Getting There

Vallejo 7:20 am
I again make the choice to pass up the first car in line. A generally unkempt looking and damaged older Chevrolet small sedan. Good choice – my ride is terrific. A 4-door Dodge Charger. Warm. Roomy. I’m in the back seat. KBLK Radio. Huge sort of ‘Lurch-from-the Adams-Family’ looking guy is driving. His enormous hands engulf the steering wheel. He did not respond to my good morning greeting, which sort of adds to the ‘Lurch’ persona. He has his seat pushed back so far in order to accommodate his leg length that it is nearly touching the rear seat. And his legs are still bent and crowded under the dash. This guy must be at least 7 feet tall.

Mirror chochkees are minimal – there’s a wild cherry scented cardboard tree shaped air freshener and a parking permit.

The Asian lady in the front passenger seat has long dark hair pulled back into a pony tail coiled down her back. We are all silent today and it’s a good day to look out the window.

Wave after wave of cars roll along the 6 lanes on Highway 80 on this almost sunny morning. Remaining wisps of fog are fading away as we move closer to the city, and I see clearly how lush the land has become from the recent days of rain and sun and then more rain. Lots of new growth on trees and shrubs and all the wild grasses that grow along the freeway.

Small birds are lined up along the power lines as we pass Berkeley. Maybe drying out from the rain, or just basking in the early morning sun. Or resting as they migrate. It’s 8 AM as we overpass the corner to the Bay Bridge approach and I see that my egret has returned to contemplate the marshy pools of water.

We’re over the bridge and in the city by 8:10.

Filed under: Casual Carpooling, commute, casual car pool, Today's Commute | 1 Comment »