I am 47: Up the road

It all started when I left work and wanted to just go home and take a nap. I am so tired. And just a side note this all makes sense 47 and tired. Is it finally here? Anyway I mounted my cross bike and headed across campus. Last time I was a student this kind of thing happened as well. I “thought” I was going to “just ride home”. So things have not changed; but yes they have.

Next thing I know I was taking the city trail to the Library, just a tiny detour on the way home. the sun was out and it felt like I should just fall onto the grass and stare at the clouds. Like in 2003 when a weekend trip to a state park across the border in new York turned into a mega hike.

When I got to the library I decided to go down by the Bozeman Brewing Company. Again just a little longer way home. But it was nice out. Like that birthday I had in Connecticut when i turned 38. Instead of going to work I ended up instead at a local park taking photos with my new camera. I am starting to see a pattern here.

And just as expected I am biking past the BBC and under I90 heading to the Gallatin Park North of town. Zipping along on my cross bike I forgot that I was on the edge of “old”. Amazing how I even got here, going the long way home. In 2005 I moved to Missoula after a bout with getting lost, wondering out of New England.

Cycling now around the pond at North Gallatin Park (I think that is what it’s called) I was officially AWOL from just going home to take a nap. I mean a man of my age shouldn’t be out on a cross bike in his sneakers busting through fields and frolicking like a boy. In 2006 I transitioned from the love of photos back to cycling. And it seems now I have never turned back.

A little while after I completed my ride around the pond I was taking a right turn and into a wildlife refuge, now a little way out-of-town.  Apparently today was a full-out “riding home the log way”. But I didn’t care. I felt good and the air was full of spring smells. I decided stop acting my age and just go as far as I wanted. As I spun through the open fields I thought back to my friends in Missoula who also acted their age.

When I came to a junction where turning right would take me home and continuing on would mean riding West towards Belgrade the light turned red. This gave me an opportunity to make a decision. Go home now or see whats up the road. Just like last year I decided to take the plunge and see whats up the road. I am 47 and still going.