Bicycle Diaries
30 years riding, 15 years writing
Water for the Fisherman
There’s this elderly gentleman fishing by the lake most everyday. Sitting on a 5 gallon plastic bucket.
As I sat mid-ride on a bench by the lake eating a banana, he approached me. In a heavy Slavic tone, he began to speak to me, the only thing I caught was water. I raised my water bottle and asked him if he was thirsty, he nodded. I poured out about half of a fresh water bottle into the bottle I had just finished and handed it to him. He drank it all down, said thanks in his native language and walked away.
Times are tough and I think this person is fishing for his food, rather than fishing for recreational purposes. Though I don’t think that the lake has any fish I would care to eat, for someone down and out, it’s dinner.
MTB: distance 19.38 miles, average speed 13.6 mph.
Charlotte, NC
Spent 10 years in Charlotte, a block away from an entrance to the McAlpine Creek Greenway.
Switched to a mountain bike from the road bikes I was accustomed to riding for 15 years.
The time spent on these trails was most appreciated.
Trek Fuel 70
