Deja Vu

OUCH! My arm!

I've been looking forward to taking my new bike for a spin, so Paul, Hayden, Jacob and I went for a ride near Island Park on Saturday. Since Parker hasn't been released by his doctor to get back on his motorcycle, he stayed home. Cameron chose to keep him company. The weather was perfect. We made a big loop, going from the Osborne Bridge east towards Island Park Scout Camp, then south along the old rail bed, before heading back west to where we started.


The ride was fun, with a few exceptions: dirty contacts and bruised kidneys. I solved the first problem by popping out the offending lens and washing it, trail side, with eye drops. Putting it back in was tricky without a mirror, but sunglasses worked in a pinch.

In regards to the second problem, I might have exaggerated just a tiny bit, and the solution is rather controversial. Let me explain. The rail bed we rode on was horribly rutted and washboardy (is that even a word?), leading to a very jarring ride. The condition of the trail can easily be attributed to irresponsible ATV riders. To resolve this issue, I propose that the dirt bike riders of the world unite in an effort to have 4-wheelers banned from public lands (that sounds so elitist!). I apologize to all the responsible ATV riders out there.


BIKERS RULE!





In spite of the minor setbacks, we had a great day. We brought lunch and enjoyed a few hours in our beautiful "backyard."


My new bike - pretty, isn't it? (I know, only a girl would say that about a piece of machinery).


Photographic proof that I really can ride.


We had to ride on the pavement for part of the way. This was Jacob's most, and my least, favorite part. Don't get me wrong, it was fun, but I kept having images of one of the kids wiping out flash through my mind. Paul reassured me they would be more likely to crash while on the dirt trail (thanks for the comforting thought). I guess the secret is to not think about all the things that could go wrong, just enjoy the experience.


Paul stretching his legs.


Oh, and by the way, the first picture with my arm in a splint - fake. Only the head is mine. We all made it home in one piece.

*********************************************************

Paul spoke in Sacrament meeting today. If the number of people crying at the end of a talk is an accurate indication of its power and effectiveness, you could say Paul hit a home run. He shared some of the things he has learned through the experiences of the past year. It was a great talk, and I'm not just saying that because I love the man and have a vested interest in his happiness.