I had a good ride downtown this morning; I left home at 6:49 and arrived at my office at 7:23. I rode through the mist for the first 10 minutes under cloudy skies with calm winds. It was really lovely and quiet. I saw a few cyclists, lots of dog walkers, fewer runners. My longest pause was the usual corner of Congress Ave and Cesar Chavez. This photo is looking up Congress Ave to my left towards the Capitol.
At my office: this is where the coffee magic happens and where my BrewTime© Post-Its live.
Today’s BrewTime© Post-Its:
The ride home was a carbon copy of this morning’s ride for mist/no mist, and foot and cycling traffic. However . . . .
About a mile from home, I was riding on the sidewalk as I do (it’s the safest place to ride in that particular place) and saw in front of me, strewn about on the sidewalk, a brand new backpack upside down, an Airpod case, an unzipped fanny pack, and other miscellaneous items that didn’t register as I was focused on getting home.
My first thought: did I just miss an assault? 10 yards further down the sidewalk I saw this (seconds after seeing the backpack):
I stopped, got off my bike, leaned it against a wall, and began to pick up the change. There must have been tens of dollars: $20? $30? $40? I turned to walk back toward the backpack and saw an Austin police officer talking with a couple (about my age), standing above the backpack. I approached them and told them I found all of this change; I emptied my pockets of the change to give to the officer who put it in the fanny pack. The officer asked the couple, “How many drugs did you find?” I glanced down and saw the inside of the fanny pack, filled with more change, a few bills, and wrappers of some sort.
The woman said she and her husband saw, from their parked car, this guy walking into traffic against the traffic, eyes closed, arms outspread, head tilted back. They got out to offer aid, but I don’t know what happened to the man. He was no where to be found and I didn’t get that part of the story.
I asked the officer if he wanted my contact info, he thanked me and said he wouldn’t need it and his job was to find the owner to return his belongings to him.
Two workmen (wearing hard hats and reflective vests) walked by and said they recognized the backpack. They told us its owner and his girlfriend had a big fight in the parking lot of a nearby retail store and she broke up with him. Shouting ensued.
I got on my bike to finish riding home, heard multiple sirens and saw a sheriff’s car, a constable’s car, and another Austin police car heading toward the scene.
On a more peaceful front, I rode to the library after supper via the Woodcreek Greenway to return a DVD and pick up 2 DVDs and 2 books for Jim. I did not, however, ride through the Greenway on the way home because on the way to the library, I ran into flannel sheets of no-see-ums, the thickest waves of them in my lifetime. They were so thick they managed to get inside my mouth, and my mouth was closed. Yuk.
Thunder started to roll in about 5 minutes after I returned home. Made it! The thunder is booming as I type this. I’m happy to be home.
Oh, it's so lovely to meet the coffee station, Mary - thank you sooooo much for this glimpse of where your BrewTime notes hang out! My world is complete! 😊😊😊
And gosh, what a find - but such a sad background to the story of the found items. It's making me think of so many questions to ask the people involved.
Ugh re the no-see-ums and the thunder! We've had some weather recently - a location shoot this morning was cancelled entirely as a result. Oh well, never mind!
My goodness!!! What a day!!! I’m so glad it started so peacefully and enjoyably. And thanks so much for the insight into the coffee station (fancy machines!) and Post-It notes. I understand much better what that’s all about now! More stunning art!
But the rest of it!! Scary!!! I’m so glad you’re ok and that the police didn’t need to take your details. So much drama. Sigh.
And my goodness regarding the swarms of insects!!! Yuck, yuck, yuck!! I’m SO glad you got home safely.
Thanks for an enthralling update. Take care my dear. 🤗🤗😘