As we all know, there will come a day for all of us, when we just can’t do the stuff we loves to do.
Some day, YEARS from now this will happen….
To help show this is not THAT day, Saturday dawned clear and sunny, no winds, and I saddled up for 33 miles of blue skies and bluer waters.
It was only 33 miles, but 33 miles of the coast where this is your turn around point is truly a ride to relish.
Oh, did I mention blue?
Later that evening, I made it down for sunset.
Then yesterday, before the rains and winds hit, I made it down for a starfish filled beach walk. The secret is knowing where to look for em!
As much fun as the weekend was, beach walking, sunset watching, and starfish hunting, the best was today’s after work walk.
Today, that little kid that resides in all of us, you know, the one who had his first bike and was ready for anything! No not him!
No not him either! (well maybe some of him)
I mean HIM!
That little kid in all of us. The one who wanted to climb trees, jump off rocks, run as fast and as far as he could. Play king of the mountain, roll down hills. and who just had no idea there was something he could not do!
That little kid who resides in all of us came out today for me.
As we grow up and, dare I say, mature. (hey it could happen, I can mature….)
Sadly, we start to lose touch with this kid. Work gets in the way, or responsibility. Or you start not bending as well as you once did, or you’re tired and sitting just seems easier. For whatever the reason, the little kid doesn’t come out as much…
Today, though, little Tony kicked me in the rear and said go for it! And this is where it happened.
Some of you KNOW where this is going…
First perspective. Look how big this sucker is (from a couple months ago)
It’s a tree! And yes when the waves a stormy and wind blown, this will get moved. Today, the tide was going out and the waves were not that big at all. I had to cross it to get where I wanted to go, and I paused.
Yep sure as hell, I could distinctly hear little Tony say, “GO FOR IT! You KNOW you wanna!”
This is no joke, you gotta respect the ocean. On a bad day, this would be stupid! This would be an example of a bad day! This tree was tossed around like a toothpick this very day.
Today was MUCH calmer!
So yep, indeed, I went for it, cuz I wanted to and cuz I still can and cuz someday I won’t be able to!
It was safe, and fun, and yep for a bit I was a kid again.
The ocean gods did humble me a bit later when this squall hit and I got hailed on!
But it was TOTALLY worth it!
So folks, it’s never too late! That little voice inside you, no matter how faint, knows you well and it knows what you want to do! Know your limitations, and don’t be stupid (Even I don’t listen to this voice ALL the time! Little Tony would get me in big trouble if I did!) But let the voice coerce you whenever you can! Trust me, it will keep you young!
Oregon Coast Cyclist 