Out of Captivity : Surviving 1,967 Days in the Colombian Jungle

Homecoming 451brant in the waning afternoon sunlight. Heading north, I passed alongColumbia Lake, and as I cruised from shadow to sunlight, it was as ifthe trees in Nathan Hale State Forest were like fireworks bursting intoflame and then extinguishing.Though I’d had no idea that this was the route I’d take, as I rodealong a curved ribbon of road and enjoyed the rises and falls, it somehowseemed appropriate to pass an area named for one of our country’sgreat heroes—someone considered our first intelligence operative, asoldier and a martyr of the revolution who gave the one life he had forthis country. Thanks to him and so many others, I could just ride andenjoy the day with nothing better to do than be enormously appreciativeof my freedom. I rolled on the throttle and banked into a series of tightturns, and then with my thrill-seeking satisfied, I headed for home outof captivity at last.