Young Dogs, Old Men, and No Water in the Pipes

 

 



My friend Tom and I took advantage of a rare 65 degree December day yesterday to go biking on the Katy Trail.  It was all sunshine and tailwinds from Jefferson City to the Hartsburg trail head.  There we met two ladies who had arrived ahead of us.  One was contentedly sitting in the sun.  The other was slightly distraught.  The restrooms at the Hartsburg trail head were closed for plumbing repairs.  I’m sure it was her consternation as she contemplated riding her bike back to Jefferson City, the better part of an hour, while “holding it” that brought a frown to her face.

She is one of several women I have met on the trail who have bemoaned the fact that restrooms are an hour apart on the Katy Trail.  Funny, but I have never met a guy who thought there should be more restrooms on the heavily wooded trail. 

After the women headed back east, Tom & I were relaxing in the sun when a large black dog arrived on the scene.  Underneath the currently non-functioning drinking fountain was a pan normally full of water for passing pets.  It was empty.  Not one to let a setback discourage him, the friendly mutt approached us.  Tom fetched his water bottle and sprayed a stream into the dog’s mouth which he happily lapped up.  Occasionally, the dog’s tongue actually lapped against the spout on Tom’s water bottle.  The dog seemed unconcerned.  I think he could sense that Tom was the type of guy who had had all his shots.

His thirst quenched, the dog was then ready for some fun.  He left for a few moments and came back dragging a large branch.  It was time to play fetch.  Since a branch is a somewhat unwieldy thing to throw, Tom broke off a two-foot length and hurled it across the parking lot.  The dog was after it like a flash, retrieved it, and laid it at Tom’s feet, ready for another throw.  Each time Tom tried to throw it a little further and each time the dog arrived almost in time to catch it before it hit the ground.  The game ended when Tom jokingly (I think) announced that he thought he had torn his rotator cuff.  Satisfied, the dog headed back to wherever he called home and we mounted our bikes for the ride back to the truck.  What was a tailwind on our trip TO Hartsburg when we were fresh was a headwind on our way BACK when we were tired. 

A few miles from Jefferson City we passed the ladies we had met at Hartsburg.  I didn’t ask, but I imagine the one was still “holding it”.  I have a helpful suggestion – How about a GoGirl? Also known as a “F.U.D.” (female urination device), a GoGirl (http://www.go-girl.com/) allows a woman to pee standing up, thus opening up a whole new range of restroom opportunities.  Theoretically, a woman would never again ride a bike into a forest and emerge on the other side still needing to go.

Yeah, I know . . . my wife wouldn’t try it either when we drove the Oregon Trail and actual restrooms were miles and miles out of the way.

But it might just make a nice stocking stuffer for anyone stumped about what to get your wife/girlfriend/significant other for Christmas. 

I think I’ll buy one for all three.

They even come in camo.