More Fun With Dirt.

I am a cyclist. As mentioned a few months ago, we cannot change who we are.

I am a cyclist.

Friday Night MicroAdventure

Tonight I decided to delay the consumption of beer slightly and go for a night ride. A proper off road night ride with lights and all. I haven't done that since sometime last March back in Japan when it was rather colder and I was riding through snow sparkling like diamond dust in my lights.*Warning! Severe bike geek talk ahead*

There was no snow tonight, and quite a bit of mud, but still it was a lot of fun. I like night riding for the focus it brings. One is so much more "in the moment" as all that is seen are the immediate surroundings - the few meters of trail ahead, and a vague hint of trees and whatnot in the peripheral. No distractions. Eyes stay looking where they need to be looking.

I also like singlespeed bikes; because they are simple and quiet they also allow for an uncluttered mind and a high degree of focus on the ride.

Add the two together, and when the mind and body are in the zone, something special happens. Tonight flow was there - it was effortless to cruise through the single track, to weave and wind between the trees. The bike and I were one; no longer conscious of using some mechanical contraption, it was an extension of my body, controlled subconsciously and freeing me to fly. I only rode for an hour, which is not long by any cyclists' standards, but as time stood still for me in that moment of flow, it was more than enough. Can't wait to do it again.

Yes.

Now it is time for beer - which also flows. The circle is complete.

Far out.

That week passed quickly.

Today's microadventure consisted of...

late afternoon singletrack

followed by

fish and chips

and

good beer.

That is all.

That is enough.

Life, I accept your challenge...

...and will rise to the occasion.

Let's just hope that yesterday was the bottom. Today I began my climb back up on a micro-adventure journey that should, perhaps, be called a nano-adventure, but it was an important step for me.

This may seem very silly to some, but today marked the day I decided that I no longer buy fruit and vegetables from major chain supermarkets. Too much bad press, too much bad karma, not enough good quality, blah, blah, blah.

There is a green grocer just down the road. It's taken me 6 weeks of living here to finally venture in there, but it was the first half of today's micro-adventure. And it was a win for me. Lots of cheap, good-looking (as in looks full of tasty goodness, not in this definition of good looking) F&V, nice people and a smile for free. Win.

This is the second time recently I've taken too long to take such a step. After reading about this in Japan a few years ago I got sick of buying bananas from the Philippines, avocados from Mexico, and oranges from California amongst many other high carbon footprint products. Stumbling into a JA Green Center (there's that US spelling again) I found I could buy wonderful, cheap, in-season, fresh fruit and vegetables grown locally, i.e. just up the road, and not only that, every product had a label showing where in our town or district it was grown, and by whom! I used to be so happy to come out of there with a big, bulging bag of local healthiness knowing that my (very few) dollars (OK, then you pedants, yen) had only gone just up the street to someone I might say hello to while out on a bike ride. While today's effort was small, and both were less than earth-shattering, you've gotta start somewhere, eh?

The second half of this morning's micro-adventure is one that is rapidly becoming a regular. I popped into the local Vinnies, and emerged with a bowl, three books and a new pair of work trousers for the very reasonable sum of $10.50! Three books = 1658 pages of reading fun, or at the pace I read, about 27 hours of entertainment. For four bucks, that's pretty cheap.

So there. Today, me 1, consumerism 0. I think. Or is buying secondhand post consumerism? I dunno, but I do know that I am going to enjoy my $6 pants, my three books and my 50c bowl. I realise that I am late to the party and many people are way ahead of me, but better late than never, right?

Sick.

Second day now at home floored by The Cold From Hell. My new (working) environment has finally slammed my immune system, easy to do thanks to being run down due to my old friend Lack Of Sleep and new friend This Job is Busy (subtitled Being A New Teacher Is Less Fun Than It Sounds).

Can't talk, can't move, definitely can't ride, so for now it's books, and the interwebs. Found this dude who is very inspirational. Will try to take a leaf out of his book to help me survive this year and the mess I've gotten myself into.

People told me coming home was going to be hard; I thought I'd dodged that bullet as last year went by so quickly and without any real reverse-culture-shock agony however I am certainly feeling a bit now.

Enough navel gazing and self pity. We make our beds, we then have to lie in them.