The Early Ride

Personal Exercise Journal

July 7. 2023

I took my regular bike path today. It has been too hot lately so I did my ride well before dawn. The paved bike path was about the width of a single driveway. It wound its way through the city and extended into the desert toward the next town.

It was dark. The air was warm and clean. On my right was one of those expensive residential neighborhoods hiding behind a high block wall. To my left was a railroad track and lighting was spaced regularly. Further out, the path just passed through a bare desert, no neighborhood, lights, or tracks.

July 8, 2023

I went on my morning ride starting about 4:30 am. I was surprised to find other how many other people were out at this time. They were mostly in the area as I passed behind my neighborhood. I spotted a homeless person sleeping by the path and realized he was right behind the wall that ends my back yard.

I enjoyed the solitude as I headed out of the city into the bare desert. The path just seemed to extend into nothingness.

July 9, 2023

While leaving the lights of the city I saw a strange sight. Up the slope I was biking up, my light caught a slow moving bike swerving side to side. I asked myself, could someone possibly be drunk on a bike this early in the morning? I am close to Las Vegas, I have seen some pretty strange things.

As I approached from behind, I slowed down because I didn't want risk a collision. In the beam from my light, I saw a small frail looking older woman on what used to be called a "girls bike". She was literally taking the whole path with her swerving, I had to plan my passing carefully.

As she swerved to the right, I pedaled hard and passed on the left. I heard "good morning" as I passed, I shouted my greeting in return. I faced forward and headed into the dark desert.

July 10, 2023

On my predawn ride, I passed through the same section. This time I noticed someone pushing one of those wheeled walkers old people use. It was one of those that has the little seat so the user can turn around and sit when they get tired. At the front hung a small lantern.

It looked like the same old woman from the night before. As I passed, I heard a loud "Good morning." I thought what the heck and turned my bike around to pull up beside her.

I asked her "Was that you on the bike yesterday?" She smiled and responded. "Yes, I found that I don't have enough weight to get me up the hills, nowhere here is flat. It is either up or down." "Besides, with this thing." she gestured toward her walker. "I can put my knees up on the seat and ride down small hills." "At my age, you have your fun when you can find it!"

The mental image of this older woman coasting down the incline on a walker just made me smile.

I liked this lady immediately. She has spirit mixed with a little crazy. We chatted a for a while about the trail. I found her name is Martha.

July 11 – July 20, 2023

I kept spotting Martha making her way up the paved path. I have been stopping and exchange good mornings. We usually chatted for a few minutes. I learned she is from upstate New York. We have similar politics our discussions on the events of the day were like two people singing in chorus.

July 21 – August 5, 2023

I have been riding every morning, Martha has been walking every morning. We take a few minutes to chat about our lives and current events each day.

August 6, 2023

I asked Martha why she walks every day. She told me "I almost have to, I had this back surgery and it wasn't totally successful. If I don't force myself to do this, I might as well lay down and die. Some mornings I smoke cannabis for the pain, the oxy the doctor gave me was useless." [If you're having a twinge a that, cannabis is completely legal in some states.]

Mystery solved, I kept wondering why some mornings she just acted like another little old lady. Other mornings she would be louder, more animated and happy. I realized that my favorite old lady was stoned some mornings. I was smiling inside.

August 7 – August 20, 2023

I kept seeing Martha each day, we were becoming friends more and more.

August 21, 2023

I pulled my bike up toward Martha and held out my unused cannabis that I bought at the dispensary. At that time I was looking forward to reliving my teenage years. Much to my disappointment, I found it just gave me acute anxiety.

The bag was silver with a ridiculous logo on it. I told Martha “I have no use for this, it just didn't work out." I extend the bag to her. She was animated this morning, I am guessing she smoked her pain medication on the way out the door. She instantly recognized it for what is was

"Thanks!" as she stuffed it in a pocket in her walker. We chatted for a while and I continued my ride.

August 22 – August 30, 2023

The bike ride was routine during this time. A couple of times, Martha gave me some cookies she baked. A couple of other times she gave me some muffins. I thought she must enjoy baking. I found I am really enjoying chatting in the morning.

August 31, 2023

The moon was full and bright, I could almost ride through the raw desert part without a light. I spotted Martha on the path away from the lights. She told me "Turn off your light." When I reached over and hit the button on my bike light. It was so quiet, so calm, the moonlight softly illuminated the land all around us. The moonlight reflecting off the desert scrub made it almost feel like two people standing on another planet.

"This is my favorite stretch." she told me. When the moon is full, it's like this. When it is a new moon, look up you can see an explosion of stars." The desert air always seems to be clear so I didn't doubt it. Martha gave me some more cookies"

September 1, 2023

I was thinking I always liked getting Martha's baked goods. I know she lives alone in one of the condos near the bike path. I doubt I am her only friend I am perhaps the most regular one she sees every day.

September 2, 2023

This morning on my ride, I couldn't find her. I traveled the stretch where I usually see her and she was simply not there. I felt like there is something missing in my morning.

September 3, 2023

There was still no Martha

September 4, 2023

I spotted her again. She was on the dark part of the path. I could see the light swaying back and forth from her walker.

I asked her, "Skipping your exercise?" She replied, "I don't know, the pain from my back operation was just too much. I spent most of the last two days just lying in bed." She has become a good friend, immediately she had my empathy. Who hasn't been laid up a bit for pain. We chatted again.

September 5, 2023

I found I have to move to another state.

Family concerns are forcing me to move from my desert to the green hills of the south.

I still saw Martha on my bike ride and we had our morning chat.

September 6 – September 12, 2023

I continued my morning rides, Martha and I chatted each morning along the way.

September 13, 2023

My house sold already! I was expecting to have at least two months. It seems the Las Vegas housing market is always on fire. I have twenty-three days to vacate.

My conversation with Martha took on a different tone. We acknowledged that we are really going to miss our morning chats. We spoke of the future, or rather my future. Moving and concluding a job is going to be stressful, I will miss my morning rides.

September 14, 2023

I remembered that first morning seeing the thin lady swerving back and forth across the bike path. I am resolved to give her one of my ebikes before I leave. I won't need it where I am going. She can't live far from my house I'll just ask where to drop it off.

I'll wait until the last week to make the offer.

September 15 – September 30, 2023

I continued my morning rides and chats.

October 1

No Martha. I looked for her on the trail this morning, she was simply not there.

October 2

No Martha again. I looked again for her on the trail this morning, not there.

October 3

No Martha. I looked for her on the trail this morning it was almost empty.

October 4

No Martha. I looked for her on the trail this morning, I am starting to worry.

October 5, 2023

This was the last day I could ride. I still didn't see her. I pedaled the bike that I was going to give her. I searched. The bike just became a reminder of loss. My once enjoyable ride just felt empty. I never did get to say goodbye.

Months later:

I know moving on is just part of life. I just can't help but think of all the memories of the people left behind. Martha still lives on in my head as free spirit confronting the cruelty of aging. I only hope when I am her age that I am that full of life.