So, it's been a while since my last post...I'm slowly trying to get back in the saddle :) I've been trying to take my bike out more often lately because the weather has cooled down quite a bit which is nice, and also I've put on a couple of pounds in the last few months (I'm thinking mostly stress related), so I'm trying to stay active in order to fit into my jeans again when it starts getting colder. I've gone 3 times so far this week, and due to some serious drama at my current job, I found out I had a couple of random days off (and trust me, I am not complaining). Tuesday morning, Sam and I got breakfast and then took my bike out on the dirt road across from our neighborhood. The weather this time of year is pretty spectacular (right around 80) and it's finally gotten to the point where I can do outdoor activities in the middle of the day without worrying about heat stroke. There was a cool breeze and the sun was hot. (BTW, I got rid of my iPhone and switched back to my little LG, so the following shots aren't great quality, but you get the picture ;) )
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| A couple of these pictures are actually from Sunday, but they turned out better than the ones I took today, so i just used them instead. It's the exact same place, so who cares |
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| It doesn't seem very high, but this is about 15' from the bottom of the wash |
I was hesitant to ride back home seeing how beautiful the weather was and how amazing I felt with my little Vitamin D boost, but back I went. I ended up resting up and having a snack in a lounge chair on our back patio and dozing off for quite a while in the shade. It really doesn't get much better than that!
Today, I headed back out and up my usual route to see where it would take me this time. After a fork in the road, I stopped for a drink and noticed a trail heading off into the bushes that I'd never noticed before. I decided to follow it and find out where I'd end up. Well, I ended up right next to the highway, and there was another huge wash that crossed under the road (you guessed it: tunnels!) and followed it down into town. I've wandered down the wash closer to our house, but I've never headed north to see what was up there, so I jumped off of my bike and started exploring.
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| Soakin' up the sunshine and cool breeze this time of year |
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| A couple of the blocks were actually broken...ripped out of the ground. I'm assuming the water rages through there with enough power to knock these things looks, because if it had been a stone or something, it would still be there, right? |
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| I couldn't resist making myself comfortable :) |
I couldn't resist a peek into the mouth of the tunnel, so I made my way up to it's opening, and when I saw no light coming from the other side, decided I had to venture in and see how deep it went. At just that moment, I heard the approaching sound of a diesel engine.
Always venturing out alone, exploring and getting lost and having no particular plan is part of what drives me, what makes me happy. I absolutely love it, and I love taking pictures so I can share my adventures with my friends. But it's also made me a little paranoid...if that's the right word. I can't tell you how many times I've been out riding on a Sunday morning and I stumble upon a makeshift camp of sorts, out in the middle of nowhere, with food and weapons and blankets, and I suddenly come to realization that I am not, in fact, alone out there. I hear gunshots, I see javelina poop, I see foot steps and trash and beer cans, and I can't ever really relax and feel free because I have to be alert to the fact that there are other people around...dangerous, scary people. This particular road that I love riding so much is technically Private Property if I'm not mistaken, and I'm always paranoid that I'm going to get caught out there and arrested, and then when they learn of my secret entry point, they'll lock it down forever and I'll have lost my favorite spot. So I'm always on high alert...waiting for the police or a hunter or a property owner or a homeless man or a rapist to come along and ruin my day.
When I heard that diesel engine, I thought for sure that the Forest Service was out there, following my tire tracks until they got to me and they were going to kick me out of there. I quickly scrambled back up the side of the wash and snuck around in the bushes, only to find that the truck I heard was just a semi parked on the side of 89A, chillin'...and as soon as it came, it left. By that time, I was pretty thirsty and my nerves were wracked, so I hopped back on and headed back home. I'm thinking that Sunday morning I'll make my way back with some snacks and explore the wash as much as I can, ride through the tunnel to the other side, and possibly ride all the way to Dead Horse State Park.
I ended up crashed out on the back patio again today, dozed off for a few minutes, showered, ran some errands and am back outside writing this. I'm determined to get out there as much as possible, and even if I get arrested for trespassing...there are worse things in life, right? I can think of worse ways to spend my days off :)