While hunting big cats in Panther Hollow on a warm spring day, we
came upon the dumpster of dreams.
After walking miles of groomed trails and passing the occasional college kid waddling off his twice-daily hot dogs and fries
from The O, we rounded the corner and the skies opened up and the angel choir
began to sing praises to our Lord Almighty.
The trash box was elephantine.
When somebody finally bought the long-unoccupied residence down the street from our house, they tossed the innards into a dumpster big enough to fit four Smart Cars. It wasn't just some little trash can you find behind the local Eat'n Park.
My chest thumps loudly each time I remember the
scene. Filled to the brim and stacked well above was a collection of my favorite
rolling objet d’art. From atop the
mountain of treasure, I started handing wheels and frames to my friend who
arrayed them on the pavement. I surveyed my realm and chose the best subjects
to be my personal servants.
Sorting completed, I dashed for the
station wagon and loaded up. Knowing the
high value of my find, I hid the best from prying eyes to await my return, carefully
piling a few of the worst on top as camouflage (which happens to be my
favourite colour).
With my knees bent at an awkward angle and my passenger squeezed
in sideways, we slowly made our way across town, offloaded the trove, and
returned for the rest.
Finally returning home well after sunset since it was still Eastern
Daylight Losing Time, I sat in the basement for hours caressing the new members
of my menagerie. They have become important
to me and my family over the years. I worked up a Robin Hood for my Mom. Two of them became a recumbent I made for my
Dad. An Austro Daimler is my ride for
summers in Paraguay.
I still visit bike shop dumpsters, but always with a hollow in my heart knowing that my best dumpster dive may be behind me.
Or perhaps in my basement just a few steps away.
Photos by Author.
Ahhh, the warmness of an unexpected find and the memories of a mission with a friend. Good times... indeed, good times
ReplyDelete:)
They really were some of the best of times. I added some frame fittings to that Austro Daimler and broke it down for the trip to Paraguay in 2008. Other than a single broken spoke, it's still running well - that one bike was totally worth it.
DeleteWe should go hiking more often. It's been a while.