The Promise

An azure Sunday Morning
Looking for cycling out of doors.
Legs willing, but spirit cautious
As I settle into a cold leather chair
Espresso in hand
And look out at the white field.

Certainly, the sun will warm this Sunday morning’s earth
And clear roads after Friday night’s snow.
But what if clouds drift over?

Each beginning of the cycling season
Holds promise and uncertainty.
This sunny Sunday morning, I’ll bask in the Promise.


With Promise clearly in mind, I loaded Salsa Las Cruces into my trusty Blazer, Ruby, and schemed my way over to Loran Valley via Mill Grove Road and Owl’s Glen.

I disembarked at the Loran Church and headed south then west on East Loran Road. It was time to ride over some hills.

Up until this morning, most of our rides have been along tame terrain. So this was the first grade test of the season, and it didn’t take long to feel the strain in legs and knees.

We had a short respite as we dropped into Heavenly Valley. Then we turned north on Route 78 and met “The Hawk.” The unyielding north wind drove in its talons, and I was forced into the small chain ring or seize up altogether.

But once in a rhythm, the promise of a good ride returned. Turning back east, I was delighted to be along Willow Road again. This is one of my favorite routes in the Upper Left Hand Corner. Today, “The Hawk” nearly spoiled our pleasant reunion as we approached the Willow United Methodist Church which hosts a “folksy” version of Woodstock each August. Check it out at willowfolkfestival.com.

It was total drudgery on the roll up to Airport Road, but now we were headed directly east. “The Hawk” released its talons and we flew away.

Our Sunday Promise realized, it was time to let the endorphins flow through our spirit and scheme more stories as the season progresses in the Upper Left Hand Corner.

Finally a February Thaw

I guess you could say Sunday, February 8th, was our first official “big outing” of the year.

January was pure winter freeze your face off with no hope of any window of opportunity to ride a bicycle out-of-doors. Thankfully, February opened with the promise of better cycling days to come. A few of the intrepid Andrew “Diet right” wannabees were ready and chompin at the peddles during the first week. Then came Saturday the 7th, and then Sunday at the ole HCC rendezvous!

We were the ChainLink Eleven -- Dennis, Bill, Marsha (We believe that was you underneath the black mask.), Steve, Bill, Paul, Richard, Dave, Chuck, Mike and Andrew with camera in tow for the group photo. Nice pic of the goofy cyclocross snow pile climber, Andrew.

We rolled out a nice leisurely early season pace down Pearl City Road to Van Brocklin. Once around the corner, friendly Sunday riders started falling off the back when a frisky fella on a recumbent challenged a couple uprights. Was that really a head wind? I was too busy gasping for air.

Our ChainLink Eleven cleaned Casey’s General Store out of all their coffee, cocoa, and other human propellants for the return trip. Now we really relished the wind at our backs. Marsha (Our Masked Lady) pulled us back to Freeport in good fashion.

Ahhh, Spring is just around the corner. Maybe.