Light In The Tunnel

Daylight Savings Time.  Last weekend we did the old, "Fall back" routine with our clocks.  Now it is nearly dark when we get home after a day at work.  Two of us decided to ride our Monday evening bicycle ride anyway.  "Bring your lights," was the suggestion.  The sun was just about to the horizon when we began our journey, so it was darker by the minute. 

I don't know why, but it seems to me there is an increased amount of traffic each year when the time changes.  This dusky evening was no exception.  It felt like there were cars everywhere.  One suggestion was that folks have a natural instinct to get home before it is dark.  We stayed on streets with less traffic, as much as possible, while we worked our way toward the "Gorge Trail."  From this trail we hopped onto an unfinished portion of a trail connecting to the Veterans Memorial Park.  That will be nice when it is done.  Then, up the hill we stroked and onto the "Cardinal Trail," our local rail trail.

It was nice to have no cars on the trails.  We encountered two walkers, one runner, and two other bicyclists.  Two deer were about twenty yards away as we came off of the "Gorge Trail."  We discussed light systems for bicycles and enjoyed a nearly full moon.  I recalled training under moonlight when my children were young.  I rode these same trails many days this summer and it was an interesting comparison to ride at night.  Night riding required a greater concentration on the trail immediately in front of us.  I didn't see as many trees.  We were startled to have bats fly right in front of us, nearly striking one rider.  Night riding is a different kind of excitement.

When we had turned around and begun our trip home, we passed through an arch of steel fence-like material designed to insure safety of both trail users and cars below.  During the day this structure is hardly noticeable.  This night our light reflected off of the railings and arch to make it appear as if we were in a tunnel.  Our light in the tunnel reminded me we are on a journey.  Remembering the expression about the, "light at the end of the tunnel" caused  me to think we can see our journey as being a light in the tunnel.  We can illuminate those around us as we travel through our lives.  I would say we need to bring our lights.