A Rolling Start

Hello Everyone,

You can't wait for everything to be perfect, for all your gear to be organized and the weather cooperative. Sometimes, you have to just get going and figure it out along the way. Yesterday, I rode for the first time on this trip. It took me a long time to get set up, I wasn't properly dressed, the trails were wet, and I still had my passport and all my cash in the breast pocket of my jacket. But I was here to ride, the rest is details.

It's often been said that America is a land of contradictions, or extremes. I prefer to think of it simply as big, in every sense. Geographically, as it's taken me 3 days of driving to get here, but also socially as on the same day and in the same place that I saw Confederate flags proudly flown, I was greatly helped out by a German immigrant living in this relatively small town.

The area around Coldwater Mountain looks like every stereotype about rural Alabama you can imagine. Rundown shacks, rusted out cars in the yard, loud arguments outside. I wondered how they would treat someone from out of town.

I made it to the trailhead and figured with all the rain recently, and with all my gear stowed away in various boxes, I would just hike a bit with Arthur and get ready for tomorrow. But on my way back after a short hike, I met a father and son in the parking lot who were heading out for a ride and were very curious about the foreigner in their midst. I told them where I was from and they thought that was pretty cool.

I should say that it didn't look like they lived in the immediate area. He had a nice new truck, a Toyota, and spoke with little accent. They gave me some great info on riding conditions and so on, and it was then that I decided I would ride. As I said, you can't sweat the details sometimes.

After laboriously getting ready, and ignoring the fact that I couldn't get my gopro lined up properly, we were finally off. Arthur was very excited. He was finally really getting a chance to run. Unfortunately for him, he's a little out of peak shape, and was dragging behind by the time we made it back.

As mentioned, I met that German on the hill and followed him around for a bit. He then showed me a great spot to stay for the night, ironically in the parking lot of a campsite on the outskirts of town. After such a successful day, Arthur and I had some dinner, packed up a few things while listening to the radio, then settled in for bed. It was a good day.

wes

#Biking #Travel