Haven't ridden for 3 days because of a very scary man

[staceysue]

please stay away from handguns, and let us do our job if we need to. That is why we get paid the big bucks.

And bike away....just somewhere else.

I know a lot of police officers - one of my very good friends is a police officer, and I've just got to know a lot of them over the years through working in the ER and stuff. They're wonderful people and I'm sure you're a wonderful person, and they go above and beyond to keep people safe. I am certain that if I dialed '911' they would be in their cars on their way here in the blink of an eye, and they definitely EARN their pay because dealing with all those pain-in-the-butt criminals is a real pain-in-the-butt (that's why I left the ER - because when the criminals aren't in jail they're in the ER trying to scam us out of narcotics).

That being said, though . . . . I have a RIGHT to bicycle where I want to bicycle and no man on this earth has any right to keep me from doing so. No police officer can be beamed to me instantly if I'm in danger. I have gone above and beyond to stay out of this man's reach and not draw his attention, and I will continue to only travel the new route (which, by the way, keeps me out of my favorite cycling area). However, if he finds me on this route I will NOT give up cycling every day! This is my life, I only get one of them, and I want to freaking cycle!!! Loading up my bike, driving somewhere, riding, loading it up again and coming home, then showering and getting ready for work is just not going to happen. I drive 64 miles each way to work and back and I don't have time to waste.

I love police, OK? They're generally really good people. And I respect all of the training you do with your guns and everything and if I could have you with me all of the time, that would be awesome. But - you're not here. Therefore, I've had to do training with MY gun and, though I pray I won't have to use it, I have the right.

What's safer for me? Cycle with a gun or cycle without a gun? Depends on whether or not I use my head. And I wasn't going to go into this on here, but I've seen a lot of people die. I've been in a lot of terrible situations and I'm well-known for being the one person who can be counted on not to panic. My head works pretty darn good.

And I don't live in a place where there are 'innocent bystanders'! I know how to look and make sure that if I miss I won't be hitting somebody's cow or something - but just open up google earth and look up the upper peninsula of Michigan if you want to see where I am. I live in a freaking wilderness. I'm surrounded by thousands of acres of national forest. It's a little bit different than the places where 90% of the word's population live.

Yesterday was the opening day of deer season, so for now I will be doing the dreaded 'load the bike up in the car' thing. I'm listening to guns going off around me from sunrise to sunset until all the freaking tourists go home. From November 15 until ski season every year - that's the only time I'll be loading my bike up in the car.

Hunters - THOSE are people who don't freaking know how to look where they're shooting. Grrr.