Clear Road

Cut the throttle where an old logging landing overlooks the winding mountain grade. The climb was running the twin cylinders hot, so I dropped the stand into the crushed rock to let the blue cruiser shed heat. While the engine ticked down, I noticed a rusted steel cable from a discarded logging choker coiled half across the gravel path, primed to snag an axle. I grabbed the frayed steel loop with my heavy work gloves, dug my heels into the loose dirt, and hauled forty feet of greasy braided cable clear off the road into a ditch. Wiped the rust flakes off my gloves and took a pull from the canteen. Road's clear for the ride up.