Then, one Saturday in mid-October, with the forecast calling for the last decent day before an early snowstorm hit the city, they decided to take John’s bike and go up to Lookout Mountain and the Lariat Loop road. They packed a lunch and put it and their heavy jackets in the saddlebags, in case the snow came in earlier than predicted. Otherwise, they’d stick with lightweight leather ones they’d bought a month previously.
The sun was bright, the day cool but comfortable as they began the ascent. When they got to the first set of switchbacks, John warned Kip to hold on tight before racing around the sharp curves.
“That was scary as hell,” Kip said through his helmet mike when they were back on the straightaway, getting a “Wuss” in reply from his lover.
They continued up, stopping at a loo
