Snow makes me smile all the time. But never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that one day it would smile back.
On my commuting route there is a stretch of flat road that follows the river. For some reason or another, the majority of the exciting experiences I have while commuting happen on this section of road. (Personally, I think it is because the river is magical.)
Monday afternoon I was biking calmly toward home, wrapped up in my own little world when I came to this stretch of road.
Suddenly, I realized that today I was not the only one hanging out of the shoulder of the road.
There were hundreds of smiley faces inhabiting the asphalt. Salt from the plow trucks combined with the weather conditions had created an entire community of smiling snow patches.
Not every face was a perfect representative of the classic smiley face, but the vast majority had an uncanny likeness.
I couldn’t contain my own smile for the next mile of my commute. How could I? There were little faces peering up and grinning right at me!
The next time someone asks me why I bike through the winter, I will just tell them,
“If I didn’t bike, I would miss out on the smiley faces!”
That first picture is also magical!
LikeLike
Thanks 🙂
LikeLike
Those smiley faces are just too cute! I would be grinning like crazy as well if I saw those on the ground 😀
LikeLike
They were quite irresistible!
LikeLike
Woah…that’s amazing…
LikeLike
It was quite the surprise 😀
LikeLike
That’s so cool!
LikeLike
I frankly couldn’t believe my eyes for a bit!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Those little faces are so cute! How many(ish) were there?
Here is a poem I finally finished this morning. I had been stuck on the last line for a couple days, which is why I asked about your bike’s name. Was hoping it would rhyme with yours and end my writer’s block, haha.
This is dedicated to you and Winter and Orange Bike, and in memory of Pink Bike, since she also was a big part of your earlier adventures.
Actually, once inspiration struck, it provided me with 3 possible ending lines. So, you get to choose your favorite! Please note, only the last line is different.
Version 1:
There once was a biker named Bri,
Who went riding with undisguised glee.
Whatever the weather;
The colder the better.
My dear crazy sister is she.
Version 2:
There once was a biker named Bri,
Who went riding with undisguised glee.
Whatever the weather;
The colder the better.
Pedaling along she will be.
Version 3:
There once was a biker named Bri,
Who went riding with undisguised glee.
Whatever the weather;
The colder the better.
Crazy, so crazy is she.
LikeLike
*wails loudly*
I have to choose!?!?! But I love them all! Version 1 can be dedicated to my pink bike, #2 to my mtb bike and #3 to Winter…but if I had to choose just one I guess I will go with #1 because I love being your crazy sister 😉 Your limericks are the best; snow makes me smile, but you make me smile even more! Hugs, dear one 😀
There were hundreds of faces, it was one of the most bizarre moments of my entire life…I REALLY regret not taking more pictures, I am so dumb sometimes!
LikeLike
Okay, #1 it is, then! Your Official Limerick. But you can still read the others if you want to, just because I love you that much. 😉 Good thing I make you smile more than snow. Hmmph.
Hundreds of them, really? That’s crazy…like maybe crazier than you! 😀 Would sharing my hypotheses on this phenomenon ruin its magical appeal?
LikeLike
Oh dear, are these hypotheses going to be akin to the hypotheses you shared with me last year about the small white dog and the giant white dog? Because in that case I think I must hear them 😉
LikeLike
Bri, this is fantastic! My family is looking over my shoulder at your images and they are saying, “this is great!”
LikeLike
Hearing that makes me grin ear to ear, thanks for telling me, Annie! Seeing these adorable little faces was such a surprise I nearly forgot to take pictures of them at all, in hindsight I wish I had taken a few more!
LikeLike
I’d like to nominate this for post of the year in the category of “Best Original Blog Post About Winter Bike Commuting”.
LikeLike
Haha!
LikeLike
You have the eyes to find something delightful in the ordinary (and even inconvenient) things of daily life! 🙂
LikeLike
Thanks, Estel, you are very kind to say so! Winter is my favorite season, it has a way of surprising me 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That is so cool, I love it!
LikeLike
It was a surreal experience, one of my favorite commutes ever!
LikeLike
I often see faces in cloud formations but never this before. It is amazing the detail you get to see when on the bike.
LikeLike
It is so true, everyone passing me in their cars missed out 😦
LikeLiked by 1 person