New Experiences

Today was all about new experiences.

It was sunny and I decided it was time to give my bike some play time. I went in to the local bike shop to ask for a trail recommendation.  I explained that I have a hybrid and don't really do mountain-biking.  I prefer paved road or packed dirt.  (The rocks and roots in the trail still scare the snot out of me.)  I asked for something relatively flat and scenic.

He suggested the Whitefish trail.  It's good for beginners, he said.

I followed his directions to the trailhead and excitedly got on my bike.  Within a few yards it became clear that I was, in fact, on a single track mountain biking trail.  I'd never done this by myself before - only ever with Oldman, who is much more experienced and was always great about helping me along. There were plenty of rocks, switchbacks, and narrow, scary parts with a sheer drop on one side of the trail.  How this is for beginners was beyond me!

A shot from the (very narrow) trail.

After the first half mile, I had already gone up several little inclines that left me breathless and scared out of my mind that I might fall over my handlebars and down the mountain at the next rock or bend in the path.  I considered turning around.  But then I remembered that there was an overlook only two miles in to the trail.  I challenged myself to get there without dying.

And I did.

View from the overlook

My baby blue enjoying the view

Not only did I get there, but I did it without dismounting from my bike even once!  This meant that many times I could be heard muttering "Ohgod ohgod ohgod" under my breath or straight up yelling "I'm going to die!" to no one in particular.

At the top, I took the opportunity to meditate on an outcropping of rock.  While my eyes were closed, I heard four-footed steps approaching and a sniffing noise.  I opened my eyes to a golden retriever nearly knocking me over.

"Gus!" his owner yelled from the ledge above me.  "I'm sorry," he said in my direction, "Gus come back here!"

"It's alright," I laughed and pet Gus for a bit.

"That's such a great place to meditate!" he shouted to me.  "It would make a great picture.  You look so peaceful in the background from up here.  Do you want me to take a picture of you?"

I felt a little silly posing for a meditation picture, but when you travel alone you gotta take advantage of when other people can take photos for you.  "Sure," I replied and walked up to give my camera to him.

Although I had given myself full permission to walk my bike back down the mountain, I ended up riding the whole way back as well, for a total of four miles!  Sure I probably rode it slower than any human has ever ridden that trail but hey, at least I know my brakes work well, and I did it by myself!!

When I got back to the house, Emily invited me to go "folfing," or frisbee golfing.  Since it was a day for new experiences, I said, "Sure!"  I ate a quick sandwich and was back out the door and into the woods.

Folfing was a blast!  I was happy to see that the frisbee throws I learned and practiced back in my Ultimate days came in handy, and I did pretty well for my first time, I think!

Emily taking the "bonus shot" - trying to get the
disc through the hole in the satellite dish.
(It's really hard.)

My turn

Another hole

To top off an excellent day of new experiences, I went to a local meditation group I had seen advertised on a message board in a coffee shop.  We sat for 45 minutes (35 minutes longer than I'm used to!), then listened to a teaching podcast and talked about it a bit together.  There were only five of us, so it was really lovely and intimate.  I found myself wishing I could return next week.

I'm enjoying riding this wave of positive energy I've had lately, and hope it continues.  Only one and a half days left before I can get back on the road!



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