My Monday morning got off to a typical start, nothing turned out as planned for me. I woke up with ideas about what I wanted and needed to get done today, but that was quickly pushed aside by a client of mine that needed help, ASAP. Without going into too much detail, their shipping computer system was offline, and they needed my help up in Novato CA.
I drove off to Novato with my riding gear in the car, and my Santa Cruz Superheavy on the top. I had to take everything with me just in case the problem kept me there late. My rides are number one for me, but I try to stay available to my clients as best I can. So far I’ve been able to work around my year-long project.
After resurrecting the shipping system, I headed out towards my old stomping grounds. I lived in Novato from 1996-1998 with “N” on the old farm that we lovingly called "The 49.” There were some 15 acres of property that had about a half dozen structures on it including a huge barn, a couple of chicken coups, and several Acme kit cabins. It had old fruit trees that I fell in love with, and began to restore, and remnants of gardens that were obviously well tended to back in the day. I saved many of the older plants and trees, including a black Iris that I’m currently nurturing back to health some 14 years later. One now lives in Kalamazoo, MI. Being in Novato today stirred up many memories for me. Those were a good time in my life, and ones that I've held onto over the years, and probably too much so during the darkest of times with “N.” 
Today I rode at Mount Burdell, a place where I used to hike with Mick and Lune, and ride my mountain bike regularly. As I rode along the first set of trails that are low on the mountain, I was touched by the memories that arose as I passed by Oak trees where I used to let the dogs cool off on hot summer days, and the water troughs where Lune used climb in to cool off. She used to swim around in them like a River Otter, all the while making a silly little snorting noise. I miss that girl. Mick too.
As I continued to ride around the mountain, memories continued to dart in and out of my mind. There was the time that “N,” “D,” and I had hiked to the top where they rolled Bali Shag cigarettes and smoked them while sitting on the lava rocks. Then there was the time that I was riding with dozens of other riders including “F,” some seven years back, while we were on a 100 mile all-day mountain bike ride. There were also all of the hikes that I did with Mick and Lune. It was truly a trip down (more accurately, "up") memory lane for me. I’m happy to know that I have those memories, and that they can’t be taken away from me. 
As life goes on I’m shedding the bad memories in what I hope is an appropriate and healthy fashion, and embracing those that are worth holding onto for a lifetime. I have an incredibly detailed memory, so for me it’s important to let go of what I should, and yet embrace and protect the memories that I want to carry forward.
I had fun today. I rode rather slowly as if I was taking it all in for the first time. As I looked around today I could almost see Mick running tree to tree, and rock to rock, marking everything that he could. Then I could see Lune staying on the trail and eagerly looking for shade, and her favorite water trough. Although those memories are over a decade old, and as I rode through there today, they were so vivid that they could have been from yesterday.
I’m now glad that my client had an emergency that took me back home to Novato’s Mount Burdell.
Distance: 10.25 miles
Calories burned: 882
Time: 1:27:56 hours
Elevation gain: 1,458
Garmin Connect ride details: http://connect.garmin.com/activity/19514376
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