Suburban bliss

I have a lovely friend who is teaching me to ride my bike.

Now, I’ve known how to ride a bike since I was five and my dad let go for the first time without telling me, but I’ve not known how to really use a bike, maintain it, and enjoy it.

She is kind to me and takes me on “remedial rides” as I call them. We don’t ride on the roads, we avoid very steep hills and we ride slowly with many breaks. She also makes me feel like I am doing her a favour riding with her, which is so generous.

This morning we went for a short ride an abandoned quarry. At the centre of wattle and eucalypt bush is the old mine, filled with spring water. As we followed the path around the pond, the fresh morning air was sweet and crisp, and the sunlight was pleasant as it was dappled through the trees.

Thanks to my friend’s gentle guidance, I was able to experience this tiny bit of bliss in the middle of suburbia.