barry burton

the Accident

Today was a running day. Balmy temperatures and a bright blue sky dotted with puffs of white accompanied the start of the afternoon’s activities. By the time I made it up the white trail to Shackleford point, more cloud cover was present and the sky was a sheet of grey. From the top it was super windy and cold and wild and exciting. I think Chelsea has a stadium now. I could see the tell-tale lights of such a structure to the south. To the north I think I could see Heardmont Park. It was distinctly a baseball diamond. Save these two features, the tree covered valleys dropped solemnly beneath me. A day of rain meant sundry pieces of trail were transformed into small streams. Wet feet don’t mix so well with running, I can now assure you. But the swollen streams and their crashing rapids were worth it. When I once again emerged from the trees at the north trailhead, I was surprised to find the gate across the red trail open. I understood when I saw the flashing lights of an ambulance, a fire engine, and a sheriff’s car in the ordinarily quiet gravel lot. Several minutes later a ranger pickup truck slowly bumped its way down the fire road into the lot. EMTs lined the sides of the bed and someone was lying in the middle. I think they were relatively alright. I suppose the event should not be surprising, but all the same, I have never before seen anything suggesting such. On the way out, I went into the dip at quite a clip, as I always do. Of course, parents or others in authority have told me to drive slowly through the dip. I’m sure of it. Many times I must have heard it. But I never listened. Its too much fun. Though even more times I have driven quickly through the dip with no ill effects. Today, however, I think water must have gotten somewhere it should not go. The engine sort of died, and then, with some coaxing, managed to carry me home, albeit with a funny sound and the orange check me light. I’m hoping the next time I have to drive somewhere that the offending water will have evaporated, leaving my car as good as new. Somehow, I feel my optimism is a bit unwarranted. Oops.