Blading in the Fort Nature Journal

As an adventurous child, a favorite after school activity was to rollerblade down the neighborhood slope. My mom, a rule enforcer, ensured I wore my helmet with blue flames on it, but my elbows and knees were evidence of a fair amount of wipeouts. I don’t remember exactly when the last time I rollerbladed was, which is sad, but I knew I was ready to get back on the wheels.

                The night before the set date to ride, I went over to my formal date’s house and tried on a pair of woman’s rollerblades. It was a perfect fit… I skated around the driveway as she poked fun of me. I guess it had something to do with a 22 year old man wearing rollerblades? I wasn’t sure. But I was going to shred on the expedition, this time without an embarrassing helmet.

                I drove to Woodshed, strapped up the blades, and skated onto the Trinity River trail there. The first couple hundred meters were a bit of a drag. Speed bumps shook my entire body and slowed my momentum. And periodic gates due to construction closed off the paved sidewalk and forced me to walk along the sandy gravel. It was difficult to get into a groove, but as a swung around the last gate and jumped on the path, my eyes lit up. A long, open stretch presented itself. The motions were innate. I thrust off each back leg, trying to vault forward. My arms followed along, throwing them from my hips to nose. My body was a machine in my crouch like a speed ice-skater, it never stopped. I was back in my neighborhood racing my brother down the street. Nostalgia was all I sensed on this unfamiliar trail.

                I reached my max speed I straightened my knees and stood up to coast. My quadriceps burned and my glutes were feeling pretty tight. I was exhausted after a fierce 10 minutes even with the dark, gray clouds blocking the sun and the breeze whipping around my face. I took a few moments to appreciate the Trinity off to my left. Every so often rock dams created small waterfalls within the river that managed the water levels. I crossed under multiple bridges for cars and one pedestrian crosswalk. In between each, many bikers and walkers passed me on my left midday on a Wednesday. The city was up and rumbling, enjoying the October weather, just like I was learning how to do during my senior year. I’m excited that this class provided the motivation to get back into my rollerblades, because, just three days out, I’ve already bought my own pair from Academy.