One of our challenges in the face of global warming (and also terrorism, for that matter) is how to entertain ourselves independently of fossil fuels. Think about it: if we had a month-long interruption starting today in our gasoline and electricity supply, what would we do for fun? A friendly fellow I met last night seemed well prepared.
Thor and I had strolled up into Mount Tabor park with a picnic supper in tow. A man was gliding or surfing down a steep grassy slope toward us with what seemed like a leash in his hand. When he finished his run and we talked with him, we learned he was on a mountain board, which is to a skateboard as a mountain bike is to a road bike, including flexibility and suspension. The leash was actually a hand-brake. Downhill gravity is the only power-source.
He told us that while some mountain boarders use little engines on their boards, he’s a carbon-free kind of guy. “Mount Tabor ’s the ideal place for this,” he said happily, and we saw his point: lots of slope. We chatted a bit more, then went on up to the top of the park for our picnic supper. A few yards away, a small group of Native Americans were getting started with drumming, dancing, smudging and singing. No engines or electricity in sight.
Eventually we strolled back home, happy and relaxed, convinced there are lots of ways for folks to have fun without being needy and dependent on fossil fuels.
photo courtesy of larkery
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