I got my first taste of riding in the dark. We left about 8:30pm and didn't get back down until somewhere around 10pm. Luckily we made it most of the way up in the dusk, but riding down was very dark for the most part. The only one of us smart enough to come prepared was my dad with a headlamp.We rode the road up the small connecting trail that would take us to Mason Cove, and rode that (pictured is the retaining pond that takes you from Shoreline to Mason Cove). The way down was pretty dark, but when we were out in the open you could see well enough to anticipate challenges for the most part, but a lot of that trail takes you through the woods, and those portions you could just barely make out the trail, but not much of the obstacles. Taking connecting trail back was again a challenge to even make out the trail. My brakes more or less got down to the metal by the end, which also made it interesting.
The interesting thing about night riding is that you basically know where the trail is, and you know there are going to be challenges, so you just keep moving forward, even though you can't see very far in front of you and can rarely anticipate the challenges, but know if you keep on the trail and keep a constant speed, and trust your bike, that you will basically roll over everything. It reminds me of having faith in God in that you know the path, but can't always see very far down the road, and can't always see the challenges in the way, but know that as you move forward with faith in God that you will constantly be delivered and life will be a thrilling experience.
