Biking Bastard Batsto. Part one

 It was supposed to be just a normal bike trip through the woods. Nothing was supposed to go wrong, the way it was pictured was perfect. However, perfect was the very last thing it was. That cool spring morning would be the last time i viewed this world as a fair and beautiful place. No, perfect bike ride could not have been further from the truth.





 I mounted my 10 speed, cerulean blue, top of the line mountain bike onto the back of my car. I was to meet up with my biking group, who i met offline, at Batsto park. Batsto is a advanced cycling path through the very heart of the pine barrens of New Jersey. Hardly ever used over the silly superstition of the new jersey devil. Of course these were just stories, and i was hardly going to pass up the opportunity to bike this legendary trail. I arrived right on time, and saw the three other members of my group had yet to arrive. Standing in front of my car, pausing for a second to appreciate my appearance in the reflection of the window. Call it vanity, but god damn did i find myself to be pretty.


 The road behind me erupted with the sound of stone and dirt being kicked up by the heavy ford bronco making its way down the road. Its trio of passengers were all friends, having been into biking for a decade now. Their former friend had left the group so when i found them on a mountain biking forum they were all to happy to sign me up. The large SUV pulled along side, and no sooner did it stop then the back door swung open and a short asian man jumped out to greet me. "you must be frank!" he said excitedly. "Im Lee, its great to finally meet you." By then the other two members had already started taking the bikes down, a large man towering over the rest of us and with a bark said "im jerry, give me a hand frank." I went to reach up but before i could an awkward man stopped and screamed "HIGH FIVE WANT SOME OF MY GUMMY BEARS?!" Puzzled i said no thank you, and the man slouched away saddened. lee leaned over and whispered " thats louis, hes um....a little slow. Never used to wear a helmet, took a nasty spill. If he offers you gummy bears just take them."

 I walked over to louis and offered him some of my granola, to show that i wanted to be friends. He responded by smiling and telling me that if we see any jersey devils he'll protect me. I said thank you as i started to gear up. Helmet, knee pads, elbow pads, gloves, you know, the words. The other members snickered a bit as they were only wearing helmets but i didn't care. There was no way i was going to fall off my bike and get hurt. Im many things, but careless is certainly not one of them. Though, in hindsight, none of that really matters. Nothing could of prepared me for what was to come on this hellish adventure into the very heart of jersey devil land.