Fear

Bought a toy awhile ago. Got hurt at work. Finally felt like I might be healed enough to try. Downhill mountain biking has been something I itched for awhile. Bicycles have a large part in my past. I actually put the new toy up for sale thinking that maybe I should give up the idea of taking on another hobby. Push come to shove I realized that heading into 30 Ive become a bit too skittish. Unacceptable. 

Up the lift I go! Nervous as can be, I plummeted down the mountain for the first time on a bike made for it. Amazing. A whole new addiction. The physical demands, the focused attention and the adrenaline were back. 

Even the easiest trails were profoundly challenging. I managed to pull 16 runs in four hours. Fatigue set in and quickly it became dangerous to keep going as I was getting sloppy and having too many close calls. So...one more run!

Really? Really. Two flats at the same time. On the last run. Dropped off the largest drop at the end of the course and my front went flat quick due to a pinch flat. I rolled to the finish as the tire released the last of its air. So I rolled the bike over to the grass, flipped the bike over and suddenly heard a small pop. Then a hiss. Then watched the rear tire go flat too. Funny. 

Patched both tubes and then went to a nearby trail system for a cool down ride.  

The sun sets on a beaver pond. 

Fields of flowers. This day was an awesome day. 

Despite many attempts to not make a normal face, surprisingly one was captured. Im going to have more days like this. Many more.