Day 8 - Stomping Grounds

My public outing today consists of going to Mission Trails. We load up and get in the car and drive to the trails. We arrive at 6 p.m. I get out and into my wheelchair. Paul, one of local regular riders out there sees me and comes up and we talk for a while. I explain my story to him. We finish talking and my wife pushes me in the wheelchair down the paved Hike and Bike. It feels out of place to be riding the paved Hike and Bike in my wheelchair. I look over at the trails to my left and imagine myself on my bike riding the trails. It feels good to be back at my stomping grounds. I love riding my mountain bike and can't wait to get back on it.

My wife pushes me past the Bike Breaker. The Bike Breaker is an expert-level 25-foot drop down and up a steep ravine over a wooden bridge. It is the most difficult and dangerous obstacle we have at the trails. It has claimed numerous bikes, hence the name. It took me six months to build up my skills and courage to ride it. I now ride it regularly, but it is always scary and gives me an adrenline rush no matter how many times I ride it. I think about trying it my wheelchair. That would be a first. But I don't have my helmet. Safety first. Just kidding.

We come across Caleb, John D., Joanne, and Ray, who are riding. They stop and we talk for a little bit. It boosts my spirits to talk to them. Caleb takes a picture of us with his phone. After that my wife wheels me back to the parking lot and we drive home.