Muddy

I went for a short bike ride yesterday. It had snowed overnight on Wednesday, so their was a thin layer of fresh fluffy snow on the ground in the morning. By noon, however, the snow had mostly melted and left the familiar mud everywhere.

Mud can make such interesting designs on a bicycling person.

Little splats, bigger splats, clusters of splats - one never knows what one will look like once one reachest one's destination. My destination happened to be a nearby grocery store. I was on a fishing expedition - to frozen foods.

I didn't actually get too muddied, and for that, I would like to thank my trusty backpack. This backpack goes with me most everytime I am running errands via bicycle. I keep my bicycle paraphernalia in there: lock, gloves, little keyring with everyone's library cards on it, bandana for tying up the pant leg...

It loyally shields my backside from onslaughts of mud. I can wipe my front off, clean off the glasses, and not worry much about having missed a spot from my back and butt because the backpack takes the hit for me in those locations.

I know it's just a backpack, but it's almost like a companion. We've ridden many miles together and when it's not with me on a ride, I feel like something's missing. It serves as my support crew, carrying various items like snacks, wallet, maps, cell phone, etc.

And it takes the mud hits for me.

"Muddy" is the topic at Illustration Friday this week. So... an ode to my backpack.
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