Bump! Bump! Click! I got my bike from the backyard of the cozy light blue cottage I stay in every summer on Peaks Island. I got in the front yard and snapped on my helmet trying hard not to pinch myself.
“Are you ready to go on a bike ride?” my dad asked my big sister and me.
“Sure but where are we going?” I asked curiously.
“Around the island,” he replied.
“All the way around the island!?!” I said surprised.
“Oh that’s right! This is your first time around the Island isn’t it?” my sister Alicia asked.
“Yes! Now let’s go!” I said with a grin on my face.
I was only six or seven at the time so riding all the way around Peaks Island was a pretty big deal. Though this happened three or four years ago, the movie that keeps replaying in my mind makes me remember it so well and makes it feel as if it was just yesterday that this happened.
Seeing the dirty black tires roll along the rough black tar with that dash of silver that your eyes only see at a certain distance away made me feel certain I was going one hundred miles per hour. I felt the warm wind blowing through my hair. It felt like my hair were pieces of yarn, like I was a little Raggedy-Ann doll. I smelt the scent of the cool ocean spray and I heard the sound of the waves crashing among the rocks of backshore. Backshore, everybody’s ought to like backshore. The beautiful scenery. Big rocks getting a shower from the cold misty waves coming in from big boats out to sea.
Of course I had rode my bike out to backshore before for it was only a minute away from our cottage. But this time I felt more powerful.
Hearing all of my cousins, most of them older than I am, say that they had rode around the Island made me feel even better. This was an adventure for me. Some of the places we say that day I had never saw even though I had been going to Peaks Island ever since I was born. It felt like I was somewhere else.
We went over lots of hills, some little and some big. But Ice pond hill, that big Ice pond hill, I just couldn’t make my legs get my body up and over that big Ice pond hill.
As I was admiring the scenery I saw something up ahead on the road. I wanted to stop but I just decided it was a stick. The stick like object was only about five feet away from me now. That’s when I saw it. It was slithering across the road. It was no stick for sure. It was a snake! My hands were frozen. They could not move to pull the brakes. I hit the snake with my front tire smoothly going over it. “Brump”. I heard the faint bump of the snake going under my front tire. I did not know what to do. My heart was beating as fast as a racecar going full speed at the finish line. Now the snake was under my pedals. My whole body was frozen now. It jumped up mouth wide open going for my ankle. “What if it does bite me?” I thought. I squeezed my eyes closed; I sealed them like a zip lock bag. “Brump”. Another faint sound of the snake going under my back tire. I was as startled as the snake must have been.
The rest of the bike ride was fine. Now I laugh about it. Right after that scene I was almost too scared to talk. But about ten minutes after the snake I just started to laugh. And because this happened on the first bike ride around the Island it makes a whole different story to me.
15 responses so far ↓
1
Mrs. Gage
// Oct 21, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Hi Carmen,
You’re really lucky to have been going to Peaks ever since you were born. It’s a great place that I only discovered a few years ago. I love riding through the middle of the island. I often saw deer walk by. And there’s one spot where wisteria (a beautiful hanging purple flower) grows wild in the trees. Reading your piece brought back my own small moment on Peaks. Thanks!
2
Mrs. Heuss
// Oct 21, 2008 at 6:47 pm
Hi Carmen,
Your story took me right to Peaks Island and my very first ride around the island with my boys. My youngest was also six and he remembers all the hills and how hard he had to pedal around the island. I like the way you describe your legs doing the work of getting you up Ice Pond Hill.
The way you focus in on your encounter with the snake is very powerful. I’m glad I have not come across any snakes on Peaks yet.
Thanks for sharing your writing.
3
Mrs. Piccirillo
// Oct 22, 2008 at 4:59 am
You are very lucky to have such a special place to spend time with family and friends. We have had a summer cottage since I was a little girl and my kids have enjoyed growing up there as well. There are a lot of special memories for all of us. Your story makes me want to go and explore Peaks Island by bike. I have wanted to for years and never made it. Now I will make it a priority.
4
Kris Campbell
// Oct 22, 2008 at 7:03 am
What a great story, Carmen.
I’m curious – what ever happened to the snake?
5
Sharon Ross
// Oct 22, 2008 at 9:43 am
wow, what a neat story. I love the details about the sound of the bike and how you were feeling on your way around the island.
6
Alicia Caterina
// Oct 22, 2008 at 4:05 pm
Hey Carmen!
I remember that day.Your first ride around the island.I ran over the snake too!Remember the time I almost ran into the deer going back shore?
Luv you!
7
Ms. Goodwin
// Oct 23, 2008 at 5:18 am
Hi Carmen,
Oh, I love to read your writing! It makes me miss having you in my classroom every day!
I loved all the similes you used in your story. The description of the bike tires and the glitter of the road making you feel like you were traveling so fast and the description of your hair feeling like the yarn on Raggedy-Ann’s head were unique and they really solidified a picture in my head.
What is the backshore on Peak’s Island?
I can’t wait to read more!
Ms. G.
8
Acadia Jerome
// Oct 23, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Great story! I dont know how you can remember that fun moment of your life.You made me want to go to peaks island.
9
alicebarr
// Oct 23, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Hi Carmen;
I was Mrs. Browne’s teacher this summer.
Congratulations on going all the way around the island! That is quite an accomplishment. What happened to the snake?
Mrs. Barr
10
Carmen Caterina
// Oct 25, 2008 at 7:24 am
Well, the snake just went on with its journey to wherever it was going, but it probably did get a little beat up.
Ms. Goodwin,
I miss being in your class, too.
Backshore is where all the beaches are with all the big rocks to climb on. Its the back part of the Island where a lot of people ride there bikes and have cookouts. The waves can get really big back there. But it is a pretty cool place.
Acadia,
Thanks for leaving a comment. I am sure you would love peaks island. It goes from a ride around the island, a kickball game with the cousins to ice cream or smores and jumping of the bumpers on the wharf at low tide.
11
John Caterina
// Oct 26, 2008 at 1:50 pm
Oh, yes, do I ever remember that ride. We still talk about that snake episode. You’ll remember the wonderful times on the island your whole life. Great story. Keep up the good work.
your dad,
John Caterina
12
Erin
// Oct 28, 2008 at 2:07 pm
hey Carmen,
I really liked ur story. What I really liked about it is those details u put in it.that was awesome! My fav was the 4th paragragh, lots of detail. Another thing is the snake part that was kind of scary, but cool.
ur friend,
Erin
13
Hannah
// Nov 20, 2008 at 9:11 am
Hey Carmen, I LOVED the story so descriptive. If you like bike riding me and my dad go mountain biking all the time your welcome to join us.
Your BFF,
*Hannah*
14
Mrs. P
// Feb 27, 2009 at 11:45 am
Great story!
15
Mr. C.
// Feb 27, 2009 at 11:46 am
Sounds like a great day!
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