“I was having second thoughts about my say ‘yes’ philosophy when my legs cramped up five k into the thirty k trip.”

“So, you’ve blasted way the hell out here on a massive tailwind, well done. It’s going to be a hell of a ride getting back to town. Ready to work?”

“Naw man, I’ve got it all worked out. I’ll stay on the trail for a bit, jump on the road near Mineville then head inland. I figure I’ll get away from the ocean. Get away from the wind. I’m heading home, not to the shop so I can cut across kind of on a diagonal.”

They say my granddad could skate faster than the wind. Here, my pal wanted to out-think the wind.

“You think that will work, you’ll find an easier route out of the wind?”

“I hope so man.”

I ran into him at the shop the next day.

“How did you make out on the trip home?”

“Awww dude… It was ugly. I was having second thoughts about my say ‘yes’ philosophy when my legs cramped up five k into the thirty k trip.”

“Yeah?”

“But then I remembered the speed. My route didn’t totally avoid the headwind. And by knowing the landscape a bit, I made things easier. And on the way home, coming in on the other side of Capulet Mines, I hit a downhill section with the wind at my back. I just flew. After struggling for miles, it was great to have a little boost before getting home - a little reminder of the fun on the way out.”

“Worth it?”

“Even with the headwind coming back? Oh yeah. The ride out? The downhill at the end? So fast. I was flying - (he extended his arms and ran in a circle while making this sound:) Poahhhhhhhhhhh! So worth it.”

It’s like the old saying goes:

You can’ avoid a headwind entirely, but when you know the landscape, there’s relief to be found along the way.