Impromptu Bike Ride

So.... my son and I were taking a little bike trip to pick up his retainer at the orthodontist.  We only had a few miles to go and got there in virtually no time.  I notice that there is a bike trail nearby that intersects with a bike trail that he & I frequently ride.  Perfecto :)

I ask him if he'd like to take the short way or long way home. 

"The short way," he says. 

I explain that we could try something fun. 

"If it's longer, I'd rather not go that way," he responds. 

Now you would probably expect that from a twelve year old.  But considering that we are planning a trip that will be 200 miles later this summer, you would think he'd be up for the challenge. 

I say, "Follow Me!"

It probably would have been better if we hadn't been riding into a head wind.  He was dogging it and mumbling about how we didn't have any water.

"If I'd known you didn't like riding I wouldn't have started planning our trip in August!"

"It's just that I'm tired because..." 

And if you have kids you can probably guess all the excuses.  He didn't get enough sleep last night.  His legs were tired.  Mom didn't know we were taking a longer way home.  And his favorite one: WE DIDN'T BRING ANY WATER.

He was asking if the river bed water was drinkable.  I told him it was drinkable, but also sickable.

Anyway, we did just fine.  Especially when we merged to another bike path with a tailwind.  We got fifteen miles out of what would have only been six.  He should be thanking me, right?  :)