Go With the Flow

 It was just a small group, five riders, that eased past us along a wide open stretch of the trail. They weren't moving much quicker, but they opened a twenty, maybe twenty-five yard gap, with no reaction from T, who was pace-setting at the time. Not that they were trying to get away mind you, but the gap kind of stabilized; the idea of chasing them down was awfully tantalizing, and I remarked to T, I'm surprised you let them get away like that. The thought had probably crossed her mind as well, because she immediately picked up the pace. Well alright, let's see where this goes, and I sat back to watch it unfold.

You know, when the river has water in it, it is completely transformed, an entirely different world from the dry, barren one it normally is. Those areas where willows and cottonwoods have taken hold on rocky banks, are filled with bird chatter, ducks doze on low-hanging branches while others paddle lazily in the sky-reflected deeper water, and egrets hunt for frogs and other small creatures from high on their stilt legs above the shallower shoreline waters. I can't help myself but stop to take photos every now and again, or at least keep the camera in hand for some shots on the move, but most other riders seem more oblivious - they're not, the ride is the task at hand, and so it goes on without disruption.

Chalan Rest Stop was packed-in this morning, no room at the hitching post, but by early afternoon all was tranquilo, the conversation easy, the atmosphere relaxed. Thankfully, the early birds left some food and drink for us who stopped later as, for the second time this week, I left without any water. 

 The weekend is only half over, make the best of what's left.

Oh and, yes, it took some determination, but T's pursuit was successful. And she kept pace the rest of the way. Maybe there's some racing in those legs yet.

infrastructure malfunction: hopefully if that were a high voltage conduit, there would be more than a couple orange cones and broken caution tape to keep people away

i see, by his thumbs up, that Omar approves