I ran into a tree. I was on a bike ride with the cubs for Founder’s Day and I ran into a tree. I wasn’t even on my bike!!
We were riding a 16km ride in three stages and between rest point one and two, the route we needed changed from a bike trail to an urban forest with some suburban sprawl to navigate in between. We left the bike trail at the right point but then weren’t sure which way to go. Luckily we met another pack there and, between us, we decided which direction to take. Then, coming towards us was a third pack saying, “Go back, this isn’t where you go.”
I turned to my cubs (I was at the front of the pack) and in the narrow laneway we were in, I dismounted and told the cubs to follow suit. Then, as we were a little way down the track, I began to ‘run’ my bike back to where we were.
I’m jogging along quite happily when – for no reason – it savagely attacked me. A little tree with ground shrubbery saw my approach and timed its pounce. Just as I drew near, it leapt out and sunk its thorns, like teeth, into my leg. I felt the bite, and as is only natural, I jerked my leg up and away from the bush midstride. That’s when the plant held on and tore down my shin. Blood oozing from my leg, I carried on. I could not stop; I had cubs behind me looking to me for guidance.
Eventually I swapped places with another leader and I became the Tail End Charlie. This meant that as we pulled up at traffic lights, I had enough time to empty my drink bottle onto my shin. Eh. That’ll do for first aid, says I, ever courageous.
So for the next four kilometres, I soldiered on, bleeding slightly from my limb. Whatever. Part of the job description! :)
Aside from that, it was a perfectly lovely ride from town out to the ‘burbs. Has your favorite bike track got any inherent dangers like this?
Deanna, Little Blonde Lionheart
Dee your not meant to let the trees bite you. Again your ability to get lost easily has come out again I see.
But, but I have no control over the trees :( They just have a vendetta against me for some reason! Hahaha and yes, well, I had no map (but I did so well to get from town out to where I was withouth getting lost!)