The Last Pedal To The First Peanut

Last weekend, as my husband and I often do, we set out for a weekend of camping and mountain biking. Our destination: Fruita, Colorado, Loma exit, Kokopeli trail system. I normally ride Mary’s Loop – gorgeous desert views, blue skies, orange and purple cliffs, and the emerald green Colorado River below.

Proud of myself for riding better than last time, I followed my husband on the Horsethief Loop. His praises did wonders and against my better judgment, I kept following on him on one trail extension to another. Somewhere just into the 4th hour of our ride, my smile faded fast. I was tired, and hungry and this uphill climb seemed like it was never going to end. Every little rock in the trail seemed like a boulder blocking my path. I was pouty. Then my petal hit my shin and pouty became an understatement. Sensing that I was on the verge of collapse, my husband told me to stay straight up the hill and I would end up on the shortcut back to the trailhead.

Mustering up my strength, I made it to the road, but soon realized, this “shortcut’ dumped me out on a very hot and dusty dirt road with at least another hour of riding ahead. I had to somehow distract myself as I turned onto the road that stretched forever. Dust was blowing and my stomach was growling. I began to think of my reward when I got back to the truck – what snacks were awaiting me….?

My smile suddenly came back when I remembered our supply of Ricky’s Lucky Nuts that I tossed in our camping bin. Oh yes! The desert was flying past me now as I thought about Bombay Coconut, distracting myself with the places all the flavors evoke – traveling thru the subcontinent, spice markets, exotic aromas, and surprising flavor combinations, Ooh, and coconut – white sand beaches, tropical adventure, and pina coladas….And Spicy Chilie Chipotle…it’s early fall and the desert reds and oranges remind me that those colorful peppers are being roasted right now in a timeless tradition deep in the heart of Mexico.

All these thoughts have my mouth watering for that first zest of flavor, the sweet and salty reward that will make all these hours of riding worth every bead of sweat. I crest a hill on the road and stop to catch my breath and look out on to the horizon. Out in the distance is the trailhead and parking lot! I had made it! I took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. All the cars and trucks were shimmering in the heat waves, and to me they looked like little colorful peanuts, glazed with exotic spices, dry roasted in the beautiful desert sun….