Oh look, another year has passed. Talk about a roller coaster ride…! So, in order to demonstrate my greater wisdom and maturity I went out got my hair dyed multi-coloured stylee… I look tired, wrinkly, yet weirdly about 15…maybe I should dress my age too?!
How else should a girl mark her big day? By riding the bike of course. George and I went over to the by now infamous Heaphy’s, where the coffee was as good as ever, and the staff seem to have gotten the hang of customer service as a concept again, after the recent changes. I took photos, as I do, and scared some poor gentleman who seemed to think I was immortalising him and was presumably therefore concerned that I was attempting to steal his soul. Well, it is Fairyland ;). Besides, as weird goes, considering that, he wasn’t anywhere near far enough along the spectrum to make such theft worth while!
The pair of us talked so much, all the way there, and all the way back, it’s a miracle there was enough oxygen intake for us to be able to ride simultaneously. Sorry George! It’s also impressive that I got back home in time to shower, frock up, and get to work, but I did :).
We parted company on the way back, having different homes to get to, and I played with the traffic. I stopped, being nice, to let them past from time to time too, karma, right? And if you look behind me, what do you see…? Parfait :).
Karma won out too. The universe gave me one of the best, most unexpected, cycling related birthday presents ever. I turned off the Wedmore road onto Upper New Road in front of an approaching tractor + trailer, who I was fully expecting to grump at me as a result. But no… Yes, he went past me. A little close maybe. But then he pulled in front of me, took up position, and quite deliberately maintained the perfect speed so as to draft me all the way up the road. It was SO much fun 🙂 I slipped back a bit as we got to the petrol station, where the gradient increases a bit, and he pulled away around the corner…only to wait for me around the bend and then tow me all along the bypass too. I don’t think I’ve grinned so much in ages – I think it’s what the word exuberance was meant for? I had the biggest smile ever as I turned off and headed for home, and waved madly in his direction as I went. I hope he saw me and realises how much I enjoyed that. As birthday rides go, this one rocked, and it rounded off with fireworks! :D.
Cycling time: 1:50
Distance: 28.6 miles
Avg: 15.5 mph
ODO: 4076.2 miles
Right, time to get on with birthdays which, as you all probably know by now, I love :). I got to put on a party frock, eat gluten free clementine cake made very successfully by me, and buy myself presents – what’s not to love?
Time for a birthday weekend now. With more friends, more cake and more riding. Sounds damn near perfect to me. As for the next year…well, who knows? I’m hoping for great things…but just better would be good ;).
PS: if the title is bothering you, so will the outfits in the video of the song it came from 😉