It is spring, and the happiest time of year. Busting back through the forest on my bike ride yesterday, I noticed that the wild garlic was coming into bloom, a galaxy of white orbs strung out above their lush, green foliage. Interspersed with these are bluebells, which flood the ground with a vivd, sky blue. Above, the trees are just coming into bud; the horse chestnuts peeling out of its sticky skin, shaking in five fingered salute. The hawthorn is so brightly green it glows with light.
There is so much JOY in being outside on the bike, in shorts and tshirts even though it’s evening, the sky a rich blue and the sun warm again! It makes you want to be on the bike every day, as often as possible.
As I was riding yesterday, I passed a group of other mountain bikers and we grinned at each other. ‘Lovely day for it!” I said, ‘The trails are so dry and fast!’ One called back, we were delighted, joined by our appreciation of the transformation of the world by spring.
My favourite part of bike riding is being out in the natural world, and seeing the slow, sure changes of nature as the world turns around the sun once more. Only a month ago, I was exclaiming at the bright daffodils which this year grew abundantly from every verge side, massing in glorious yellow huddles under beech trees. Before that, the hopeful snowdrop, which always is a sure sign the worst of winter has passed.
There is something we need as humans from nature that, for the most part, isn’t acknowledged. The Japanese call it ‘forest bathing’, and the NHS recommend visiting nature as ways to destress and combat depression. And it’s true, visiting a vast forest of pines, and hearing the wind roar and rush through them like the sea is certainly a great way to combat stress. For me there is a more profound reason too- we’re animals really, and feeling connected to the world around us helps ground us and place us in the moment. I spend a lot of my time on the computer, busting out edits and planning for shoots, emailing and zoom calls. Everything is virtual and future focused. But getting on my bike, rolling to the hills and seeing that this week the blackthorn has erupted in clouds of white, and knowing that this means it’s spring, and that after the blackthorn has had it’s glorious moment, then it will be time for the cherries, the fruit blossom, and new oak leaves. This timeline places me in the moment, connected with the vibrant nature around me.
Nature is always in the here and now; Spring I always think demonstrates it best. Each day something new wakes up- the meadow sweet or the wood anenomies, the cowslips or the harebell- it’s an explosion in slow motion, an ever-changing, lively, unstoppable force. And I need that- to know that I am in this moment, alive and happy and present.
And so every day I am going out in it. Today it was a gravel ride, up through the bluebell woods, which I found myself unable to ride past- I had to jump off my bike and take at least 100 photos of them. Then it was across to Cadbury Camp, with it’s fun bumpy bridleway with views over to the Mendips. Then off down meandering, winding lanes with steep headgerows just coming into bud. When it’s like this I feel I could ride forever! I finished the ride climbing past yellow fields of rape flower with a setting sun turning the hills into vivid shades. It’s hard to feel sad or tired when the world is so incredible- so I’ll just keep on rolling, sunburnt and happy and soak up as much spring life as possible.
