Notes from Steve

My post-RAGBRAI week is usually fairly “exercise” quiet, but I needed to get back on the proverbial horse.  This last Saturday, I thought I’d take a nice leisurely bike ride down to Carlisle, Iowa, from downtown Des Moines.  Maybe 24 miles round-trip.  Nice scenery, pretty day … by Easter Lake … nice.  I get past the lake (around 9 miles) and am on the new cement trail, and bang - a flock of geese was sitting square in the middle of the trail, daring me to approach.  No one was around, so I literally barked at them for 10 seconds.  They gave me the death stare.  “Nope … bring it, big guy …” is the vibe I got.  So, I turned around and went to another trail.  My 24 miles turned into 42, but it was a beautiful day, so all was good.  I hate geese.

I thought of all the ways I could get around the geese.  I thought, “I could walk my bike in the grass all the way around … I could approach them and hope they move* … I could continue barking … or leave.”  I chose the latter.  My dad was a pacifist - didn’t like confrontation or arguments and went out of his way to avoid them.  Sometimes in life - you have to stand your ground, but if it’s a nice day and there really is no good reason to stir up the geese - reroute.  

*I have true stories from family and friends that they will attack you.  Truth.  My nephew Tim saw geese and their new babies (goslings?) and slowed his approach.  The mom goose flew at his helmet and chased him.  This story keeps me awake at night.**
**Mom used to substitute-teach home economics at my high school.  She once heard a story about a mouse running up a student’s pant leg in the home ec classroom.  That nearly did her in.