I knew when I left my house this morning that rain and wind would hamper my ride home. But I just can’t bear to drive to school. I am addicted to my bicycle. That said, when N. offered me a ride home as the skies turned grey and the winds whipped up, I briefly considered it. Because the outer bands of Hurricane Ike are spinning through and I’ve got to tell you, the wind makes riding pretty tricky. I pushed through, staying upright and moving forward, albeit slowly. Then the rains began to fall horizontally and I couldn’t see. My legs were stinging as I got hit by sand particles raised by rain and wind. I stopped on this corner at Freret and Milan to face away from the wind, catch my breath, and wipe my eyes. I snapped this photo, but it doesn’t capture, not at all, what it felt like to be out there today. Because it felt great.