If you have ever wondered what kinds of things could potentially puncture bike tires, you can add thorns to that list! Both Stephanie and I punctured our front tires by riding over thorns this morning that were laying across the bike path. Not all thorns are created equal, and these were large, deadly, Scottish thorns! I guess we can claim that we have now truly experienced the essence of Scotland as symbolized in its national emblem: the thistle.
Posted by Molly on November 15, 2009 at 8:15 am
Great pic but sorry about the tires! What are the dimensions of this thistle? I loved to see a pic of the thistle in comparison to your hand. I am always full of wonderment that God choose to grow such beautiful flowers on a thistle.
Posted by Wes on November 15, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Actually, I wish this was my pic, but I just found this one on the internet. I would have to go back and search for the thistle to determine its size. I think we were a little too frustrated at the moment to take much notice. Yes, the mixture of the beautiful in the midst of the ugly is certainly the effects of sin in the midst of God’s good creation.
Posted by Scott Kerens on November 16, 2009 at 1:43 pm
That stinks, but consider your encounter one of interacting with a historically important plant. I’ve read that these little buggers were used by Scottish armies to protect their lands. They would plant them in strategic places so as to dissuade infantry from attacking from certain directions, as well as warning them when night-time attacks came because the attacker would scream in pain. Cool plant. Were you attacking a Scottish encampment on your bicycles?
Posted by Wes on November 16, 2009 at 3:29 pm
There were no battle plans involved, except for our continual battle against the Scottish weather. Cool plant, except when its weapons are protruding out of my bike tire.