People on the trail...
Well. Saturday I just never made it out of bed to go for a ride, but that's ok, because this morning I did.
It took me a while to drag myself out of bed this morning, the day started overcast, the sun trying, but ultimately failing to peer thru the cloud cover. I tend to depend on the sun, and the birds it wakes up, as an alarm clock. So on those mornings that have clouds, the first time I open my eyes can be delayed, although overcast today, at least the suns light, if not ol sol hisself, peeked through the fog in the sky.
It was a bit of a struggle to pull myself together, about an hour and a half before I was able to actually consider the bike, and then another half hour to actually begin my ride. But perhaps that was better, because since it was a Sunday, there were people already out there at 7:30, and that's what this post is about. People watching.
Etiquette on the trail, on every trail I've ever been on, is interesting. While each trail and the people who ride them are different, there are always some base similarities. Perhaps it is just a shuffling of categories? A higher percentage of one type of walker/rider then on another trail? I'm not sure, but it is the kind of people study that I love.
Right off the bat the first couple I run into, are actually passing me up. A definite "jock" couple, yet they did announce as they were passing, and for that I am always grateful. Jeez, grateful? Yep. If you have never seen an accident on a trail that involves the following scenario, be grateful: 1. Someone coming up from behind another walker/rider at a higher speed then the one being passed. 2. The person being passed, not realizing that there is someone behind them, shifts to their left, ever so slightly. 3. Collision, usually blood, and way to often broken bones.
Unfortunately, I've seen this way too many times...and it is simple to avoid. Most paths are for leisurely, comfortable riding. If you are passing, announce it. "Passing on the left" or "On your left", said in a firm (but not screaming or shouting) voice.
So, it was a pleasure, being only the second time I was on this trail, to find that kind of good manners in the first "serious" riders I encountered.
After that, it was a wide variety of riders and walkers and dog walkers. Most people on this trail will return a smile, a nod, maybe even a cheery good morning. Something about a stranger saying good morning, just boosts your spirit. This morning, the "Good Mornings" came mainly from couples, but I got a lot of smiles from just about everyone.
They come in at different levels though, some are just the acknowledgement, some smile brightly, some shyly. I tend to smile, and nod as I go by, I don't want to demand a response, and I find, after years of riding, that a smile and a nod is the perfect median. It allows everyone to respond without being intimidated.
I tend to take this slightly cautious course because not everyone welcomes this type of friendliness. Some seem befuddled by it, as in, why did he say hi to me, do I know him? Some seem suspicious, and nervous about a stranger greeting them. But others, and these folks always give my spirits a boost, need to be greeted, and are glad to return it.
Today I encountered a type that I've seen before, but this morning I saw quite a few. Men walking because a doctor instructed them to. I know this bunch primarily from the medical point of view. They tend to be between 30 and 49, slightly overweight, and not at all happy. They always have head phones on, and they are always starring down at the ground. You can tell them by a few hallmarks, one of which is the deliberate way they walk, the therapy walk. Arms held deliberately, a grim look on their face like they are being forced to eat broccoli. I am always amused by the no eye contact "walking away from a crime scene" look they have.
But, there were plenty of goodmornings today, even a few thank you's for announcing I was passing from the walkers, about the only time I wasn't happy with my fellow trailites this morning was the group of seniors, about 5 or 6 couples-men in front, women in back, all with fanny packs, who not only took up the whole trail but seemed offended that they had to move back to their side when I came up. But, not five minutes after that I rode opposite a couple who smiled (I was near the end of my round trip and starting to look a bit sweaty) and both greeted me with a glad Good Morning. I can't tell you why, but that just lifts you up and makes you smile, even if you don't want to (well, it makes me smile at least).
Well, that's my rambling about today's ride, but it puts me in mind of one of my favorite poems, by Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky:
Admit something:
Everyone you see, you say to them,
“Love me."
Of course you do not do this out loud;
Otherwise,
Someone would call the cops.
Still though, think about this,
This great pull in us
To connect.
Why not become the one
Who lives with a full moon in each eye
That is always saying,
With that sweet moon
Language,
What every other eye in this world
Is dying to
Hear.
It took me a while to drag myself out of bed this morning, the day started overcast, the sun trying, but ultimately failing to peer thru the cloud cover. I tend to depend on the sun, and the birds it wakes up, as an alarm clock. So on those mornings that have clouds, the first time I open my eyes can be delayed, although overcast today, at least the suns light, if not ol sol hisself, peeked through the fog in the sky.
It was a bit of a struggle to pull myself together, about an hour and a half before I was able to actually consider the bike, and then another half hour to actually begin my ride. But perhaps that was better, because since it was a Sunday, there were people already out there at 7:30, and that's what this post is about. People watching.
Etiquette on the trail, on every trail I've ever been on, is interesting. While each trail and the people who ride them are different, there are always some base similarities. Perhaps it is just a shuffling of categories? A higher percentage of one type of walker/rider then on another trail? I'm not sure, but it is the kind of people study that I love.
Right off the bat the first couple I run into, are actually passing me up. A definite "jock" couple, yet they did announce as they were passing, and for that I am always grateful. Jeez, grateful? Yep. If you have never seen an accident on a trail that involves the following scenario, be grateful: 1. Someone coming up from behind another walker/rider at a higher speed then the one being passed. 2. The person being passed, not realizing that there is someone behind them, shifts to their left, ever so slightly. 3. Collision, usually blood, and way to often broken bones.
Unfortunately, I've seen this way too many times...and it is simple to avoid. Most paths are for leisurely, comfortable riding. If you are passing, announce it. "Passing on the left" or "On your left", said in a firm (but not screaming or shouting) voice.
So, it was a pleasure, being only the second time I was on this trail, to find that kind of good manners in the first "serious" riders I encountered.
After that, it was a wide variety of riders and walkers and dog walkers. Most people on this trail will return a smile, a nod, maybe even a cheery good morning. Something about a stranger saying good morning, just boosts your spirit. This morning, the "Good Mornings" came mainly from couples, but I got a lot of smiles from just about everyone.
They come in at different levels though, some are just the acknowledgement, some smile brightly, some shyly. I tend to smile, and nod as I go by, I don't want to demand a response, and I find, after years of riding, that a smile and a nod is the perfect median. It allows everyone to respond without being intimidated.
I tend to take this slightly cautious course because not everyone welcomes this type of friendliness. Some seem befuddled by it, as in, why did he say hi to me, do I know him? Some seem suspicious, and nervous about a stranger greeting them. But others, and these folks always give my spirits a boost, need to be greeted, and are glad to return it.
Today I encountered a type that I've seen before, but this morning I saw quite a few. Men walking because a doctor instructed them to. I know this bunch primarily from the medical point of view. They tend to be between 30 and 49, slightly overweight, and not at all happy. They always have head phones on, and they are always starring down at the ground. You can tell them by a few hallmarks, one of which is the deliberate way they walk, the therapy walk. Arms held deliberately, a grim look on their face like they are being forced to eat broccoli. I am always amused by the no eye contact "walking away from a crime scene" look they have.
But, there were plenty of goodmornings today, even a few thank you's for announcing I was passing from the walkers, about the only time I wasn't happy with my fellow trailites this morning was the group of seniors, about 5 or 6 couples-men in front, women in back, all with fanny packs, who not only took up the whole trail but seemed offended that they had to move back to their side when I came up. But, not five minutes after that I rode opposite a couple who smiled (I was near the end of my round trip and starting to look a bit sweaty) and both greeted me with a glad Good Morning. I can't tell you why, but that just lifts you up and makes you smile, even if you don't want to (well, it makes me smile at least).
Well, that's my rambling about today's ride, but it puts me in mind of one of my favorite poems, by Hafiz, translated by Daniel Ladinsky:
Admit something:
Everyone you see, you say to them,
“Love me."
Of course you do not do this out loud;
Otherwise,
Someone would call the cops.
Still though, think about this,
This great pull in us
To connect.
Why not become the one
Who lives with a full moon in each eye
That is always saying,
With that sweet moon
Language,
What every other eye in this world
Is dying to
Hear.
posted by Johnny Lightheart at 8:15 AM
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