Ride on, and on and on

Warm autumn sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, splashing across the road.  I gripped the handle bars tightly and stood, rear off my seat.  The wind whipped my hair as I sailed down the steep hill.  Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

As usual, I was a little afraid, screaming down this rough paved road, narrow as it was, but always had a smile plastered across my face.  After the long push up, up, up, and up….it was elating to cruise faster than a speeding bullet down, down, down the hill.  Today was no different, I was like a kid on a big wheel, speed, speed and more speed.  I knew these golden days would soon come to an end, their hazy counterparts would be greeting us morning after morning all too soon.  I closed my eyes and soaked it all in, the sweat from the ride drying quickly as I coasted down the hill.  I gazed out across the valley, red and white barns dotting the rolling country side to my left, breath taking Mount Hood out to my right.  I could have been dreaming, it was that good.  Alas, even dreams have to end, and, as we live high atop a steep steep hill, reality struck in…into my thighs that is, all too quickly.  Burning as I made the final push, they were screaming at me to stop, turn back, cruise off into the sunset, but, unfortunately, I had to go home.  Push, pedal, push, pedal, I coasted into our drive, panting.  Exhausted, elated.  I could not think of a more wonderful way to spend an hour, (or had it been two?)  on a late fall day.