Natalie Merchant

A rare talent

My Season Saved by a Pumpkin Scone

Yesterday it all came to a head while riding home from work.

I was tired of being cold.
I was tired of feeling like crap.
I was tired of dieting and training.
I was tired of power workouts.
I was tired of riding with a backpack.
I was tired of my tired legs.
I was tired of constantly stretching.
I was tired of my routine.
I decided to hang up my bike and dust off my golf clubs.

The only problem was that I had to make it home to start my retirement and this wasn't as easy as you think because I had completely cracked. I was feeling so bad that I found myself riding along San Tomas Expressway at a whopping 13 mph and hurting.

I said to myself, "What in hell am I doing?" Right then I pulled into a Starbucks and decided to get some coffee and food. I was in such a daze that it took me about 10 seconds to notice that the girl behind the counter was talking to me. She gave me a weird look when I snapped out of my daze and replied. It turns out that she is a triathlete and was excited about the biker guy coming into Starbucks. Anyway, I hope she didn't get a bad impression of bike racers.

To get back to my story I relaxed, ate my "pumpkin scone" and drank my "tall drip with room for cream." I mounted my bike and dreaded the remaining ride home. To my amazement everything completely changed in about 5 minutes. I found myself feeling great and riding home at 22 mph with relative ease. Anyway, my retirement lasted about 10 minutes and I never dusted off my golf clubs. Thanks to a pumpkin scone and a cup of coffee.

Skunk!

I was riding down the Tomas Aquino Creek Trail/Saratoga Creek Trail when going under Great America Parkway I come across a skunk moseying along the other way along the wall. I was going at a good pace so if I stopped I would have stopped right next to the skunk. I decided that wasn't a very good idea so I keept rolling and hoped we each pass and go our merry way. Anyway, I guess I scared the hell out of the skunk because he stopped and looked for an excape route. When it was obvious he was screwed he backed up and up comes his tail. I say to myself, "Oh $hit!", and proceed to close my eyes and hold my breath for the possible shower of skunk spray. I rolled passed and was planning to access the damage when I was in the clear. There is always some kind of skunk smell so I wasn't sure if I was a smelly bike rider or not. Before I stopped I was thinking that there was not way I can go to work smelling like a skunk and I would have to really argue justification to taking the day off. I would have gone home and my wife would have kicked me out of the house too. Basically I was screwed. Anyway, to my amazement I was free from any skunk smell.