Alameda or Camelot?

Today I awoke to a thunderclap followed by the sound of rain, and I thought it spelled the beginning of the end of our car-free week.  This is Michael here, taking my turn at blogging our Car-Free Challenge.  I guess it serves me right for stating that driving less in June will be easy because the rainy season is over!

It turned out to be a good thing that I woke up early, because I remembered that I had a 9 AM meeting and I hadn't allowed time for my walk to work.  (Normally I arrive at work a bit later and work later into the evening, as do many of my co-workers.)  By the time I finished my breakfast, the rain had let up and some sun was poking through the clouds, leaving me wondering whether to wear my hat for sun protection or bring the umbrella for the rain.

I wound up opting for both, with my hat on my head and Susan's snazzy transit-themed umbrella tucked into my briefcase.

Despite the fact that I stopped to pick up a to-go cup of coffee at the Blue Dot Cafe, I managed to make it to work in time for my 9 o'clock meeting.  I find the walk (as well as the coffee) invigorating, though I do wonder if my co-workers notice the little patch of sweat on my chest.  I suppose everybody had this problem back when walking and transit were the only option for getting to the office, and multiple layers of clothing were the norm.

When it came time to walk home it was all sun, and I was glad I wore my hat.  I guess today the mysterious island city of Alameda was more like the mythical Camelot, where the rain may never fall till after sundown.