Gap

I looked to my right and narrowed my eyes.

...trees...trail...bright sunny day....

A studied look to my left brought the same conclusions. My right hand was on the saddle, left hand held the bars.

I’m out mountain biking.

I looked right again and squinted.

I’m mountain biking at Wirth Park.......No....this is...I’m at Murphy--I’m riding Murphy.

I’m at Murphy by myself?

It rolled around in my mind. Slowly the morning’s parking lot gathering coalesced in the fog of my thoughts. Snapshots of faces and clothing, bike pumps and helmets.

Wade’s in town. We’re all mountain biking.

My phone chimed as a text came through. I pulled it out of my jersey pocket and unlocked the screen. There was comfort in the act. I knew what to do.

WD: Heard you were down; waiting at the steps for you :-(

Me: Nit quite sure where I am 

They’re waiting for me. They’re at the steps. We always regroup at the steps when we ride Murphy. They’re probably wondering where I am. I think I’m at Murphy. There’s a group of us....

...I don’t know how to get to the steps....

I looked down the trail right, then left.

WD: Are you disoriented or just not certain where you are?

Me: Its coming back...im at Murphy...remember talking to some guy? obviously I wiped out 

There was hazy wisp in my mind: Yup I’m fine along with someone’s presence. I moved off of the trail and faced the woods—a rider was bound to come by eventually and I wanted some privacy in my bewilderment.

Did I talk to someone? I don't know where the steps are.

WD: Yes, he came by and said he waited with you, but you seemed ok.

Me: vague recollection of talking to him. Think I was out for a minute there

WD: that’s not good at all! Are you moving along the trail or are you just hanging out somewhere?

I don't know how to get to the steps.

Me: Can you come back? I’m standing here

WD: Yes. Go to your map app. And snap the screen and send it to me so I know where you are.

He’ll come to me. I don’t have to find the steps.

I heard a rider coming down the singletrack from my right. I watched him out of the corner of my eye and turned to see his back after he crossed behind me.

The trail goes from right to left. I know which way to go!

Me: Someone just rode by—I’ll start walking that direction. will snap map screen and send

I know which way to go to get to the steps!

 As I fumbled with the screen shot, two riders stopped next to me. I think I was out for a bit, I said. I’m meeting friends. I touched my face then looked at my fingers. There was dirt and blood.

They told me the steps were quite a ways, and they walked with me for a bit. One pointed to a horse trail that led to the gravel road which would take me to the trailhead—I liked the idea of heading back to the car. I called WD.

I’m heading back to the parking lot. Two guys just showed me a trail that leads to the gravel road. 

The directions were simple. I repeated them before thanking the riders, and they left. I turned to cut through the woods where I could see the horse trail.

Which way do I go?

I looked down the singletrack, but theriders were gone. I started through the woods.

I’ll figure out something when I get there.

Once on the horse trail I could see the gravel road. From the road I could see the trailhead just on the rise. I could see it. I threw my leg over the bike.

I’m at Murphy. There are six of us. It’s Sunday.

-ob