Saturday's Big boys adventure

As Paulie so eloquently put it , we were off on first "big boy" adventure after 2 months of "extreme training" .
8:00 am shined bright and warm , a slight breeze , and the whispering sound of  a grown man softly sobbing, " he's out of his mind, we can't do this!"
But despite better judgment and forethought, off we went in a blaze of glory , wearing our shiny new helmets and tanked up on Paulie's personal rocket fuel ( rumored to be made from floor sweeping , reclaimed yak hair , and some stuff he pulled out of the laundry drain, at least that's what it  tasted like  anyway ) .
I argued that just because it came out of the swamp behind his house, it doesn't make it "all natural"

 But anyway , threatened with the thought of another swig, I rode off in a blaze of glory !!!

OK, more like " I can't believe I'm doing this.... they'll find my bloated carcass somewhere on Albany ave". But encouraged by Paul warm demeanor and threats that he'd call one of his Italian cousins , I persevered .
Over all it was a lot of fun, I felt like I was a Kid again , alone , scared , cold , aching joints, threatened by drag racing squirrels, falling leaves and honking cars, wishing that I was home in my pajamas eating cereal, while watching Saturday morning cartoon like a normal Kid would have done .
But all said , by mile 10 the joints had eased the numbness left the hands, and I really started to enjoy the ride.
Making to Saugerties to see the sight of the Mobile gas station was a dream come true.
Seeing Paul picking through the donated clothes bin, was well .......  
 Coming back , Kings Highway was a breeze , no I mean literally a breeze , freakin head winds for about 3.5 miles back to Lake Katrine. Yet all in all it was a great ride.

That is until.....
We approached " the Hill of Death" aka Hillside Terrace Kingston New York  .
Yes I'm sure, the Rockys, the Smokey mountains of the south and Mount Fuji are spectacular , and they are all accessible by CAR !!!!!
Old Men should never tackle a 40 degree rise in grade over one mile after riding 27 miles.
Similar to petting a rabid dog, have a staring contest with a hooded cobra, hugging the third rail of  a subway line or drinking another dose of "Pagnozzi  root juice. There are things one should not attempt over the age of 50 !
But I must say with Paul's unending encouragement , I made it up the hill and all the way up my drive way.
I was greeted with cheers from my loving family, and collapsed on the driveway ,warmed the noon sun and gently faded to rest , while I watched 3 turkey vultures circle above my head .



 
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