Crystal Crescent.

I'm nervous and I'm lying down on my carpet, anticipating the final movements to get onwards with the biking trip. Now, I believe I'm a confident biker and whatnot, I got good stamina and a go at this, but I did honestly feel a bit underpowered, as my bike was a different bike to ride than what I was use to. But all that shit aside, it made it there, and back. Of course with some hiccoughs along the way. First of all, how fucking fun it was going down all the hills, especially the first one on Quinpool, as it turns into the rotary. Going up from the Rotary was fucking saweet too, because it was the first muscle stretch, and I did it with no walking. But I need momentum, so stop and going is exponentially more difficult than just going fast down then mildly quick up. My back tire, the hub gearness, started its first noises of doom. Squeaking and erching, metal was scraping metal on the inside of the back tire's axel, but Shaun brought some lube, (bless him,) and so we did the deed and kept on keeping on.

The sky grew dark, and the noises weren't there. The cars sped by, slowly passing us night riders with caution. The road was fucking saweet in the night. It took, or at least it felt long to get there, I stopped and walked maybe three times for a bit. The first time, Shaun honestly and encouragely exclaimed, "Noo." I did the disappointment. Because it made me knew I had to try harder, you know. My outlook was great, my internal one was mildly so, but still great. I'm going to say great. Focusing on the white line would help going up the hills, because I wouldn't really see the length, I would only be seeing the moment to moment process. Anywho, we got there, and took a wrong turn. We hadn't got there yet. It was dark in Sambro, and doughnut tread marks could be seen on the road. Friday night in Crystal cresent, where da peeps at? We asked for directions, and went back a bit, continued along.. a road. Went and found ourselves at the beach. We were carrying our bikes along the sand (Fucking champions I felt us to be), and found a trail on which we continued. We were walking along for maybe 20 minutes, or half an hour, and with Shaun's doubt, and my pre-trip blog reading, we deduced that we were indeed walking and carrying our bikes along a 10 km hiking trail. So we turned around and went back to point A. The first point A, the entrance of the park itself. From there Shaun was able to find, amazling, a small entry point between trees, which was his initially intended trail to enter. Following this in the dark, our little bike lights as guides, walking and stumbling, tripping a bit over the larger of the irregular rocks, we found ourself the shore. We had been biking, and hiking for a bit, so with doubt Shaun mentioned a more awesome and cooler camping ground just a bit ways and hassles ways away, but after giving said option, he settled for the camp spot upon which we trodded first.

The area was soft and moist under the foot. It was a really foggy night, which was super cool, as both of our glasses ended up fogging right well. Shaun had set up our tent and stuff, I was perfecting my squat (motherfucking tired legs may we say), but hey, I was the honour'd flashlight shiner. This set up was done right quick and then we came to gathering firewood. Being foggy and right next to the Atlantic Ocean, shit was moist, nothing dry. But so we snapped off the small twigs sticking out from some of the trees, and made a new fire pit on the beach itself. Tossing some rocks and creating a circle, we dug a hole in the ground and made the shit happen. The fire was a bit tidious. Shaun had to make two more wood trips by himself as I continued to cook the weiners (he got Sausages before we went!). Impulsively actually, we stopped at the Superstore right at the beginning of the expedition and grabbed weiners, and 4 newspapers (kindle). All these things came in handy. We got the fire going long enough to cook 4 weiners for each, eat the fucking delicious and well welcomed trail mix I packed, and to chill, warming our exposed shins to the warmth. It was pretty fucking late. This was the second time I saw the milky way, and we got to talking and chilling, as we do. We sacrificed, or gave as a gift, as long with the package (in distaste for the mythical threat of the bear which might appear), the single remaining sausage a la mer, ou preferablement a l'ocean. Puis, we set aflame to the remainder of the newspapers and grass and other quick burning things, chilled (warmly) there for a few more minutes, then set a sandy end to the well survived fire. Shame, but it was late.

Going to bed with no fly on the tent, and with no pants, only shorts and skin, I was fearful of waking up by the mythical and threatening cold. But hey! It was fine. It was actually too warm at times. Well no, not too warm (at least during the night), but when the sun rose, fucking by god it was awesome to be able to see it. During the night, Shaun and I kept on getting stirred up by our dreams or our first nightmares, but it was a well intuitive and orchestrated sleep. The sun came up, and as it's unshielded rays hit our face and bodies, it was a bit warm, quite warm. Thinking of biking in this made me a bit nervous. I thought I was awake and ready to wake up right maybe after a half hour after sunrise, but seeing as Shaun was sleeping, and knowing of the returning trip, I encouraged myself to sleep longer.. until we both had risen.. whenever later; around 10 most probably certain I am. We heard laughter twice from around where the trail is, and being at the entry point between the trail and the beach, we were apprehensive for having sex in an exposed area, but hey, the world is your oyster, and you have nothing to fear but fear itself. So, to quote Austin Power, we hopped on the good foot and did the bad thing. Fuck it like utopia.

When we were leaving his place at the beginning beginning of the trip, he asked, "Oh hey, did you bring your bathing suit?" I responded with, "No, because there's a nudist beach?" "Okay, so I won't bring mine then." Bam. Plans were made.

We showered and pissed and swam in the ocean, hahah!! I fucking loved pissing in that big old la mer! C'etait absolutement awesome. Je le recommend pour toutes les personnes qui peuvent les faire. Parce que, avec une bladder tres grosse, c'est fer fucking shure relieving just a l'avoir cette experience. Magnifuckinfique.

We air dried - cool. Had breakfast - sweet. Snap peas, globe grapes, cara cara oranges, mandarins, sesame/flax creakers, carrots.. Mmhmm. It wasn't substantial, but it was mineral and wateriful satisfying. We chilled for a bit, lying down in the sun. It was so cool. Because, it really did feel like this was the home, you know. Like, this was our land in those moments spent within it. With him, I feel more carefree, in an adventerous, yet not so ignorant or irresponsible way, hell, I don't even think I know the meanings of those words entirely right now.. It's like, I don't want to spend any time worrying on anything that needs not be worried over with him, because it feels so temporal and real, that I want quality, rather than quantity. So, I had my first outdoor sex, that wasn't polluted with deviant behavior, or the night. It was free and exposed. It was.. very fucking nice.

We had our second dip in the water, this time, it was beyond belief less cold than the first morning's go.  Confessions of current realizations, and hurdles over past anxieties were made, whilst uniting with the undulating waters. It was nice. Fuck, it was only yesterday, but it feels far away, if this makes sense. Unreal that right now, or moments before right now, I was doing homework. And after this, I will be grocery shopping.

I like being with him because it makes me appreciate the moment. As much as he is with me, I know he will not be. Or could not be. Gracious, very fucking gracious.

Turning back in from our second dip, after all the worried glances Shaun had made practice to look, he hadn't saw the neon yellowed shirt of a girl and a young boy, walking along the beach, only a hundred metres away. I laughed and called and motioned to Shaun to look towards his right, and a smile thus ensued on his face. Our heads were just like, "ah fuck, hah, there's the people." For a really fucking fine Saturday, at a popular beaching area, these are the first people we've seen. But, in all honesty, the beach was filled with seaweed, and having such a small and sacred and secret entrance, I believe it was only most known to locals, rather than the popular population.

We dried up. I stood to air dry in the sun a bit longer, and Shaun used his shirt to dry off with a dash of haste. I put on my clothes with moist skin, to keep up with his clothed body I guess. Who wants to be a naked one in a room, eh? Heh. But so we were started to talk about sexual experiences. None I shall go into now, but as we were talking I shared with him the last grapes, and the last Cara Cara orange. He had gone to shit into the wild, and I had went to rinse my hands of fruity sugars for a conversational break. As I was walking back, the girl on the beach, close to my age, stopped me, inquiring as to whether we camped there the night prior. I had said yes, and she had wondered if we had heard any coyotes. Laughs ensued, as I told her Shaun and I came bearing no weapons, both having nightmares, yet heard no animal life whatsoever. I didn't want to tell her that the howling she might've heard last night, was probably Shaun and I whilst riding on our bikes, enthused for the happenings of the trip itself. When I returned, Shaun was like, "Hey so I didn't know you had left, so I came back being like, 'so, Red Wings, eh.'" Red Wings, I was saying to him, is when one is eaten out during their period, thus  having residual traces of blood on each cheek. I had said a past lover wanted to try this on me, rest assured, I disagreed with any foregoings of such a thing. Mmhm, whatever floats ones boat.. but anyways..

We packed up; the two people left, so as passing we quad said goodbye. It felt a bit, ah.. to leave. But meh I suppose. One must goeth and they cometh. Exiting the trail was neat, seeing all the things off of which we tripped the night prior. Getting along the road, we put on chapstick and started up again. We continued talking about sex for a bit whilst on our bikes, but as soon as the road became busier, we maintained a single-file'd position. It started to get difficult for me to ride a bit, out of breath on this one hill, a man out tended to his lawn said to me, "it's all up-hill from here." What a realist, I admire this. So at the next mid-top of the next hill, I asked Shaun if he wouldn't mind trading for a bit. I felt a bit, weak? I guess for asking, but it was for the good of the go I believed. After showing me his ways of his bike, we got along to it. His bike was smooooth to ride. Even more awesome was the usage of the gears (which I got to understanding and using better a bit more km's a way). He passed me whenever, and going down the hills was sooo awesome, and a bit more terrifying on his bike too. Terrifying because it's not my bike, it's significantly higher, thus I have less control over it, and the distance from my hands to the handle bars in relation to my feet my ass and the seat and pedals. But all was good! Until.. I could see him going up this one next steeper hill and was thinking like, "Yeah! Fucking right Shaun! Use em legs of metal!" I was so stoked seeing go at it more fluidly than I. His fluidity and metallic strength was so much of itself good that the pedal came off, laughmyfuckingass off. HAH. As I came up he looked at my with a face of defeat and anxiety. Conclusion - hitch hiking. It was a bit nerve racking because we didn't have the proper tool for this quick fix. I had a wrench that could slightly work.. but we needed an allan key of thicker dimensions. He gave option to using a rock of the same size, and I laughed and said, "if you can find that rock!" I quickly said sorry, because I felt I had said that far too firmly. I do believe that it was a cheese grater to the skin sort of remark. But anyways. We settled on trying to hitchhike. Settled further on it being a better idea if we separate our closeness, because I was the only in need of a ride, but being a driver seeing the two of us might  miscommunicate our intentions. Not the two, only the one. So I was prepared to try to hitchhike alone, or walk uphill and levelhill, and/or to coast downhill. It was only.. what.. a 5 hour walk from where we were to the city, and I would arrive pretty much at Sundown if all things continued onwards...

No pick ups. No slow downs. But one..

A police! I hitched my thumb at him, and Shaun recommended not to because hitch hiking was illegal and Police cars can't do that. But the officer stopped and I had called to him from the opposite side of the road, "My bike broke down and I'm wondering if there's any way in which you could serve me in this need of aid?" "Hold on as I come back and turn around." We waited for a couple minutes, and he had arrived.

I liked being there with Shaun, I felt that it was all possible, as much as it was unknowable. The officer spoke of the Irving Gas Station being only 5 km up further from where we were, and offered to give me a lift there with my bike (if it could fit). Luckily, and fucking gratefully, the bike fit in the back seat (WHICH HAS NO CUSHIONS BTW!) and Shaun gave me a kiss, and I gave him a smile of "I don't know what the fuck I'm doin'" with a large dash of nervousness, and we were off. Small talk happened in the police car.. but more importantly.. I arrived at the Gas Station. The cop was fucking nice too. He w a n t e d to be a good guy. The rise of his eyebrows and openness of his eyes said so. And the corners of his smile would twist and turn into sympathy. But anyways.. it was nice that I had gotten that ride there, and in waiting for Shaun's appearance (go lad go!) I went into the gas station and asked the clerk if he had any tools. His face was full of certain sympathy as he said, "nooope, ain't got no tools here miss, sorry." Mm.. but there were cookies, bread, and bananas.. what could I get for Shaun and I. No.. not yet.

I went out with grief. Thinking of my options.. a lot of trucks were coming into the gas station so I could ask them for a lift to the city, if it was possible. Or maybe tools! I could go to the neighbouring houses on the street and see if they themselves had any tools.. or maybe a lift as well! The sun was starting to get lower than before (how obvious), but the winds started to pick up and have a cool tinge to them - rain would come sometime in the night - so in desperation I started again to use the wrench as an allan key substitute. Out from no where, as my back was turned, an angel came, "Do you need any help with your bike?" Oh hell YES I MUTHA FUCKIN DOOO! I told him what was up with my pedal, and he did a little poking around with the mechanical situation. "Hey, Tommy!" (I don't actually remember the name) He's calling back to the other guy in the truck. "Do we got any allan keys?" "I unno, check the tool box over here." Hold on, lemme check he says. Oh sweet jesus, I'm feeling a bit fine. Like some diamonds are being fluttered on my chest, like iron is being taking out of my lungs, my soul is starting to glitter like that Edward from that Vampire series. I'm looking at the pedal, back turned to the road, when another angelic voice calls to me, "Oh, ah - WOW." It's Shaun. He's came and smiling and I'm smiling. I give him the low down, on how the gas station has no tools, but that the shirtless guy over there came up to see if I was having bike problems, and is now currently searching for the tools. Better much than fucking luck he returns with larger allan keys. The first one doesn't fit, but the neexxttt onnee DOES! He does the good old righty tighty, and I send him words of love, which fit in my actual words of, "FUCKING SAWEEET!" As he's walking away, he's feeling like a really good fucking guy. And how not? I'm fucking excited. My bikes fucking fixed. I don't need to hitch hike, nor walk. And we're so much closer than before. We're more than half the way home. It went from a 5 hour journey of doom, to a half hour of jolly joy wholefulness. We buy a loaf of banana bread, and gingerbread cookies, and eat and drink and as soon as I lay down we get up and go. But not before I fill in the air to my two tires. Blessed bike, how I count on thee.

Ah damn, So good to be back on the road again. How am I happy about it now? How? Because it fucking felt awesome. My pannier bags got caught on my back wheel, and Shaun behind, I could hear calling out with surprise and a smile, "WOAH WOAH WOAH WOAH!" Travelling on the road along side with passing cars, on a bike that's broken down a bit, I mean.. c'mon bags, let's not get caught in my back wheel and potentially ruin it's rim, or have me tossed onto the road.. or life-forbid, the bike.

But it was cool. Just fixed that bag, and we kept on. We found ourselves as a wrong turn though. Well not wrong turn, but a different turn. Kinda felt like a labrinyth in the way.. in theory and logically it felt like the correct way, simply so - but some road did something, blah-da-yadda-yadda, we got some directions at a Subway and off we went. Finding ourselves ons Herring Cove, we did a dive thru the rotary turning right, and right quick and hard. Shaun later said to me he knew I would be nervous going down it, but he knew if he just went fast, that I would too. Fucking right he was. I thought he was crazy for going that fast down into the rotary. But I had little knowledge of the road's lay out. I had thought that we would need to turn into the rotary, but we didn't, it was simply just a keep-to-the-right sorta deal. I knew the people in the cars behind us were going, "man, I wish I was on a bike right now, going down this." Because the wind was flowing through our hair and flapping on our loose clothing, and so fucking quick and fast we were zipping, our bodies were angled forwards with our heads down, we were zipping by. Fucking fuck it was fun.

Going up the hill was aight as well. I got off and walked it up a bit, whilst Shaun was going on his low gear, which was walking speed. I got back on the bike before the top of the levelout, and it was strangely difficult. Hmm, was I tired? Or was the bike just frictiony right now? Even stranger was the distance that Shaun was behind me. But, whatever to that mystery of life. He caught up later and shouted to me that he had wanted to go to Quinpool, and asked if I had wanted to come with. Pfft, fuck no, you think I like spending time with you?! Mm.. But it was a quick turn left from the opposite side of the street, and opening had occurred on the Quinpool street. We went in, left the bikes as is (I was a little apprehensive, for my cellphone was in the bag) but we quickly grabbed pizza and boxes of almond milk and were out. The bags and helmets and shirt still on the bike! Good feelings all around!

I ended up seeing the beautiful Olivia, HI OLIVIA! On the street. And it just always makes my fucking day. It's like having a dose of shugar, being offered a free slice of mango. Finding a ripe 5 dollar bill in an old pair of jeans, it's like.. side walk hallelujah. But Shaun still had things to do and our day's plans were dividing us apart, but not really... and we separated. With NSCAD, work, pretzels, potlocks, and sleep in mind.

Shaun was worrying for a while about how much time for himself he would have to accomplish the things for which he intented initially to follow through. But I had reminded him, that there was a moment he said whilst standing in the Atlantic ocean for the second time, that that was where he wanted to be, and so thus, regret not what is happening now.

It all is turning out swell for right now. All is going along as all would.

We had pizza, and separated at the Citadel hill. "Love love" and "Love you too" being the last words of separation as he cycled up to the top of citadel, and I along the side :)

I slept for 12 hours that night, having a movie playing to keep my ambient company.