December 18, 2005

• A few nights ago, I set out to buy a hose clamp.

  I left at about 6:30 PM, which means it was already dark here in these northern latitudes. The plan was to catch the bus to Lake City, go to Fred Meyer (a local department store, kind of like a mini Wal-Mart without the right-wing politics), get some groceries, and maybe get a bite to eat somewhere.

  I missed the bus. I walked down the Burke-Gilman trail to the main arterial where the bus runs, and apparently I just missed it, since I waited about 10 minutes. I looked at my schedule and decided to cross the road and catch the bus going the other way, to the U Village where I could find a hose clamp, but before I could get across the bus had already passed. This left me kinda sorta stuck for another 20 minutes or so, since they run on half-hour intervals at that hour.

  Thinking... thinking about other places to buy a hose clamp. Up the hill at QFC grocery? Probably not. At least not worth the 10 minute hike up the hill towards another potential half-hour wait... I didn't have my 65 schedule with me. Rite-Aid would be closed by the time I got there... Then I remembered that if I hiked down the Burke-Gilman about half way to the U Village, there's a hardware store! Would it be open? Let's find out.

  The trail used to be a rail line. It has gentle slopes and curves, and runs right through the sleepy suburban 'east coast' of Seattle. The trail is paved, and is perfect for all kinds of uses, but especially bike riding.

  It was the night of the full moon. I barely needed my flashlight (which I'm sure to carry with me). I used it mostly to signal the occassional biker who would glide by in the darkness. Point it at the ground and swing my arms while walking. Enough of a strobe effect without being blinding.

  There were a couple of bikers who went by once, who were having a conversation. I envied their aerobic fitness. It wasn't really a conversation, though, it was mainly one guy ranting about some workplace BS to the other guy, who would try to change the subject, and then fail. I could hear them coming from about a mile off... It was a still night.

  Mostly the path was lined with silver moonbeams and shadows of trees. A feeling of weightlessness, almost. My body having no trouble keeping a good pace, looking at my cell phone occassionally to time the segments. Feeling kind of liberated, realizing that I really don't care if I get a hose clamp tonight.

  It took an hour and a half to walk to City People's hardware store on Sand Point. City People's sits in a shopping center with a bunch of other upscale type places. A Great Harvest bread place, a coffee stand that looks more like a jewelry store, the HQ of Windermere real estate, and Sand Point Grill, which looks really good and hopefully some day soon I'll try it.

  City People's, however, was closed. I was ten minutes late.

  Thinking... thinking of where else I could go. Down the trail is an upscale grocery store to go with the upscale nature of the neighborhood. Another ten minutes and I'm at Metropolitain Market trying to figure out if they have an auto parts aisle. They don't, of course. They have half an aisle dedicated to boutique-brand chocolate bars, and they have more fancy cheeses than you can sneeze at, but no hose clamps.

  I bought a few things. Loaded up my pack. Munching on a banana, then a Clif bar, I'm back on the trail.

  I got the hose clamp the next day. Caught the bus and everything.

  • 1:08 am
  • 3 Comments