Slotted Traverse

Clear curb opened into a wide iron drainage grate. Long parallel steel bars spanned the trough like cattle guards. Dropped into high gear. I charged at an angle to avoid dropping a tire into the longitudinal slots. My rubber tires drummed fiercely across each metal bar with rhythmic rattles. Midway through, a flattened silver soda pull-tab lay wedged across two bars. Front splitter scooped under the curved ring, dislodging it with a sharp metallic clatter. Rear tires slipped slightly on the slick metal rim, but counter-steering caught the edge. Powered off the iron grate and landed squarely on dry sidewalk tarmac.