July 11, 2014
My Instead: I rode my
bike in the Tour de Belleville, a 15 mile night time bike ride.
The signage posted
throughout Belleville pointed me in one direction…a bike ride in Tour de
Belleville. I had to do this one! I’ve known about it for years that this was
an annual event, but I never entertained the thought about doing it…not really.
Why not? I know how to ride a bike! And I am still ABLE to ride a bike…for
distance even! Geez, what a slacker I’ve been for the past 50 years. There is
more to do than just alcoholize (socialize with alcohol). Society had fooled me
into thinking that that was all there was to do!
I arrived at the bicycle
event a half hour before start time. We stood there, me and my bike, and just
took it all in. All the riders! The band was playing a bunch of oldies. People
were visiting and getting ready for the long haul. There was an energy
streaming through the air.
Familiar faces were few
and far between. But there were so many people (probably around 2,500) that my
whole relation could have been there and I wouldn’t have known it. I did come
upon a couple that I knew, Tom and Donna. I used to work with Tom years ago at
the bank. Also their son Brett and my son Todd were best friends in high school.
So we’ve known each other almost 40 years. They were there with another couple
and asked me to join their foursome. They are such good people so I was
delighted with the invite!
It was time to begin.
They had all the bikers leave in smaller groups so we wouldn’t kill one another. The evening
delivered weather that was as close to perfect as we could wish for…full moon
and all. We rode on our mapped-out trail and were cheered on by neighbors
enjoying the “parade”. And I, of course, waved as if I were in a parade! I
couldn’t tell you where we all went because I was too busy taking in the people
and keeping up with my partners. When I took the time to take in MY moments, it
was bliss. It’s difficult sometimes to enjoy people and also your own solitude
during this type of event. I gave it my best shot.
As we came to the end of
the 15 mile trek, there was only one part of me that was hurting…and I’m sure
the wise reader can guess what that was. But I made it! No collisions, no
falls, and not breakdowns. It was all good. Doing this was a reminder to me there
ARE people out there that want what I want…to get out off the couch and enjoy something
“instead”…it’s so simple!
As soon as I heal, I’m
going to do a lot more of this!
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