4/29/08
I am really enjoying Dan Simmons's Hyperion. To be brief it's a science fiction retelling of the Canterbury Tales. One tale down, six more to go.

Much to my surprise I covered 6.3 miles Monday evening. Headed down Uintah, ride along the trail of Monument Valley Park, came out by Penrose Hopsital and headed down Cascade back to my place where I got my lock and wallet. Next stop was the Penrose Library where I picked up my book which was on hold and came back.

No walking, some coasting, I did stop once for the sole purpose of resting and the other stops were due to traffic lights. Funny thing about my one stop is the fact that after I had two mouthfuls of water and got back in the saddle I felt renewed energy.

I park my car in a corner that no one took advantage of for many years. After one of the work schedule changes had me coming in later than usual I had to choose a new space. These spaces are all unofficial and the only rule is that no one parks in the upper lot.

It's a shady spot which is unfortunately cluttered with empty beer cans, plastic wrapping from the neighboring carpet store but if someone took the time to engage in the sisyphean task of cleaning the area it'd be quite nice. A few steps from my car I heard something in the underbrush. I stopped, looked down and listened giving my usual litany of "I mean you no harm" to whatever critter may be lurking among the rocks and weeds.

After standing for a few moments I saw a little movement and I think it was a wee snake. Since my co-workers are women I didn't dare mention the s-word for fear that their hindbrains would suddenly go into protect-the-infants mode calling for the extermination of an unfortunate ophidian.

This brief and elusive enounter brings a smile to my face because I am reminded of the little ground squirrel who used to skitter around the rocks near the parking lot. Despite all the horrible offal of sprawl, life still clings tenaciously and waits for humanity to finally lose its tenuous foothold.

Since gaming is cancelled and there is a call for a purely social evening reckon that next Saturday morning I'll ride down to the Garden of the Gods, dick around there and head on back home for some much needed rest before riding over to the Birdhouse.

Also I recently discovered there is a bike trail along Austin Bluffs but it peters out once it reaches Union.

Right now I'm thinking that I'll take the Mesa-Palmer trail. Unfortunately this brings me through the busy intersection of I-25 and Uintah.