Sioux and Rick

Episode IV; Rolling!

The weeks captivity ended, Rick was feeling better and Dale was able to make it on Saturday! They had talked throughout the week agreeing to do the bike thing. Like last time, Sioux and Rick would pick Dale up along the way.

Saturday morning dawned warm and cloudy. Sioux had packed up Friday night, so he was ready to go. Just before leaving his room he remembered to grab his rain poncho, he tried to always have it after a drenching misadventure the previous year.

All three of the boys had checked over their bikes on Friday, so all they had to do was meetup. Sioux was surprised to see fresh bike tracks in the wet grass, Rick had made it to the clubhouse first. Rick was busy gathering up his mess kit and food out of the clubhouse where they had stashed it through the week. It only took Sioux a couple of minutes to be ready.

They locked up the clubhouse and hopped onto their bikes. This was the first time either of them had ridden on anything besides roads or sidewalks, this was something new for both of them. Neither one had thought how rough or bumpy this might get!

It took them a few minutes to get the feel for the new terrain, but they managed. They where both amazed at how fast they made it to the first fence at Dale's!

Sioux and Rick slid their bikes under the fence, and they both saw Dale standing at the top of the field waving at them. "Oh boogers!" Sioux shouted. There was a big, muscular, horned bull trotting down the hill towards them. Both of the boys huddled closer to the fence not sure of what to do.

Sioux put a hand out to protect himself? But the bull stopped and nuzzled his palm, just like a dog would. While Rick and Sioux tried to make sense of this, Dale finally made it to them and started to pat the big beast like a dog.

Giggling, Dale said, "this is Alf!." the bull was now licking Sioux's hand. "He's a big baby, we think he was raised by dogs before we got him. He is an odd bull." Alf followed the three boys as they pushed their bikes across the field and under the next fence. The bull stood at the fence watching the boys sadly as they got on the bikes and pedaled off.

The trail ride to the river/ canal had only a couple of hiccups, the boys had to drag the bikes over fallen logs twice, all agreeing to clear the trail during the summer. They had barely burned an hour by the time they reached the cross roads. They turned their bikes north towards the bridge, they had decided that was the first place to explore.

Before long they stood at the foot of an old iron bridge. The boys could see the remains of an old town or village peaking out of the undergrowth. What they could make out was mostly stone foundations, and an overgrown stone road. Now they where getting excited, actual discoveries! They felt like archaeologists, adventurers, like real explorers!

Out of habit the boys chained their bikes up, then cautiously triad the bridge. The Bridge was quite rusty but still solid. They made their way across to the new discovery.

"Man, I need to get that camera from Bazooka!" Rick exclaimed. "This is the perfect place for it, you know, document our adventures and discoveries." the other two boys nodded agreement to the idea.

Dale spoke up next, "well for now lets do a good explore, and let Sioux add to his map, that'll do for now, right?" the other two agreed, although Sioux blushed a little bit, he supposed the other two boys thought his maps were silly.

The boys went about a good explore of the area. As they made their way down the stone road they found several roads running off in either direction. Each of the roads had several houses in varying states of decay. They tried to explore several of the buildings but, the floorboards were either completely gone, or so rotted they weren't safe. Finally at the end of the last road they came across a stone house that was nearly hidden by overgrowth. This house was nearly intact, only s a small portion of the roof was missing.

With a bit of effort the door opened up, the place was dusty, but fully intact. They ventured in, checking it out. The building seemed dry and sturdy, so the three boys decided they needed to do a camp trip and stay in the building overnight in the summer.

Their stomachs were telling them it was lunch time. Dale volunteered himself and Rick to get afire going so Sioux could update his maps, they had taking in a lot of information so far. While the other two boys worked at the fire, Sioux paced around with his compass checking directions, he wanted the map to be accurate.

While the boys were cooking and eating lunch Dale noticed the main road disappeared through the brush. They decided to explored that, then they had to head for home.

They drowned the fire before following the road through the brush. After the boys passed through the brush, a huge area opened up. They stood back a ways from a fifty foot tall sandstone wall, cut perfectly state, and going up and back like steps.

"Hey! I read something about this in the library." Sioux looked over the area while he thought. "I think this is an old quarry, that means the river is a canal!"

"Hot dog!" Rick exclaimed, "that means we solved part of the mystery, we really need a camera."

Looking at their watches, the boys realized they really had to go home. All three where excited for the coming adventures and more and new discoveries. Dale dropped off at his house, Sioux and Rick petted Alf on the way through the cow field, then made their way home.

 Sunday was a bust, it rained the whole day. Sioux stayed in his room, after captivity, and worked on his maps, and notes. He spent the evening day-dreaming about the coming summers adventures. Sioux just hoped there was enough days in the summer for all he had planned!