Today started like many Mondays.
The alarm (TV) goes off. I hear it, listen to the first bit of traffic news and intend to get up.
Then I wake up (again), look at the clock and realize that I must now get up (for real), shower, and be ready to go in about 15 minutes. Mondays are almost becoming predictable.
What was a bit different today was that it was a “holiday” and my carpooler was taking the day off. I was on my own, but thought traffic would be light. I was correct.
But then I spotted the traffic advisory sign that said,
“I-5 South exit to I-90 Eastbound Closed.”I took a bit of time (seconds really) to process this information.
Which way am I travelling, and which way do I want to go on I-90?
I determined that this was my route, and that they probably were not playing an April Fool’s joke on the early morning (not sooo early) commuters.
I seemed to remember a traffic report in my first awakening about a motorcyclist that went from the I-90 exit, back down onto the southbound I-5 lanes. But the accident had happened in the wee hours. Still, I chose to believe the sign.
Quick decision time.
I do know how to get around the freeway to freeway exit, but it entails driving quite a while on City streets. No school today, but there would undoubtedly be others doing the same maneuver. So I opted for the other freeway to eastbound freeway bridge.
This used to be my primary morning commute route. That was until the end of the year when tolls started on this bridge (SR 520), but not on the I-90 bridge. I choose to avoid the $3.50 toll unless traffic is indescribably bad. Or blocked.
Exiting east, traffic was still very light.
As I drove onto the bridge I remembered that this was my prime eagle and heron spotting route. Looking about – there he/she was. The bald eagle perched on a light standard over the freeway, checking the Lake Washington waters for salmon. Or maybe some other tasty morsel.
The sighting made the costly detour not a total loss.
And I am sorry to report, the motorcyclist paid an even dearer price.
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