Try to imagine 100 lights cutting through the night forest flowing up and down the hills and turning darkness into light. I arrived in Dundas, Ontario at the The Lager Shed for registration and to pick up my free T shirt. Riders were arriving in costume and excited for the adventure. Awards for best costume were pending so many riders went to a great lengths to win the prize. My personal favourite goes out to Raf and his Wolf in Grandma's clothing. Little Red, err actually Little Purple Riding Hood was making every effort to avoid the Big Bad Wolf. Then there was Woody, Mario, Spider Man, Pac Man, the Fighter Pilot riding his F14 bike and the usual ghouls, clowns and made up costumes straight from the wearers imagination. The participants put a lot of time and energy into their costumes; riders were there to have fun and they were fully committed to doing just that. The organizers rounded up the troops and we set out though the quiet town and headed up the road to the trails built on the hilly landscape around Dundas. The ride was well organized with volunteers guiding the way and keeping the masses heading off into the night in a long chain. The organizers had the foresight to offer easy and difficult options for different skill levels. We did 10 km of trail in about an hour and a half which was a relaxed pace however the hills of Dundas did get my heart rate up. After the ride we all headed back to The Lager Shed for complementary drinks and eats from a food truck which was right inside of the developing Micro Brewery. The group switched from socializing on bikes to an informal event that was relaxing and conducive to meeting people. I made a few new friends who share the same interests and I reconnected with old friends. The conversation in the historic building was all bikes and bike related issues; nobody was talking politics or complaining about the price of gas. On the way home I reflected on the “Big Ass Ride" and dressing up for Halloween as an adult and came home with these thoughts. It's never too late in life to have fun and let out your inner child, it will keep you sane. If you are keeping that child of yours in his room you are likely turning to other destructive ways to dispose of your stress from the daily toils of this life. I’ve learned to keep Ronnie open to immature possibilities at a moment’s notice because he keeps me grounded and reminds me of the person I was born to be and he shows me the way so that I don't get lost in the night.
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AuthorRon Head Archives
January 2024
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