Poor Rocky!?!?

Usually the best part of my day is the time I get to spend riding my bike. Yesterday I got to ride with Marja for a few hours and it was a fantastic change from riding solo during the week.

So as we roll along, a wee bit chilly from the wind and the clouds, I notice a squirrel frolicking along the bike trail. And, as they usually do, this one decides at the very last minute to turn left, rather than right. As you can guess, his left turn took him directly into the path of my front wheel.

Lucky for Rocky I was diligent and bunny hopped him as our paths crossed. Marja, on my left, unfortunately did not attempt to avoid said squirrel. Now to Marja's defense, she did not swerve or do something stupid like so many people do. She held her line and rode through the ordeal.

What of Rocky?

Well, he caught a ride on Marja's spokes in her front wheel and was thrown into her fork where, lucky for Marja, he then ricocheted off of Marja's right foot and flopped in the middle of the trail. Flopping violently.

Now I have to explain, that if you ride the trail enough, you will either take out a squirrel during the daylight, or if riding at dawn, you will do the same to a cotton tail. Its unavoidable.

So back to Marja's "first kill." Looking back, this was Marja's time to become one with nature. In Deer Hunter fashion she should drink the blood of her first kill! Okay, that's a little intense, maybe if we were back in Arkansas or something. What needed to be done was put the guy out of his misery.

Well you can all guess who that duty fell upon.....

I ride back to the scene, the little guy was able to drag himself off the trail, but needed to be "finished off." He was in bad shape. So I found a large rock and was able to do it. Now I don't particularly like squirrels, but man that put me in a horrible mood. Somehow a serious bludgeoning puts a damper on a good ride. I didn't talk to Marja for a little while.

On that happy note, maybe I get to kill a deer or a coyote tonight riding the trails....we'll have to see whats in store... Thanks Marja!! :)