#thoughfulness

I just spent almost an hour standing outside and looking at the sunset. 

Just standing there. Barefoot, in the grass. Music playing softly. Letting bugs land on me and fly away. 

Watching the sunset. 

And for the first time in a really really really long time, I felt like I belonged. 

I could almost see my life: graduating from whatever, moving up to the mountains, selling plants and witchy things and offering nature-based therapy for a living. 

It was almost perfect. 

But I could feel that I was alone. 

No, not alone. I was lonely. 

I don’t mind being alone. In fact, sometimes I need it. 

But then? I was lonely.  

I missed my partner. He is across the country right now, and I miss him. 

So, one day, I hope that maybe we could do that. Maybe we could live up there, and live that life

But together. 

January 2nd - Well, this is it - the fifth anniversary of my continual cycling. Every day for the past five years - that’s 1827 consecutive days (2 leap years, don’t forget) - I’ve got on my bike and rode it. Maybe to work, maybe to the shops, or on a long ride. Often, when commuting, I ride more than once.

Of course, this isn’t the anniversary of the journal - I actually started in April 2011 as my contribution to 30daysofbiking, egged on by the lovely Rene Van Barr; but a dodgy pie laid me low with campylobacter at new year 2012 and I missed two days. So I started the clock again.

I believe I’ve shown it’s possible to ride a bike in all conditions, to all manner of places, and still find interesting stuff both local and distant.

I’ve got to the point where doing this is part of my daily routine, and I enjoy it - so I intend to continue. If you think it’s stale, old, or uninteresting, please tell me so, and I’ll consider your views.

I do enjoy sharing the ride, and love that people seem interested. I love being able to show you the things I find - like tonight, we passed through Fazeley Junction in the dark, and the Weighmaster’s house, old mill and beautiful moon - photographed by balancing the camera at full zoom on the bridge coping stones and leaving it on timer - made for wonderful, seasonal photos.