Packed down we head West on an old beachside road in pursuit of trails. The air is thick. Thick enough to swim in, to drink. That's the humid Florida heat and even in all this rain it continues to wrap its arms around every living thing.

We find our trailhead and get to work. Quick assembly of our mountain bikes and we're ready for the mud. Head to toe we are soaked, dripping with the rain this area has desperately needed for months now. No other soul is around, just us, in the thick of the trails, the rocks and the trees our comrades.

The early Fall downpour is something we've begged for. A day doesn't need to be singing with birds and the dripping sun to get us out. In fact, it's days like these that have us in great reverence for nature. The days we are uncomfortable are certainly welcomed. They teach us the lessons of the wild. They leave us exhausted. They make us stronger.

There is something to be said for the dirt. It is where we came from and it is where we will end up. How precious is the fact that when we depart we will be among the land. Days like these, when the rain is thick, the humidity unbearable and the ride is long, we find solace in these very elements. They are the good. They are the other parts we must endure. We happily welcome the gritty part of life and nature.

Eddie Bauer outfitted our day on the trails. Their lightweight rain jackets, breathable athletic pants and durable boots made our muddy day possible.