Warning: This post contains vivid imagery that may not be appropriate for younger audiences or those with a weak stomach.
This story is not pretty even if the day began as beautiful as ever. I awoke on a hill along a road in the predawn light. I watched the constellation Orion set over the opposite mountain from the one I watched it rise over. Throughout the night, I occasionally woke progressively tracking the mighty hunters progress across the star speckled sky. I slept without a tent. It was chilly, but worth every moment. Nights like this are few and far between.
I was packed and riding as the sun was rising. The morning was especially cold. I rode in a down jacket. Continue reading