One Moment, on the Bike Path Going Home

in the west the sky is darkening
early Colorado afternoon clouds
     bringing front range rain

shoes on, bag loaded
     soon the pedals are spinning
     as I race the storm

cresting a hill and looking west
     the sky's darker than it was, and

I hear raindrops on my helmet
     I almost feel raindrops on my arms
          and on my lips

in that moment, though, my tongue tells me
     that I've been deceived by
          a swarm of gnats

Day Two ~ Shady Grove to Collinwood

We've known ever since we first started to be able to see the weather reports for this week that it might rain on us. We knew yesterday as we rode through a beautiful partly couldy day that rain might move in sometime over night.

We woke up this morning and looked out the window at an overcast day ~ though, by the time we started riding, the clouds had begun releasing their stores. We know why this part of the country can be so beautifully green, since we rode through it almost all day.

It was a 55 mile day, give or take. We had rain on and off (more on than off) for almost the whole ride. The sun started to break through the clouds for me about five miles from our destination, and we've seen sun peeking through a little bit at a time since then.

The congregation here, Collinwood United Methodist Church, provided us a huge spread, potluck style again … and it was another feast for the ages.

We met quite a few of the members of this congregation, were treated to a concert by a member of this church who was really pretty good, and shared the story and ministry of the Fuller Center.

A few of us went down to the local outdoor basketball court and played a couple games ~ just to work the kinks out from sitting on a bike for a few hours.

I'm sitting outside the church building in the cool of the evening. There are bullfrogs and crickets and barking dogs providing my soundtrack ~ it seem like a fantastic way to spend the last part of the evening.

We've done good work during the day, enjoyed being together with our group and with a group of (people who before today were) strangers, shared music and food, and are now relaxing at the end of the day.

Even if a person isn't on a bicycle touring trip, it seems like a pretty good way to pass the time.

Let the adventure continue.

In the tent on a rainy night

nighttime crushes in on
my eyes - I double-check
to be certain they're open.
I know, tonight, at 11,000
feet, under continual rain
and blanketing cloud cover,
that no light will intrude on
my tent. Tomorrow, rain may
pour from overwhelmed skies;
with or without rain, though
the sun will rise, bringing light
and new vision - so I lay still
in the dark, and trust

Last Night's Rain

last night's rain
keeps this morning
still cool
today will warm,
but the morning still
- along with my steaming tea -
provides respite and
anticipatory sanctuary
from noon's heat

later i'll see him,
sleeping bag draped over a
shopping cart -
last night's rain treated
me better than it did him

someone used to camp in that bag,
high in the mountains.
it's been rained on before;
only for a minute, though,
waiting for the seam-sealed tent,
fly pulled taught against
mountain wind and stinging sleet,
to be erected -
then, down comfort sheltered in a
nylon sanctuary

today there's a new sleeping bag
lighter, more compact
that didn't experience last night's rain,
so the old, given away,
now dries on a shopping cart and
with luck and dry sunshine
will provide some comfort
against tonight's rain