Backwoods Biking and a Nativity Scene

I had a pretty calming experience today.

After a lazy stretch workout this morning and doing some laundry; I strapped on my MP3 player, grabbed a bottle of water and jumped on my dad’s ancient mountain bike to take it out for a spin.

I live on a gravel road, which loops around to a dirt road and they are both connected to a busy, two-lane street. I am in a very isolated area here and if you want to get anywhere, you have to exit on that two-lane road. However, here in Florida, they don’t seem to believe in sidewalks or general upkeep on the public roads, so it is a pretty unfriendly environment for your average biker. I am confined to my small location by a natural will to live.

I pushed through the gravel and arrived at the dirt road. After finding my rhythm and a circular route that allowed for as much variety as possible, I began doing loops throughout the country area and really enjoying myself. I had the Beatles, Journey, and Pink Floyd for company as I biked through the heavily wooded and swampy country that passes for a neighborhood in this part of Florida.

As I biked, there was a light breeze and a slightly overcast sky with sounds of the wild all around me. Owls hooted (yes, in the daytime), birds trilled, frogs bellowed and dragonflies buzzed. I startled a hawk less than 4 feet away in the woods behind my grandparents house and stopped to watch its beautiful wings unfurl and push the air as it took flight, only to alight on a tree about 20 feet away. It watched me as I hopped back on my bike and rode away. I passed a flattened frog and two shapes resembling snakes that must have had the misfortune to pick a fight with one of the heavy trucks that continually make their way in and out of these roads daily.

Every time I reached the lake that signified the end of the dirt and gravel roads and the beginning of the busy paved road, I would stop and watch the wildlife that inhabit it’s reedy edges. Sometimes you will catch a glimpse of an alligator, but today I just saw several herons, water turkeys and a few other large, long-legged water birds I didn’t know. I could smell catfish, mud and the humidity hanging in the air.

The best part came when I passed a neighbor’s yard not more than 10 feet from my grandparents. Looking around and taking everything all in, I nearly missed the giant cow standing behind a metal fence, staring at me. I saw it, processed it and did a sharp double take. I turned around, however clumsily, fought through the gravel and slid to a stop directly in front of the cow. Somehow, I had also missed cow number 2, four goats, a lamb, and a billy goat. I laughed so hard that I was afraid the neighbors would come out and shoot me. Their front yard looked like a Nativity scene! I couldn’t believe it!

Once I couldn’t pedal anymore and my tailbone felt like it had been kicked by a small pony, I reluctantly stopped.

All in all, I really enjoyed myself and my only complaint was how small the area was that I had to bike through. I’m really enjoying the mountain bike though, and I am thinking about investing in a good one once I am more able to do so.