Bike & Jeep

It was hot, very hot and I was soaked! The heat was bearing down so hard, that I felt like I was in a pressure cooker. Sopping wet from sweat and covered in dirt kicked up by my tires, I was completely grimy and I could taste the salt in the sweat running down my face. I had one loop under my belt and with about two miles left to go, I’d wrap up my second loop at Poplar Tent.

As I continued the last two miles of my ride, I noticed that a nice cool breeze began to pick up and the sky was patchy with clouds. A storm was rolling in and it was most likely going to bring rain. Considering the fact that I was already completely soaked from head to toe, I really didn’t mind the idea of getting any wetter. It’s not like it would make a difference to me, but my Jeep’s sides where off, the top was down and judging by the blackness I could see in the clouds and the distant thunder I knew it was going to be a soaker. So I picked up my pace and pushed harder towards the finish.

Riding along a ridge that leads back out to the parking lot, I had about half a mile to go. I was making good time and should be able to get the Jeep’s top up, change clothes and hit the road before the storm hit. Then at least I could find a bridge to wait it out if it’s really nasty.

As I rolled up to the parking lot, I made a bee line straight to my jeep’s bike rack. Next I raised the Jeep’s top and grabbed my clothes out of the passenger’s seat. As I was drying off with a towel I would occasional look up at the coming storm. No problem I thought, I had just enough time to get changed and roll out.

Behind my Jeep, I strapped on an old Kilt I keep handy for parking lot changes. I had my dry shorts on and was pulling a dry shirt over my head as I noticed a dog named “Useless” trotting across the street heading my way to say hello. “Useless” is a Dalmatian and an Icon of Poplar Tent, who belongs to the land owner of Poplar Tent.

The storm was bearing down on my now, the wind was whipping the pines trees back and forth and I knew any minute now the rain was going to dump like a flood. With my shirt on, I quickly pulled on my dry shoes, threw my sopping wet bike clothing in the back of the Jeep, slammed the tailgate of my Jeep closed, secured the swing-away tire rack and turned to make my way to the driver’s seat, while fumbling for the keys. Keys in had I threw up a leg towards the opening of the driver’s seat and began to swing myself into the seat and I hit something… it was Useless! Useless was laying in the driver’s seat of my Jeep.

I looked at Useless, laughed and said, “come on boy, let’s go… you need to get home.” Useless sat up, but didn’t move. Again I said, “come on boy” in a very playful way, hoping to get Useless excited about getting out of my Jeep to do something else. Useless didn’t budge. I then grabbed his collar, but Useless braced himself well and wasn’t going to have that. Just as soon as I let go of Useless’ collar, he moved to the passenger’s seat and sat down with a look on his face like, “what are you waiting for, let’s go!” I then ran around the Jeep to the passenger’s side and tried to pull Useless out that way and like before Useless braced himself and fought me with all his might. I let go and Useless walked to the back of the Jeep and sat down. So I ran to the back of the Jeep, opened the swing away tire, opened the tail gate and called out, “come on boy, we’re going to hang a good time, come on, come on!” Finally Useless jumped out of the back of the Jeep.

I slammed the tail gate closed, secured the swing-away, drizzle was starting to pour down and was quickly picking up to a full blown rain. I was now getting wet, soaked as I turned and ran for the drive’s seat and there was Useless, sitting there yet again, staring at me, grinning. Right then the bottom fell out and I ran to the Poplar Tent shack to keep in the dry. Not that it really mattered at this point, I was sopping wet again. As I stood in the shack, I watched Useless as he stood at the back of my Jeep staring at me wagging his tail, completely dry. I couldn’t help but laugh.

I grabbed a near-by folding chair and settled in while the storm passed by. Ten minutes must have passed by and the worst of the weather was over. The rain dropped off to a drizzle and Useless hopped out of my Jeep and began trotting towards the street, heading back home. I jumped up and ran for my Jeep, but Useless must have heard me moving, because he turned and began running back towards the Jeep. It was a full blown race and I knew there was no way I could jump into the Jeep’s driver seat before Useless arrived.

The faster I ran, the faster Useless ran. It was going to be close, no Useless was going to beat me! We both reached the Jeep’s driver side door at the same moment. Useless was recoiling his legs to launch himself up into the driver’s seat. It was impossible for me to beat him inside the Jeep, but a last minute a thought hit me! I don’t have to beat him, I just need to stop him. At the very moment Useless sprung for the Jeep’s door, I threw my left leg up into the Jeep and blocked him. Useless bounced off my leg, landed on all four and looked up at me. I reached down and petted him on the head, while he wagged his tail. A moment later Useless turned and trotted back across the street to go back home.

I turned and looked my the driver’s seat of my Jeep, the edge of it was soaking wet, just like me. So much for a dry drive home. By this time the storm was completely past and the summer’s heat was beginning to pick back up. It was hot, very hot and I was soaked.

Final Note:

The owner of Useless has allowed mountain bikers to ride on his property for well over 18 years and probably longer than that. I only wish there was more land owners such as he!