I split away from the Thursday Night Ride at the first stop at a school. From there I meandered my way east and then a little south to Laurelhurst Park, stopping for snacks and to check out an art gallery. At Laurelhurst, while certainly not peeing behind a tree, I thought I saw and heard the TNR go by the edge of the park, but it could have been a different cacophony. Through the park's darkened calm I rode quietly — the default for fixed gear — taking a haphazard route while thinking about where I wanted to go. Tabor. After some internal discussion I made my way east toward my favorite local volcano. I turned south then east and began the gentle grind up. I went through the dirt path, made the right, then left avoiding the gnarly potholes and broken pavement (oh, Portland). SE Salmon St grinds up to one of the gates of Tabor and is one of my favorite climbs in Portland. Pass the gate, up toward the reservoir, left up the switchback. Right up the hill, through the gate, punch it to the top. Ride a victory lap or two taking in the view across the Willamette Valley toward downtown. Tualatin Mountain is in the distance with its red beacons slowly haunting the rising clouds. I sat on a bench for a moment taking it all in while the crunching of cheddar cheese Combos resonated in my ears. After a few minutes I got up, rode a victory lap over the evergreen needles connecting a route from the glow of one street light to another before heading back down. Through the darkness I listened to the the mechanical rhythm of my chain, cog and chainring as I resisted against gravity to keep my speed steady. I skew old school NYC and stay steady as I ride, keeping a flow with the movement of the city, or in this case, the flight of imagination through darkened trees on my favorite volcano. Down through the gate, turning left instead of going back down the way I came; the long way on the paved road instead of my usual route on the footpath. Down toward the first gate, mechanical rhythm, around the gate, down SE Salmon St, pass the large salmon statue someone carved out of a tree stump. Through the dirt path, down to SE 7th Ave, over the Hawthorne Bridge, left onto SW 3rd Ave past Keller Auditorium and Keller Fountain park to the end of the street. Up the stairs, pause for a photo, then around the building to go in, up the elevator, down the hall. It was a fun ride. While I do really appreciate summer's long days and warm, dry air, it's magical to feel cool air while letting my mind wander to the ghosts floating on the current of imagination just over our heads, beyond and around the lights.