cycling the night away

yesterday as a whole proved to be fun. i was hoping that i would be able to top it off with some kind of after hours, well party. i just wanted to go to a house party and drink beer, mingle a bit and enjoy myself in a private place larger than my truck. unfortunately, to accomplish something like that i would have to also talk to people and make "friends."

i wasnt prepared to do that, so instead i just walked around the square a couple times, drinking my vodka and cranberry juice, and enjoyed the sounds of people having fun all around me. i was proceeding to drunk rapidly, because i had been drinking my concoction at a rapid rate.

after doing my laps and shying away form human contact, i had decided to call it a night. as i walked back to where my truck was parked i spotted some salvation. i had seen it earlier, paid it a glance and then kept walking, a bicycle. not quite a real bike, not quite a tall bike, and not quite a mini bike. a regular frame with tall handlebars and small tires, i went up to it and accosted it.

my bike for the night

it was mine. it was pretty uncomfortable in the seat, it was BMX style where you back pedal to brake. i rode it a couple of times around the block, eliciting cat calls and praise for the bike, i felt triumphant. but i was quickly growing bored with the downtown square. so i branched out.

i went across the railroad tracks down by the hostels and the strip club, nothing going on. i rode down by the pride festival and watched the last song of the last act. then i rode back to the square and around the bars and such. shortly, i took the challenge and rode this awkward bike up the big hill that separates the downtown from the neighborhoods.

i made it pretty easily but i was huffing and puffing once at the top. then i rode around up there for a bit, there was also nothing happening there and absolutely no people, so i rode back towards the square.

more passes and eventually i was done with it. i went and put it back where i had found it. it was less than a block from where i was parked. i got back to the truck and was unhappy. i wanted to find something to do, so i went back and took the bike for a few more passes, trying to build up courage to ask someone where the party was. but then.

then the police rolled up behind me and steered toward the side of the road. the cop then rolled up next to me and proceeded to inform me that i needed to procure a front headlight and follow all traffic laws. things that i already knew, but i played dumb. i told him that i was going to put the bike back where i found it and go home.

and with that, i did. this morning, i came back to where i left the bike and it was still there. so, of course, i got back on it and started riding it. i made it half a block and my ass was in such pain from the awkwardness of the seat, and i was done with it. so i dropped it somewhere else and deemed my days of cycling on that steed over.

it still hasnt moved from where i have now left it. which i find pretty amazing, an unchained bike just sitting there, why wouldnt someone else take it for a spin, at least?