Clearance over a Fallen Tape Measure

Past the crushed basalt gravel, an abandoned heavy cloth tape measure lay coiled across the concrete joint, its thick brass end clip sticking three inches up like a tripwire. Rolling straight into the brass lip would catch the front fender. I killed forward drive and planted both boots on the asphalt. Right by the curb edge lay a discarded flat wooden popsicle stick. I kicked the thin birch slat directly against the raised brass loop, levering it flush to the concrete seam as a tapered runner. Gripped the orange bars, shifted weight back, and tapped the throttle. Knobby rubber bit the wood and cleared the brass cleanly onto open pavement.