Let’s Go Cycling
Decompress To Refresh the Body, Mind, and Soul
For two or three days in succession recently I was feeling a bit flat, dull, some drag from inertia, maybe less inspired than usual.
From time to time we all hit patches like this, where our mood, creativity, motivation, etc., go stale, take a dip. Normal.
Things that would usually give us a buzz, that we might tackle with enthusiasm, don’t seem to be able to move the needle as they otherwise might.
And while how we’re feeling might be what we’re focusing on at the time, how we deal with it is the crux.
Get Moving
So instead of kicking against it, or sitting it out, I went for a different strategy. I invited my lovely partner for a relaxing bicycle ride on a local trail through the beautiful countryside here in northern Portugal.
We stopped several times just to look around and absorb the vibrant green of the corn waving in the breeze on each side of the trail, and stretching into the distance.
The weather was perfect. Some rain over the previous days left the air fresh and crystal clear with azure skies.
Colors
Another thing that struck me was how spectacular the green color of the crops, grass, and trees was. We kind of stood there for minutes absorbing the marvel of it. And taking it in is part of the therapy of being in the outdoors.
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It was as if the light rain over previous days had polished the entire countryside to a bright green sheen!
Far From Noise
The trail, an old disused railway line, for the most part, is also several kilometers from the noise of traffic. The lack of noise of so-called civilization, traffic, etc., is amazing. Just the sound of a gentle breeze in the trees, and small songbirds adding their chorus to the sounds of nature.
There’s something very therapeutic about cycling along on a quiet trail at a relaxed pace with a gentle breeze in our faces. With the sun shining and blue skies above us.
Rest and Turn-Around
The full trail is a 60km round trip, something we don’t often do unless we’re out for a full day of cycling.
But along the way is the Pão Doce Do Lago café (translated as ‘Sweet Bread of the Lake’) in a small village called Fontainhas.
They serve what must be the best coffee in the world, and a delicious Portuguese national delicacy called Pastel de Nata (Custard Pastry). The best pastel de nata in the entire country, hands down! Or, if the weather is very hot, a bottle of ice-cold lager in a chilled glass. And then the pastel de nata!
The Pão Doce Do Lago café is the ideal rest and turn-around point for us, about a one-hour cycle each way, plus chilling time for coffee and pastry.
Relaxed on the comfortable patio outside under the sunshades with our refreshment and watching the semi-tame sparrows hopping around picking up the leftover crumbs that have fallen from the table.
And So …
It’s perfect to recharge the batteries and help us break out of whatever slump is getting in our way.
But maybe different strokes for different folks, and we may not all be into cycling. Walking, jogging, yoga, painting, and dozens more. Almost everybody will have something that provides a break from the routine and some mental ‘breathing space’. That’s what we need from time to time.
And all the better if it’s an opportunity to reset, get some exercise, get fresh air in our lungs, and connect with nature.
Then we can go back to the tasks or challenges ahead of us, refreshed, with a spring in our step, and maybe some new ideas that had been looking for the space to bubble to the surface.
Thank you, and let’s hear about what works for you! :)
