I saw it as I rounded the corner. I couldn’t miss it. Its brilliant yellow leaves were a stunning contrast against the green foliage surrounding it. “What the…?” It was mid-September. I was hot,
dirty and a little sweaty. Fall had
and caught me totally unawares.
Soon, I’ll be hot and sweaty with three layers of technical fabric
covering my extremities. Soon I’ll look
outside at the blowing snow and contemplate a short ride. My wife will call me crazy. Maybe I’ll go battle the elements. I'll get half-way through the ride and question my sanity. Then I'll roll up to the house and hit the hot shower. I'll start to thaw out, and realize why I went. Maybe it will be too cold, the wind too stiff. I'll listen to my wife's better judgment. I’ll go back
downstairs and surf bike porn sites. And
I’ll dream of being hot and dirty on a trail somewhere. And Fall will once again sneak up on me.