Family Bike Ride

Well, recently we went on a family bike ride. Papa had the kids in the bike trailer, and I rode solo. We were zinging along the paved trail under the power lines for the city called the BPA trail and enjoying ourselves. Aaron was enjoying off-roading with the kids egging him on, and at the top section of a very steep section of the trail we stopped to evaluate our options. There was a dirt path going pretty vertical and ending in a busy street if you didn't navigate the sharp turn, or there was the lovely paved trail, wide and completely safe. You see where this is going?

Aaron eyed the dirt path and I expressed apprehension. He paused and agreed. Then Benji starts asking, "Is it to hard for you Papa?" Completely innocently he is taking his life in his hands and goading dad's masculinity. Ian thinks going along with big brother is always in his best interest and wants to go on the dirt path too.

Aaron is intelligent, and an athlete so I trust whatever decision he makes as I express my reservations. "You have my whole life there! Is the life insurance up to date?" I also get off my bike to make sure the kids are strapped in securely. Then I am about to head down the broad, safe, paved trail when I decide to watch them.

They descend carefully, but the trailler doesn't follow the bike's directions and hurls its weight down even as Aaron brakes, it skids and slides, and turns over landing on it's head and Aaron is thrown partially off his bike, jumping clear and jumping for the kids. I hate to be right.

I leap through the cloud of dust the trail kicked up and help him set the kids aright. "Are you okay?" I try to stay calm but I am glaring at Papa. I don't want the kids to be afraid that they were near death. "Can we do it again?" this from big brother the dare devil, and "I don't want to do that again!" From little brother banged into Benji. Thank the Lord for 5 point safety harnesses and a strong aluminum frame. They are no worse for the wear. Aaron starts waxing eloquently about the engineering of the tumble... I run back up to my bike and tell him I'll see him at the bottom.

Suburban adventures: we create havoc because there is little in our lives.