I love to hike! Well, I guess a more truthful statement would be that I don't mind hiking, but I love being out in the wilderness. Okay, I love hiking. I love that I can go out on an excursion and be beyond the reach of automobiles. I love being in nature and really feeling and remembering that there is a God that created this whole chaotic world. I love exploring his design. I love how different each and every place is. I love the wild flowers, the rolling hills, the jagged rocks, the looming cliffs, the intimidation of a peak. I love the accomplished feeling as I head down the trail and look back at what I thought I would never be able to conquer. I love standing on top of a mountain and looking around at everything below me. I love seeing the city from the height of a mountain. Seeing the sprawl of the city, knowing that going on below is every activity imaginable, but being in the quiet listening to the wind and feeling the gentle touch of the sun on my shoulders. As I gain distance on the trail it's the best therapy I could find. I experience every emotion possible. I'm reminded who I am, and I question what I want from life, if I'm able and willing to do what is necessary to acquire those desires. I love the solitude of a hike. I'm reminded to be an individual in a bustling society, to be me regardless. I love the clarity and content feeling that I have after a hike through the outdoors.
So, I got my new bike. It hasn't been shifting right. And then, I was on a ride yesterday and one of the screws came out of my cleat and I lost it. so today after work I head to the bike shop. while the guy is fixing my gears I mention a replacement screw. we chit chat the whole time he's fixing the bike. Well, he finishes up the adjustment. I ask him how much i owed him. He told me ten bucks, or i could come back and visit. I told him whatever he wanted. So he told me just to tell all my friends about the shop. I told him i would tell everyone. I knew he had forgotten about the screw so as I was walking out I just asked..."and how much do I owe you for the screw?" he looked at me so perplexed not sure what I was talking about. I just thought he forgot about it. after a few seconds he was like "oh, right." then started looking for hardware. It wasn't until 20 minutes later I was in my car driving and I realized what happened. I have been laughing about it all day. And, to continue with my promise....Wasatch Bike Support on 2300 East and like 2700 South in Salt Lake. The guys were super cool. It's in this awesome coffee shop, that has awesome juices. They didn't make me feel stupid, even though I was asking really basic questions and they really know their stuff. Plus, they didn't even crack a smile as i totally made the most inappropriate, but awesome, pass at them.
