The gravel parking lot was eerily still as I unloaded my mountain bike. The winds had been blowing over 20 mph for the last three days from the outer bands of Hurricane Sandy. It seemed to me to be the first lull since it all began. The full moon was too low in the sky to cast significant light onto the road. But I had already resolved to do this particular ride without lights, with only the moon to guide me. Being stupidly stubborn is one of my "endearing qualities". Riding alone in the Wildlife Refuge on All Hallow's Eve lends a certain flavor to a night ride that will get your blood pumping. Add to that, riding in the dappled light of a low hanging moon and you have a special evening of chills and thrills.
The first thing my senses picked up as I rode away from the car was that my bike tires were rolling very smoothly. The gravel road was in perfect condition. This would be a very fast ride. I started coming out here at night nearly twenty years ago. Sometimes the roads would be potholed, sometimes there were three inches loose gravel to deal with. This time the roads were perfect. It had been a long time since my last ride here but I felt as if it were yesterday. A still pond appeared on left. The moon, reflecting off the surface, illuminated the surrounding bank and trees. I stopped and marveled at the scene knowing no photograph could capture it.
How lucky I was to be here!
Back on the bike I was
euphoric from having almost perfect conditions to ride. I shifted onto the big chainring and and took Supa Fly up to speed. It felt like I was flying!
And then I was flying!
The bike ricocheted off the locked gate, as I flew over the handlebars and crashed landed five feet on the other side.
Oh Yeah, The Gates! I'm becoming forgetful, but forgetting the gates?!? Not wise. As I sat up in the road, the euphoria was now just a cloud of mist hovering over my head. Or was that a concussion? I climbed over the gate and inspected Supa Fly for damage. Of course it was dark, so all I could really do was spin the front wheel and hop back on before common sense caught up with me.
Motoring along now, my body sent in damage reports from a knee, an arm and multiple fingers. I was fairly certain the bleeding would soon stop. Fortunately, my fingers were numb from the cold and couldn't complain to loudly. My brain however felt this was an excellent time to do some risk assessment. What other goodies await down the road? Certainly, this would be an excellent place to dispose of a body. Wouldn't want to disturb any grave diggers out here! What about crazy locals who don't like city folk and yankees?
Shoot! What about hunters? Are they hunting out here right now?
Are there really alligators out here?
And you still can't see where the heck you're going!
I had been hoping to scare the cr@p out of myself and I was succeeding!
Soon, the dark woods opened up on to moonlight flooded fields. The Tennessee river lumbered past just to the left looking beautiful with a little help from Mr. Moon. My shadow raced in front of me urging me on.
The euphoria returned, but this time it was tempered by the knowledge that when some exciting opportunity presents itself, it's always best to go in with your eyes wide open!
