Ah, there you are. I knew you had to be here somewhere. I saw you playing with the tree tops at my house, but then you disappeared.
All it took was a 180 degree turn at Allison Point to find you. In an instant my toes were bitten and my thighs were cold. I zipped up the top few inches of my neon pink rain jacket, the ones I had so foolishly unzipped just minutes before.
Now I see that you have been dancing with the spruce above the road. You were not content with a mild Alutiiq dance, one in which a story is told with fingertip fans. No, instead you demanded a ferocious flamenco that sent green skirts whirling, lovers battling for control.
I should have known, of course, that we would meet somewhere along this asphalt ribbon. I had prevaricated about riding today, concerned that if you could buffet my truck about surely you could fling me off the road. But the lure of Sol, his face so often hidden, was too strong.
It was too easy. I should have known better. I should have known that I had not surmounted some fitness hill and was suddenly ready to effortlessly pedal at 15 miles per hour for miles on end. When I stopped to take a photo of Valdez across the Port and noticed that the deep green water was surging past, I should have thought to consider why. Instead I was content to keep flying along like an albatross soaring aloft on atmospheric currents.
Now I am a blue-footed booby, pushing hard to gain every yard of forward motion. I suppose I should thank you though, for so thoughtfully ensuring that I got a good workout today. Surely you know that I need to be a strong rider in just a matter of weeks, and with no nearby hills to climb, you cared enough about me to make sure I had the opportunity to use all of my gears and to build strong thigh muscles.
Thank you, Wind, for coming out to play today. I look forward to seeing you tomorrow.
