Yesterday (Sunday) was my first day back to Skyline for a long time. I just wanna say that I love mountain biking! It brings out a side of me that doesn't come out in San Jose that much: care-free, adventurous, happy, and daring. There's just something about the "unknown" of adventure that excites me. I come alive out there and when I just let go and not worry it seems like God says, "Welcome back." Every time I bike up there, I always find something that makes me say, "Wow! God you're good." It makes me hope that someday I could share this with someone, which would be one of the greatest gifts.
The picture is of my favorite trail called Hawk Trail. It's made of a lot of dirt mounds that can effectively launch a biker pretty high in the air. Midway through I questioned its power, "That all you got, Hawk?!" I exclaimed. Three seconds later I mis-landed a high jump and could tell that I was going to end up on the dirt. I was a really smooth fall...one of those slow motion kinds where I could think through how to fall. No open wounds or bruises, which might have been due to my wearing launch pads during the trip. I got up and chuckled out loud, "Alright . . . nice . . . yeah, ok." I got my kicks and slowed down a little after that. Good times.
So...being my first day back, ATF I realized that I was over-ambitious in planning my trip. I was determined to bike to a particular secluded meadow at the end of the west trails that I've been to before. When I got there, I found that the short green grass grew into tall dry grass over the months, and was far from inviting for a place to sit and read. I took a little break none-the-less.
Biking there, just about wiped out my energy supply. On the way back up the trail, I walked most of the way. I don't think I've ever been that drained of energy. You know you're not looking too good when you're depending on your water to give you strength. I wanted to bike back along the trail to my car just to say, "I did it." But realistically, all that seemed to matter was simply, "getting back." I made it to the farthest north trail entrance along HWY 9 and decided to bike the rest of way along the highway. I wish I had more energy to bike the trail back, because I wasn't done having fun yet. But maybe next time I'll pack a lunch, and definately be in better shape. Good stuff and I can't wait to do it again!
