The Slate Chicane

Out on the gravel path, I spotted an overturned metal hand trowel lying blade-down beside two smooth stepping slate shards. The flat iron shank tilted upward like a raised bridge girder! I revved my rear rubber tires, kicked a spray of fine gravel behind me, and charged right at the steel angle. My front splitter bumped the smooth metal neck, hopping cleanly over the ridge into a tight, powdery turn between the slates. My tires gripped the gray stone with a sharp scrape, sliding sideways in a glorious arc before straightening out onto the packed soil. Perfect steering test!