3/26/2024

Today I went riding in the park for several miles to test how I'd last on a longer distance trip than up a few blocks. It was so hard up the hills especially since my BMX is single gear so it was all legs. My legs gave out at least four times and I'd have to pull over on the grass. But each time I got over it the whole thing seemed easier and easier. Going down the hills was pure ecstasy. I haven't felt so alive doing something in so long I forgot the feeling was there. The scenery rushing by and the wind in my face was insane.

There weren't many people crossing the roads. At first whenever I saw them I was scared I'd hit them but it was actually very easy to avoid each other. Eventually I made it down to where the horse stables for the horse carriage rides tourists usually go on; I got to ride beside the horses which was amazing.

There were lots of runners out and I even saw a huge group gathered running for some kind of event. It felt surreal riding past as row by row of people filed down together beside you. By the time the roads flattened out I felt confident in my pedaling and wasn't nearly as tired as at the start. I also stopped at a huge part of the park I'd never seen before except in movies. It was covered in rows of budding trees since the season's changing with benches curving around their bases; there was a tall white half domed stage that got featured in the first Love Live! movie. Then a few feet away was the steps going down to some kind of opened and tiled plaza from John Wick. The steps were so steep I couldn't safely carry down my bicycle, so I have to go another time.

On the ride home I risked riding in the street with the cars again by following the bike paths. I stopped feeling scared seconds in. I had no competing traffic, I made all the lights, no one turned as I was going, no pot holes etc. The whole thing went perfect. Then I got to go down another hill feeling the wind in the clear. The whole trip took me two hours because of being out of shape but it's the most fun I've had in a minute. When I got home I felt tempted to forget it was gonna be dark and go do the whole thing over again right there.