Southbound

The route to my new office is an altogether quieter, leafier one than before. Up the hill and over the river, past the two cathedrals and on towards the canal and beyond. There are fewer honking buses and trams, and lots more bikes. Being a creature of early morning habit as I am, I’m already meeting the same cast of characters along the way.

There are the lollipop men and women, who’ll always say hello, and who I’ll always smile at. I’ll miss them now school’s finished for the summer.

The little guy in the hi-vis vest on his electric bike, who’s always frowning and distracted-looking.

The besuited man with one child on the crossbar and another on the carrier seat. I usually meet them at a junction and the two boys copy their daddy as he signals to turn right.

The Dublinbikes crew, refilling the stations along the canal. There’s usually a queue to take the bikes they’re dropping off.

The bicycle convoy along the Grand Canal. I’m not used to cycling alongside so many people in Dublin, but the Grand Canal route is probably the closest thing we’ve got to this. Amazing.

It’s just as well I’m getting used to the commute while the weather’s good. Once the skies descend and the rain returns, I’ll be swearing and sweating beneath my rain gear, eyes firmly planted on the road, and it won’t seem half as dandy.

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