Go get some exercise...

Those were the words of my precepting physician today at 630pm after a normal clinic day. It was bright and sunny out and he was stuck there for a bit longer...said I should go enjoy it for him. It never takes much to convince me to get outside and this was no exception. Went home, changed, and grabbed my bike to check out some of the UAF trails.

It's amazing how comfortable I was mountain biking when I was 13, and how utterly fearless. I started on a narrow single track trail I would have never thought twice about back then. However, came down a hill, around a corner and the trail abruptly narrowed to the point my handlebars wouldn't fit between the trees.

*CRASH*

I slowed down enough that it didn't do any real damage, but still felt it in my shoulder and wrist. However I had just started and couldn't give up yet without a major strike to my self esteem. So kept going for another few miles. It was beautiful and peaceful until I rode down another hill into a clearing...there 8ft away on my left was a moose and her two calves. You know it's way too close when looking straight at the moose you can't see the entire animal without moving your eyes! Fortunately the calves were behind her; I took a hard right and booked it hoping she wouldn't feel threatened. Glanced back once I got to the trees on the other side and I was free and clear! :) Decided that this was enough and turned on the trail to take me out of the woods and back home. I had studied the map, was sure of where I was going but the trail slowly got wetter and wetter until it ended at a pond/swamp with the full moon reflecting off it.

It was gorgeous, not where I had intended to end up, but a beautiful blessing anyway. Stopped and spent some time to just be and appreciate my surroundings. Thanked God for protecting me against a funky shoulder and/or wrist deformity. Thanked God that I didn't become a moose's tap dancing surface. And thanked Him for the unexpected detours that remind us of His glorious never-ending presence in life.

Found the "trail" back to the road (which quickly disappeared and wasn't really a trail even by my standards) but I didn't care. Just waded through the water and brush carrying my bike. I finally got to the road and biked home under the clear sky and full moon; sore but completely at peace. Thanks Lord, I love you.