24th February 2005, somewhere on the Gippsland Lakes.

Last night I was in a mental vacuum, veging out literally. Just standing or sitting like a zombie. I wasn’t happy.

TV was on, abc 1 or 2. And this dude started invading my consciousness. Tom Moore I think. He is a glass artist. Living in his own imaginary world, with his wife and partner who encourages him.

I started smiling again.

And then, later on, I was emailing a friend, talking about the highlight of my day, which, as often, was the bike ride to work and back.

The road to work has been recently graded. Inches of loose dirt on top. People are running off the road and sliding out sideways. It is comical to see the tracks wildly criss crossing the road, where people have lost control. It is like riding on ice. I have been used to it being hard dirt, with a bit of gravel on top. Really quite grippy. All of a sudden, both wheels of the bike are sliding and wobbling all over the place. I have to keep relaxing my upper body, trying to let go. That’s when things come together. Let the bike go, don’t try to hold it. It is a great exercise. One I can relate to with life in general.

Whenever I come off a sealed road onto dirt I just try and loosen my upper body, then push the bike down both sides a bit, to get into the attitude for riding corners on dirt. It’s totally different to riding on the road. For me it is a real mental thing.

Sealed road is just as exciting. Leaning forward and off the side of the bike into corners. Relaxing my inside arm. Feathering the power and my balance, according to the corner. Pushing till the tyres slide a bit. Watching forward, ahead through the corner. Throwing my weight from one side to the other through a series of S’s.

I love it. It is my meditation.

And timing an overtake through tight corners. Exquisite. It’s over in a flash.

Anyway, just recalling my ride, was enough to make me start feeling good again. I am lucky, to have these little adventures, and this life.

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