A climb beckons ahead of me

Legs ache and heart pounds

Downshift, stand up, get set

Pedal

Pedal

Pedal

The hill-crest embraces me

A trail calls my name off to the right

A pretty track, but taking me off-course

I stay loyal to my destination

Pedal

Pedal

Pedal

A mile-marker brings wind to my back

A puddle shields the road beneath my feet

Roots defend the edges, flanking me

I battle through the muck, and emerge refreshed

Pedal

Pedal

Pedal

I can just glimpse her through the pines

The lake glistens in the evening mist

Just as I remembered, just as I imagined

Straining muscles fade from my thoughts as I

Sit

and

Stare

The road home calls, but I don’t hear