The vortex* got me again. That's what I call the pond at the foot of the climb up Mars Hill, my little twilight mountain biking area. I can feel its pull soon after I get off the Milton Road Miracle Mile. I get nearly as much of a rush speed-matching jeeps and pickups on that street as I got doing super-man stunts among the busses and taxis of 5th Ave NYC on rollerblades. I call it speed-matching because that makes my breakneck speeds seem discretionary rather than the last-ditch self-preservation efforts they are. About the time that rush wears off and my heart-rate falls below the 200 bpm mark, I am nearing the vortex by the pond. I can feel it as soon as I drop down into the cool hollow where the shade is. Sometimes I glance up and catch some blue sky through tree leaves. Other times I ride stolidly on, teeth gritted against the force of the vortex, because I really want to ride clear to the top of the ridge. Tonight I peeked at the sunset while nearing the pond, but quickly averted my eyes and tried to focus on the trail and think trail thoughts. After all, I was wearing my finest non-cotton biking gear—I had even left my lights at home to prompt me into riding fast. But it was already too late; I knew the vortex had me.
I wobbled at the intersection; to bypass the pond and ascend the ridge, or to detour over to the pond and then climb the ridge were the choices. The Pull went toward the pond and I went helplessly along, resolved to keep going past, never looking to the right or left side until I had crested the ridge. But this evening the pond was empty of fishermen—just the sunset, the heron at the edge of the bulrushes, and me. I couldn't recall ever being past the pond when it was empty of people. I went past the empty benches beside the water—bike wobbled a bit—then past the little log cabin with the inviting front porch—wobbly again—but no dabs, I kept riding totally thinking pond thoughts and feeling guilty for them at the same time. I finally made it to the ridge trail and started on the climb, but my heart wasn't in it. I decided to go back and get it at the pond, then changed my mind and kept riding uphill. Then I remembered the little loop trail that circled down to the pond ahead on my left. Against better knowledge, I took a left and was soon coasting gloriously downhill back toward the pond.
So that's my little, or maybe not so little, excuse for not doing the ridge tonight. The ridge trail is still there, but the sunset's gone, and how often do I get to see the pond without people? Maybe tomorrow I'll feel stronger—or wait, maybe I could do the ridge loop backwards and get the best of both vortexes. Now that's a thought…
*If you actually go to one of the vortex sites, which is where the energy is strongest, it can be a very uplifting experience. The energy you take in at one of these energy centers can stay with you and affect you positively for days afterwards-John & Micki Baumann.