Joshua Henderson
10/2/14
Comp 1
Descriptive assignment

Trees that lined the dark trail were various bright colors of green. The trail was filled with ruts from previous bikers. Tread marks from their tires swerved up around the trail and mountain like snakes. The little light that could be seen peaked through the leaves above and shone lightly onto the floor of the surrounding forest. The light reflected off pools of water from the rain the night before and bounced into my eyes making it difficult to see. I pushed down hard on the dark metal peddles of my bike. The more I pushed the more the mud pushed back. With each downward stroke I could feel pain in my legs grow. I did my best to put the pain out of my mind as I continued to push against gravity, up the mountain. The bike covered in the mud and dirt from the days ride could easily pass for being aged, however, just a few weeks ago it was hanging from the store’s rack.
The new heavily treaded tires dug well into the soft ground. Not once did my tires spin out, for the tread gripped the mud like spiked shoes gripping a football field. It was a surprisingly breezy day for the end of July; however, I could not feel the coolness. The hill had worked my body into a heavy sweat; it felt as though I was trying to peddle around the ring of a volcano. As I continued to push up the mountain the mud seemed to become deeper, its slush rose slowly until the bottom inch of the tire could not be seen. The more I pushed the closer the summit came. Only a few more mud covered yards to the top of the trail. When I saw the proximity of the summit it brought forth a burst of energy that would push me through the last few yards to the peak of the trail. Finally, I had reached the summit. There was more light than on the lower parts of the trail thanks to a large gap between the trees above. As I looked down at the trail that I had just overcome I could feel an immense sense of joy encompass my body. I rode to a nearby oak tree and leaned my bike against it. I stepped off the bike and almost instantaneously fell to the ground. Luckily, I was able to grab the nearby branch that came out from an oak tree. The branch supported me while I regained my strength. As I leaned against the grand oak tree its rough bark grabbed at my gym shorts. I pealed off my blue and silver Camelback and set it down next to my bike. The wind rustled the leaves around me, and I could finally feel the coolness of the air. I smiled as I look around from my perch at the top of the trail. The hill was covered in trees and foliage, and the smell of fresh mud crept though the air. I leaned back and felt the wind blow though my matted, sweat-filled hair. After relaxing for a few minutes I grabbed my mud and sweat covered Camelback, and stumbled back to my mountain bike. I pulled the bike from the oak tree, and as I looked down the mud-ridden trail I smiled knowing that I had accomplished something today. I then kicked off the tree and started my trek back down the mountain into the shadows of the trees.