THE FLAGSHIP RIDE...

i'll be honest, it didn't start off well, in fact i again struggled to get the bike started knowing this time that the problem was me and not the newly tuned up bike. for a good forty minutes i tried starting it in my driveway and up and down the street in front of my house.

since most people work during the day, it was safe to display my ridiculousness with little scrutiny, save the two little chinese girls next door rolling around on their front lawn. we looked at each other in silence knowing full well that we had both been caught in a state of foolishness, silly 2-year-olds. eventually i gave up...sweaty, blistered and out of breath. it's exhausting pedaling a bike that goes nowhere.

today, with a little advice from my pal black-eyed joel, i got it started and flew like the wind up and down my deadend street. after about 10 minutes of this, i realized that riding up and down the street in front of my house for hours was not the reason i bought the moped, AND, uncertain if i would ever get the thing started again, i decided to make this initial ride worth it.
i ventured out, hoping at each stop sign that the bike wouldn't die, and weaved around the charming streets of my quaint neighborhood. as i three times passed the same lady and grandma pushing a stroller, figured i should changes routes, lest they thought i was stalking them.

i drove down the streets catching the eyes of people walking or working in their yards. i just wanted an open space to zoom around and get used to riding, so i made my way down to the neighborhood cemetary. with paved roads throughout and no one there, well, at least no one that would be bothered, i rode up and down the hills with my helmet and sunglasses on as sweat poured down the sides of my face and all down my back. riding so carefree reminded me of when my dad taught me how to drive a stick shift car on the back country roads of central illinois. at one point i raised my right fist and shook it with pride at my accomplishment and to honor the dead who didn't even know they were sharing this with me.

exhausted and in desperate need of a shower, i rode home, pulled into the garage, stopped the engine, took off my helmet and sat there with a sweaty head and throbbing blisters as i inhaled the sweet aroma of the tiny lawnmower engine as my new ride settled down for a much-deserved rest.

more to come...