Last week I started biking (cycling, as they call it here) to work. My hours have been pretty long since I started my current project, and I’ve noticed that my health has declined – both in my workout schedule as well as what I eat. So in an effort to build an element of fitness into my daily routine, I am now cycling about 30 minutes each way to work.

Although it does add about 15-20 minutes to my commute, it has definitely been nice to a) not have to go to the gym when I get home at night, and b) clear my head on the way to, and particularly from, work.

It’s especially nice when “there’s a grand stretch in the evening.” When I first heard this phrase, I thought it was something similar to the Seventh Inning Stretch. However, it actually refers to when the days start to get longer as a result of spring coming, and the light stretches further into the evening (get it??).

Anyways, tonight’s cycle was particularly pleasant, as I was able to shed 11 straight working hours by observing a beautiful sky and a pair of graceful swans:

The female swan is nesting, and the male swan – ever protective – never strays far from her side. Maybe someday soon I’ll be able to see little goslings swimming around!

Until then, I’ll continue to hope for more grand stretches 🙂