Free Verse Friday: Lament in Three Parts Over Inclement Weather in an Oft-Sunny Clime
A Note from Fatty: The Grand Slam for Zambia: The Power of 5 is going strong. To learn the basics of this amazing event, click here. To learn about the Ibis Ripley (one of 5 bikes to be given away as prizes), click here. To learn more about World Bicycle Relief itself, click here. And to make a donation to be entered in this contest, click here.
Lament in Three Parts Over Inclement Weather in an Oft-Sunny Clime
Betimes I consider
How it could be possible
That I have stumbled
Into this, my life
How is it that I am me
And not another
Some other guy
Who maybe doesn’t even own a bike
When I think such Thoughts
My heart recoils
And I once again
Reflect upon my luck
For I ride with the core team
And each autumn we get together
For an event called Fall Moab
Which—truth be known—is only occasionally in Moab
But it is during the autumn!
And usually it is perfect
The weather is mild
Note how I said “usually,” above
Part I: The Bad
The core team gathered
With intent
To ride in St George
For a long weekend
We had plans
Oh such grand plans
To stay in the yurt
Which Kenny has built
A yurt on Gooseberry Mesa!
Surely it will, one day,
Be a coveted destination
A place to stay while riding in beautiful desert
But not this day
For the weather kicked up
As we drove to St George
And the snow was so hard-driven
We nearly turned around
But we did not
No, we did not turn around
But we also did not stay in a yurt
We camped, instead, at Kenny and Heather’s home
Part II: The Good
I confess I was weak
I had my doubts
And in short
Riding in the rain didn’t sound that great
And yet, it was great
Sure, we didn’t ride as far
Or as long
But sometimes, riding at all is what matters
And when it comes right down to it
Most of us are closing in on 50
And one good ride per day
Is probably enough
And so we rode
For three days
On local trails
Often, beginning from Kenny’s house
And you know
Maybe Fall Moab
Isn’t about where or how much
But about who is there
Yeah, let’s go with that for now
Part III: The Video
I shall now conclude
With a video montage
Of Fall Moab 2014
(Fiscal)
Thank you.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 12.6.2013 | 9:57 am
Envy
Envy
Envy
So it’s a vice
I care not!
(clearly Heather was away that weekend since the closing definitely embodies a certain maleness about it.)
Comment by New Zealand Ev | 12.6.2013 | 9:57 am
Well I’m in for one bike. Thanks for the opportunity to be part of something that helps others. Happy Friday to you in the states. Saturday herein NZ and I’m off to do a race this morning as the first one of our summer season. Have a great weekend!!
Comment by MattC | 12.6.2013 | 10:27 am
LOVE trails like that…low-speed technical stuff…looks like it was a blast despite the weather. That Ibis Ripley would really be something on that kind of trail (or any kind of trail actually). Have a great weekend Fatties…and stay warm!
Comment by Chris | 12.6.2013 | 10:55 am
I miss the West!
Comment by TominAlbany | 12.6.2013 | 12:35 pm
Nice! Lovin’ the STs as well!
Comment by Clydesteve | 12.6.2013 | 1:11 pm
Not sure if I am comfortable around so many rocks, but, from Oregon, the mud of course looks pretty normal, but sparse.
I really like the looking back views with the rear tire showing – it seems to make it more interesting to see the motion of the tire, even when you are riding sweep.
Comment by davidh-marin,ca | 12.6.2013 | 1:43 pm
Just ‘talked’ my 87 y.o. father through the donation page on behalf of the grandkids. Sure hope he remembers ‘decimal points’, maybe I should call Katie now.(?)
Saw from yesterday comments that @PNP is even more excited to win his Ripley now that has seen an IBIS in action: http://vimeo.com/79266169
The video also indicates that the ‘Core Team’ is getting a little old. Suicidal Tendencies really?
(father just called back, completed donation! I think I’ll get him a computer class for Christmas)
We are getting old, but the trail really is named Suicidal Tendencies. – FC
Comment by PNP | 12.6.2013 | 1:49 pm
@davidh Yes, but I refuse to get airborne…at least deliberately. As much as I hate to say it, but there are some thing I am too old to do, among them hip hop dancing, body piercings, and jumping an exquisitely expensive bike over any obstacle. After all, I might scratch the bike…
Off to make a donation!
Comment by Jeff Bike | 12.9.2013 | 10:37 am
Oh for a free weekend to spend riding with my friends. I’m so happy for you. Nice video.
Comment by GJ Jackie | 12.9.2013 | 12:46 pm
Loved all your comments in the video. “The weather started getting rough, the tiny ship was tossed” shows how really old you (we) are.
Comment by dug | 12.10.2013 | 5:48 pm
we should have monthly core team meetings at casa zen. who could object to this?