I'm not afraid....I'm too brave!

Some of my friends think Mike & I are crazy for undertaking a long distance bike ride.  "It's so dangerous" they say; "I know someone who was almost killed while bike riding"; etc.  Very comforting thoughts.  With much bravado, I respond:  "We'll be fine";  "It's much safer than you think"; but secretly, I'm AFRAID!  I'm afraid that, at the end of this ride, I might be DEAD.     Flattened by a semi, clipped by an inattentive driver, forced off Pacific Coast Highway & onto the rocks below.....I have a very vivid imagination!  When I was a 16 year old counselor at Camp Cadicasu in Bragg Creek, we used to sing a gory song to the tune of "Glory, Glory Hallelujiah" that was about a guy who parachuted, forgot to pull the cord, & "landed on the runway like a blog of strawberry jam".  The kids loved it!  I have a new version running around in my head (trust me:  this makes more sense if you sing it as you read):
"Flattened by a semi on the way to Monterey; 
ran into a car door as she rode through Morro Bay; 
struck down by a texting teen on the final day 
& she ain't gonna ride no more!
Glory Glory what a heck of a way to die;
Glory Glory what a heck of a way to die;
Glory Glory what a heck of a way to die
& she ain't gonna ride no more!"


So, I'll tell my girls I love them, make sure my will is up-to-date, & clean out my underwear drawer, just in case.  


My second greatest fear is the weather.  I don't do well in the heat; I sort of wilt.  Just ask my hiking buddies: on hot days, I lag behind more than usual.  I'm hoping for nice, cool overcast mornings with the sun coming out just about the time Mike & I sit down, overlooking the ocean, with our first cocktail.


My third fear is the hills.  I'm in pretty good shape but I'm still afraid there aren't gears low  enough to get me up some of the hills.  Pushing my bike through Big Sur doesn't sound like a lot of fun.  Maybe I can hang onto someone's bumper.....or call a cab....


So, those are my fears.  But like I said, I'm keeping them secret:  "I'm not afraid; I'm too brave!"