Bicycle

Bicycling used to be one of my favorite hobbies, but I haven't really gone bike riding since my earlier high school years. The main reason for that is because I've outgrown my old bike and, hence, really need a new one. But I've been lazy and never got around to getting one, which is a shame because I live so close to Colts Neck and I always loved riding my bike there. It's all open farmland and parks (and occasional mansions). It always made me feel like I was in another world where I could have some peace and tranquility.

While driving home from work today, I noticed how nice of a day it was and started wishing I could go for a bike ride. As soon as I got home, I went to my backyard and, much to my surprise, saw my dad's old bike laying on the side of the shed. It was very dirty and rusty, but I was desperate so I sprayed the bike with a hose and WD-40'ed the hell out of it. And then I was on my way!

It didn't take me long to realize how horribly out of shape I've been, but I kept at it and ended up going to my favorite spot - Dorbrook Park in Colts Neck. The park has a paved bike trail but I usually take the dirt trails that zip through the woods. The entrance to my favorite dirt trail is pretty secluded and eventually leads to a giant reservoir. I've always considered that area to be "my secret spot," where I could go to enjoy the scenery and clear my head as any angsty teenager would do. Riding my bike to this spot today was a real trip down memory lane.

After biking through Dorbrook Park for an hour or so, I continued down Route 537 to check out Laird's Distillery, the oldest Distillery in America. Some of you may know Laird's as the producer of Applejack, a type of apple brandy I once enjoyed drinking (until it got me sick) but now consider a last resort that I'll only take shots of when I'm already extremely drunk. There wasn't much to see there other than some old buildings and a factory. Across the street, however, there was a gigantic field of apple trees that was blocked off by a fence and a "no trespassing" sign.

So, naturally, I plotted to steal some apples (even though I don't even eat apples).

I left my bike on side of the road opposite the field, ran across the street, hopped the fence, ran towards the closest apple tree I could find, and grabbed a few apples. Then I turned around. There was someone behind me in the distance. Fuck.

Without any hesitation, I started to run away while holding a handful of apples. I looked behind me as I ran, and noticed that the guy working in the field didn't see me yet. The only thing between me and my clean getaway was the fence, which I easily cleared on my way in. I continued my mad dash back to my bike by hopping the fence.

But I didn't clear the fence.

Instead, in typical and clumsy Keith fashion, I ended up falling and breaking the entire fence. Oops.

I quickly picked myself up off of the collapsed fence as I heard someone shout, "hey you!" I darted across the street as fast as I could and jumped on my bike. It was at that point that I noticed my right leg was gushing blood. There was a trail of blood across the street, leading from the broken fence to my bike, and apples scattered everywhere. Unfortunately I didn't have a lot of time to stare at my leg and wonder what I'd do with it, so instead I biked away from the Distillery, leaving the dropped apples and the broken fence behind. When I got far enough from the scene of the incident, I took off my white t-shirt and wrapped it around my bleeding leg.

Even though my leg was in pain, the whole incident was really hysterical. It's good to know I can have little adventures by myself every once in a while.