Pillow Anyone?

Man my a$$ hurt as soon as I sat on the saddle this morning. Every bump, every pebble, maybe I could ride 17 miles standing the entire way. What I needed was a distraction. And I got it. I caught a newbie on my way in. I could tell he would give chase. We were not racing but he was my motivation to get a good clip moving. After exchanging pleasantries at some stop lights the next distraction rode by. 

The dreaded "good morning" you hear is bittersweet when a cyclist passes you. Sure it's friendly, but at the same time it's a marker. One of you is faster, and they are letting you know they are having a good morning. To make it worse, two more yahoos also passed me almost immediately. They were a band, a group, skinny no good, good morning spreaders of cheer and dismay to all in their wake.

So of course I gave chase. Stupid as it was (I'm out of shape and they are not), I couldn't help myself. These guys would be my gauge. Am I ready to join with the Raider morning crew again? Can I hang? Will I be able to inflict good mornings to others?

Not quite yet. I stayed with them through Sausalito but as soon as the road pointed skyward they gapped me. I kept them in sight until the top of the climb but by then I was done. I tucked my tail under my sore a$$ and spun. I then got the feeling that I hadn't realized how amazing the views are around the Golden Gate Bridge. I must have crossed that bridge a thousand times but today was different. Today I was the passenger looking out the window seeing the sun crack through the distant haze. The reflection off the Bay was stunning as the waters rippled onwards towards the surfers who sat waiting for the perfect wave.

I woke up from my daze as I stretched my aching heel in the shower. Just realizing, as the Dead would say, what a long strange trip it's been. Man it's  good to be back on the saddle again. Today I experienced a rider's high and I'm hooked. All I need is a pillow for my chair in the office to make it a perfectly good morning.