

Today was a bit up and down (rather like the lovely route itself), full of highs and lows...

High: face is less puffy than yesterday.
Low: face is more noticeably puffy today (I look like I'm developing a black eye on one side!) and so had to talk about it more today. Kinda hoping that it's just going to go away tomorrow (otherwise I'll end up having to go to the doctor and it'll turn up to be both fatal and highly contagious. You know how these things go...).

High: got up and cycled to work, sneering in the face of the forecast rain and wind.
Low: forgot to put my contacts in this morning (and took 4-5 miles to notice - definition of not a morning person!) and spent the day wandering around in a gently blurred landscape. Which was OK apart from when returning home in low light and trying to see which way the teeny little cycle-route signs were pointing.

High: left work and cycled home, despite the strong wind and persistent rain. Discovered that wind can be quite useful as an aid to braking.
Low: discovered that that's pretty much wind's only use when on a bike - otherwise is makes you cycle slowly and tires you out. Oh, and threatens to blow you off bridges...

High: I can recommend Sudocrem and BioFreeze.
Low: even Sudocrem can only do so much...

High: didn't fall off en route to work.
Low: got to within 30 seconds of home (dead-end road leading to the estate my house is on) and tried to go up a kerb (to get out of the path of one of my neighbours who was not for stopping, despite the fact we were both trying to use the same part of the road) only to instead come off the bike heavily onto my right shoulder and head (note to self: unless you're approaching it at precisely 90 degrees, avoid kerbs). No, the car didn't stop (or even slow) during my elegant de-biking. Car drivers are evil.

High: very nice neighbour (next driver along road) who stopped to ask if I was OK, and then wouldn't drive on until he'd seen me get back up on my feet and walk along the street. Car drivers are lovely.
Low: shoulder is really rather stiff and sore. I look forward to seeing the bruise tomorrow (maybe it'll draw resources away from the puffiness?).

Whip crack-away, indeed!

:o)

Today's stats
Cycling (outside!) - 1 hrs 38 mins, 17.14 miles [better than last week - fewer diversions!]
Cycling (outside!) - 1 hr 43 mins, 16.52 miles [oddly shorter than the same route the other way... Hmmm...]