This Ride Narrated by Robert Redford

Just the other night, fueled by wine and good conversation, the topic arose of favorite movies. I struggled to recall the name of one of my all time favorites. I finally remembered it yesterday afternoon. "A River Runs Through It." Written by Norman Maclean, Directed by Robert Redford.  The movie features narration of teh story telling from Older Norman performed by with narration by Redford. I remember watching the movie as teen...Redfords voice is relaxing and haunting all at the same time...the closing quote to running waters:

Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world's great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of those rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs.

I am haunted by waters.

For some odd reason, Redfords voice became lodged in my head as I struck out for yesterdays ride...hung up on this quote my inner voice changed to his, and my thoughts subdued and pensive. Perhaps its because I've been reflecting on everything that I've experience this season, maybe it was in knowing this week is to be my last for post-work rides for the year, or maybe its the weather (After all I love this time of year, the leaves are displaying their full variety of colors, the air is cool and dry, the smell of the freshly harvested earth, the crunch of the leaves under my feet as I take trey for long walks after work).  Either way something was transformed my inner voice. 

So as I headed north I started noticing all the things on the route, taking stock of the memories of rides with friends and new training partners, noticing marks on the roads from races long past.  All to the soft sounds of Redfords voice.  While I know this sounds odd, it made the fall ride all the more enjoyable, and relaxing.

Riding north I noticed the corn fields, just months ago following the tour were green with life, now brown and gold ready for harvest. Combines in the field meeting semis ready to bring the farmers long toils to the waiting silos.

As I turned from Rainwood onto 218th st, I noticed something which really struck me. Markers painted on the roads for the Babcook road race were still there. Signs to slow down, left turn ahead all still marked in light green on asphalt. Amazing that in three months, the markers are still there. I followed that loop around and I made my turn south to Mount Michael, Elkhorn, and home...I remembered how lucky I am. Dan Ertz took a big spill in that race. He only recenlty got out of the hospital again for blood clots which are side effects from his injuries in that race. I had gone down too, had to have an MRI and got lucky with no major injuries.  Cycling is precious to me, but it can be dangerous, these accidents serve as reminders to that. I'm lucky every day that I get to ride my bike, and enjoy it with such great people in my life.

As I rolled through Elkhorn, I made one more run at the cobbles. Bordered by the fall leaves and carried over cobble, my legs knocked out a tempo fueled with fall angst and energized by my heart rate.  I sped over the short patch of pave and towards home. 

One more fall ride, one more down for the season. Thanks Robert for joining me on the ride.

J