[pct-l] A PCT nightmare

[abiegen at cox.net]

So Piper and I went out to a restaurant this past weekend. Our favorite restaurant is Patty's Cafe and Tavern, or as we like to call it, PCT. We had been planning this for a long time and saved up for it. We got a reservation so we would have a table at the front with a great view. We had just gotten our menus when a mountain biker roared into the restaurant, squealed the brakes on his bike and jumped it up on our table.

MTBer: Wow, what a great view form here!
TH: What the heck are you doing?
MTBer: I'm sharing. This view is awesome!
TH: I really don't think you're supposed to be doing that.
MTBer: Sure. I pay taxes just like you. I have every right to be here.
TH: Well, maybe if you parked your bike outside and came in like everyone else does. You think this is sharing?
MTBer: Why are you so negative? I think we have a lot in common. We both love this place and this view. We're all after the same experience.

With that he jumped the bike off the table, sped through the restaurant, down the handicap ramp, almost knocking an old man out of his wheelchair. He tore a long narrow line out of the grass on the front lawn swung the bike around leaving a visible scar. Back into the restaurant he rushed and back up on the table.

MTBer: Wow, I just love this place don't you? Everyone is so friendly. It really gets the adrenalin flowing, doesn't it?
TH: I don't think you're supposed to be in here with the bike. I don't think what you're doing is legal. I think I need to talk with the manager.
MTBer: Talk to the manager if you want. Doesn't matter what he says. Me and my buds have been meeting secretly with the owner and he's thinking of letting bikes in here starting next year. And if that doesn't happen, we'll still come in here because as Americans we have rights to go any place you go.
TH: Like I said; leave your bike outside and you're good.
MTBer: Why do you have such a problem with sharing?
TH: Sharing is when you have something and you offer it to others. When you just come in and take something without asking that's called stealing.
MTBer: Whoa, you have a serious problem dude!
TH: Is that a helmet cam? Are you recording this?
MTBer: Yeah, gonna post it to YouTube. I want my buds to see my epic ride.
TH: But it's illegal. Don't you worry about people seeing that?
MTBer: Downer again dude. But I feel we have a right to be here, so it's cool. My vid will get all my buds excited about helping to make this place multi-use. Then we can all share this great experience.
TH: That will totally change the experience for all other users. And I don't think I want you recording what I say.
MTBer: Thanks! Gotta go now. See you on the trail!
TH: Arrrgh!

Or maybe it just seemed like that happened. I woke up with the chills of what was to come.

TrailHacker


--
"When my feet hurt, I can't think straight"
Abraham Lincoln