Mark and I went out on our bikes when he got home last night. As the sun gets low enough to cast a shadow across the road, and the temperature feels like it might be a little to cool for my sleeveless top, we set out. We appreciate that we can ride to the end of the block, cross into the Park & Ride, and then get on the bike path that takes us all the way around Balboa Park and back home. We pass the most amazing people – rolling, strolling, riding, gliding, playing – all different ages. These are my park peeps. No one is in a hurry and we meander around each other on the path, each in our own world and overlapping here and there. I notice that the temperature is perfect, so my body temp must have risen.
We were surprised to notice that the inclines here and there along the path didn’t seem challenging at all. We must have become stronger without noticing. We are conscious of how sweet it all is. We talk along the way about our separate days and what we are seeing. We pass playgrounds and wildlife sanctuaries and lake and river and golf course and other paths, and pets and athletes and kites and remote-control airplanes and strollers and picnics being packed up. The mountains stand quiet and blue in the distance. It’s calming. It’s easy.
Then, just as we’re rounding the last bend of the park across from the Japanese Gardens, Mark heard his front tire – flap, flap, flap. “Whoops, I think I’ve got a flat.” I slowed and looked at it – about half inflated. I said, “I don’t think it will hurt the rim to keep riding a while as it is. And if we need to walk our bikes home, that’s okay too.” He agreed. We picked up our speed just a little bit to cover some more ground while there was still some air in the tire, and then let our attention stray to the delights around us. Maybe five minutes later we were approaching the Park & Ride when Mark said, “Look at my tire!” He had forgotten about it and then realized that he wasn’t having to pump any harder than usual. It was full again.
I just came in from the garage, checking his tire so I could report accurately this morning. It’s still fully inflated. You can take the story from here.
