Kinship On The Blue Sky Trail Poem by Spock the Vegan

Four old men mountain biking are we.
We left a truck at the end of the trail.
A wife took us to the start,
near the Reservoir to drop us off.

The trail was good and easy at first
as we left the restrooms at the head.
A cool morning as we peddled through
the tunnel for the 9+ mile journey.

The sign said "Riders Dismount, "
but it was meant for horses we thought.
Now upward the trail meandered
around the small bushes and boulders.

Many rocks on the trail to miss
with the front wheel or else
you could go off the narrow trail
and down the steep sides to injury!

My ten speed bike is not geared low
enough to make it up the steep slopes.
I must hop off and push it up those spots.
My calves are aching now.

We stop briefly for a drink of water
from the bottles in our back packs.
It is warmer now and the helmet
is making my head perspire.

Onward and upward again we go.
We take turns leading the way.
Now we have reached the top of this
part of the journey and one fourth there.

The view into the valley is gorgeous.
We see some rich people's homes.
Now comes the fun part - going downhill.
A nice trail here - "whee" it is fun!

Now up again, steeply at times.
We stop where the trail splits off
and drink more water. I am getting low.
Almost half way there.

Lots of big rocks on the trail.
For a while the trail is a road,
Mostly downhill. We come to a
gate with the trail splitting off.

We stop under a tree - the only
real shade on the trail. We sit on
a picnic table and share cookies.
Someone calls it "Snack Valley."
The rest and the shade are welcome.

Then off we go again, some ups and
Some downs, then comes the steep part.
We must lift the front wheels of the
bikes over the rock steps and pull up
the back wheel too.

My bike is the heaviest. There are
some wooden guard-rails to keep us
from falling off the trail. At the top of
that section we park our bikes.

My belt gets caught on the seat, and
I go down, but no big scratches. That
was the third minor spill this trip for
me. We look into the valley.


More rich people's homes are below.
One has two fields that are fenced off.
The hill beyond is green and beautiful.
Then off we go again. It is hot now.

The trail here is surface rock that is
rugged and slanted with many jogs
and sharp rocks sticking up. We must
push the bikes most of the time.

This condition lasts for about one and
a half miles. We are about three-fourths
of the way. I drink the rest of my water.
Then off we go for the steep descent.

This part is fun at times, but you must
be watchful, for there are rocks in the
way every few feet. Both hands must
be on the brakes to slow the descent.

Too much pull on the left brake will
cause the front wheel to skid, and you
could go down. This area has
switch-backs with sharp turns.

I had to beg for water from one of
my buddies. The view of the mountain
called "The Devil's Backbone" was
spectacular. I was leading the way then.

On one of the sharp left turns, my front
wheel went down, and I came off the bike.
I prevented falling by running down the
trail. It took about 25 feet to stop myself.

After the bottom was a slight uphill to
the home stretch. We stopped by a
boulder to rest. I crouched on the
north side to get a little shade. It was
too little. I had to beg for water again.

We were beat, but thoughts of getting
to the end drove us on. I walked my
bike where the pointed rocks were in
the middle of the trail. That was where
I took a tumble on a previous adventure.

Past the benches and the steps, through
the gulley, and up the last little hill and we
are there at the other trail head and water
fountain. Ah, at last I can drink my fill.

We loaded our bikes into the truck and
went to eat. I was too tired. I showered
and went to bed. I don't remember being
this tired last time. Can being one year
older make that much difference?