I had to do something. So on went the Hoka hikers. I picked up Sal’s leash and we were off. That was at the end of March. By June I was better but my approach to cycling had changed. No longer was I hell-bent to ride 50 miles on a road bike at 20 mph for a beer at the end. Now I was mixing fat-tired bikes with straight handlebards a few times a day between long walks or hikes with Sal.
And, yes, I fell into the kitchen. But my legs still needed to move and, even if I couldn’t turn bike cranks, I could still do aerobic exercise.
First it was urban outings. I discovered dozens of murals in town. Then, encouraged by others, Sal and I took on the Preserves nearby. Plano, Garland and South Dallas.
Then came South Dallas. The land of K2.
She appeared in my life at a holiday party in December. She was on the lookout for a cyclist to ride The Loop with her. We started that. Then it got interesting.
A New Year’s Day hike on Goat Island. This is broadening my experience. A day with birders, naturalists and hikers. While I left Sal behind on this trip, I know she would be welcome with the half dozen dogs on this hike. And I am sure she and Kady, K2’s Shepard puppy, would become fast friends.
Amy Martin’s book, “Wild DFW,” was the subject of an evening Zoom call. I learned more in that 90 minutes and on the hike than I had in my previous 20 years in North Texas.
And the most interesting, and I now believe, most important fact from that talk is this: hikers and walkers on the trails in North Texas outnumber cyclists 7 to 1.
Wow.
While we all need to share the trails, that put a whole new spin on what I was doing and the path I had taken to get here. When I was riding 3,000 to 7,000 miles a year on several types of bikes over these trails as well as the streets, there at least 7 hikers traversing the trails I was speeding along.
Which all the more convinces me that being too much of a zealot in any category is not a good thing. These spaces are meant to be shared. More importantly, to be enjoyed. Hence the switch to shorter, slower rides mixed with long, varied hikes. And lots of stops for lots of photos.
Maybe K2 is onto something. When I told her I felt I had a foot in each community (hiking and cycling) she said: “We will sway you over to this side.”
I’m willing to try.
Relentless
