| My first post cancer ride
Posted: 07/20/2000 by Will Swetnam
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Biking became more important to me that fall. I can still remember my first ride after treatment ended. I lived just off a multi use path in northern Virginia (The W&OD which runs from Arlington out past Leesburg, I lived in Vienna at the time). It is a rails to trails project (one of the first I think) which is paved, but also has a crushed gravel path that parallels it, crossing from time to time, for use by x-country runners, and for horse back riding. So some of the trail is very narrow, but other stretches are 100 yards wide, with woods, and fields. It had been raining, and the sun had just started to come out as it set, and I headed down the empty trail. I labored to make it up a gentle rise, and stopped to catch my breath at the top. Ahead of me was one of the broader areas of natural terrain. The rain sat like dew upon the grass, plants and trees; reflecting the setting sun and the colorful sky. As I stood there and watched the sun set, not a single person passed; I felt like I was no where near a major metropolitan city (Vienna is less than 15 miles from the center of DC, and is completely developed). I was able to have a special private moment to enjoy. It was a great reaffirmation that I was alive, and that there was a lot to look forward to, and not a ride goes by that I don't think of that evening. The best 3 mile ride of my life.
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