Club Member Spotlight - Nick Marshall and Wei Sun

Nick Marshall's 2006 Photo Archive, and Poetry from Wei P. Sun

PRS #3, FIVE CANYONS
WP SUN

Progressive Rides we're now at Number Three.
This morning, we are set to ride Five Canyons.
Delightful joys the sceneries will be;
Still greater joys are you as ride companions.
 
From Downtown Niles as always we will start
And make a left turn from the parking lot,
Gracefully, on Niles Boulevard, depart,
At the right pace, much like a horse's trot.
 
Then we will cross at Mission Boulevard
(Niles Boulevard becomes Niles Canyon Road)
This stretch is narrow, must we be on guard.
"Stay Focused! Watch our sides!" must be our mode.
 
At Palomares Road we'll then turn left
And slowly make the climb right up this hill.
Correctly pace your climb, be not bereft
Of precious strength and so you lose your will.
(To climb a hill is like to write in rhyme:
Both tasks seem daunting, doubts I have in excess.
With patience and relentlessness, in time
My lines now rhyme; those hills are flat as Texas.)
 
For once we reach the peak, we will then rest,
Quickly drink, eat and view the glorious sight.
When we're refreshed, descend we from that crest:
Take care, for excess speeds regrets invite.
 
At Palo Verde, briefly we may stop
Then left to Castro Valley Boulevard.
Last left, to Castro Valley we will drop.
From this point on, the ride won¡¦t be too hard.
 
Crow Canyon Road is where we first turn right
(Direction, not your political views).
At Norris Canyon Road, the second right;
On top, we stop or ride on if you choose.
(On Crow, most lawful drivers know, we share.
Still beware, Have eyes and ears of a cat.
To have nine lives is seeing when they err;
Nimbly avoid, or you¡¦ll on pavement splat.)
 
Down to Bollinger Canyon Road we ride,
Turn right, swiftly pedal on as the breeze,
Cross San Ramon Valley; on our right side
Is "Extra Mile," where we'll then rest with ease.
Whilst there, make sure we have our proper rations:
Fruit bars, nuts or hi-tech synthetic gels.
Energy drained, quite dreadful of frustrations:
For bonking is the worst of cyclist hells.
 
On San Ramon Valley we will continue.
Then Foothill it becomes, no turns are needed.
For cars, like ants, crawl here without a clue.
"Stay focused once again." I now have pleaded.
Though short, the road will notably ascend
And quickly drop as we approach Sunol.
At Kilkare Road, turn left and we'll attend
To nature's call. Then onwards to our goal.
 
For hearty souls may at this point decide:
Turn left and march up Calaveras Road
For I, a mortal being, will keep my pride,
Toward home I'll ride on Niles Canyon Road.
 
(They're Niles and Norris, Bollinger and Crow.
They're canyons four not five, above I list.
For do we count Niles twice, I do not know?
Per chance a hidden canyon I have missed)
 
Our journey back is Stanza Three, reversed.
Then Stanza Two. Our ride thus surely ends.
Relish the sights on country roads traversed
And laughter shared with cyclists, members, friends.

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