I hastily deleted several incriminating emails before my husband and I grabbed our trusty mountain bikes and headed for the trail. Skies were blue and temps unseasonably warm for November … weather so perfect it must have been rigged.
In an attempt to leave political scandal behind us, we made our way on surface streets to Bend’s famous Phil’s Trail complex.
We headed up Kent’s, climbed MTB, and then snaked onto the unmarked (rogue) trail we refer to as Lower Lower Pinedrops. The trails were in great shape.
At Voodoo we turned right again to intersect with Ben’s, a well-marked, popular route for riders who don’t mind a little climbing. At Road 300 we connected with Lower Pinedrops (another rogue trail we’re hoping the forest service won’t take away from us), swooping down to reconnect with Voodoo.
Voodoo is wonderful, windy trail that connects to the part of Phil’s that we refer to as Phil’s Canyon. It’s a fast, fun downhill with enough rocky spots to keep things entertaining. I slowed down to accommodate the tricky lighting: deep shadows and brights that concealed rocks and dips. Al sped on.
We met up at the iconic ‘Chicken’ roundabout. Here stands a miniature of the sculpture you’ll find at the 14th Street roundabout in Bend. Some say it’s a phoenix but the name ‘chicken’ sticks.
As I stopped to catch my breath, two figures caught my eye. Could it be?! I moved closer and found Trump and Hillary posing together on a log near the chicken. They stood face to face, looking far friendlier than as seen on t.v.
Politics had followed us to the trail. Despite, or perhaps because of, the ugliness of this campaign we laughed heartily.
May the best bobblehead win.
