The feeling

So this is morning time after DnD. I did not 'earn' the report writing
privilege, but had to write about a feeling I get… And also had to
write about it before the day turns as I might forget about the
feeling.

After 2 days of rain, I spent at least 2 office hours on Thursday
afternoon conversing with a few colleagues whether it would be raining
Thu eve in Centurion or not. Everyone said yes, and the nifty hourly
weather man on HTC said yes for 16h, 19h and 23h. But working in
Fourways gives a better forecast than all of the above. Our weather
generally moves North, so Joburg gets the handout about an hour or so
before Pretoria. At 3h30 it stopped raining and from the office back
door the rolling green hills and back yard of the Northern Suburbs
opened up and there was it again… the horizon. Earlier on Thursday I
was going to see what the weather looked like at 15h before confirming
with the others if I was going to do the ride or not. At 16h55 my dog
was getting a walk, at 16h57 I opted to go see Avatar, but at 17h02, I
stepped out the office and as I walked under the cloudy skies that has
been crying its heart out for the past 2 days, I had a feeling. I have
the same feeling when I pack my bike & gear for DnD on a Thursday
morning. I have the same feeling when we ride through the MooMall boom
gate on our way out every week. I have the same feeling when I run. I
have the same feeling with Ciro Dinner Date coffee, home made pesto
and the music of Bon Iver at the moment. And I wanted more.

My car left the office and drove down Cedar Rd towards Lanseria to get
more of the feeling. Skies didn't open up completely, but the clouds
lifted. There was a window of opportunity, and I had a feeling that
it's gonna be a good night. Down the N14 a combination of Parlotones,
Die Heuwels Fantasties, Viva La Vida and Bon Iver set the mood for a
perfect ride. Get to the MooMall and the cars trickle in very slowly.
Everyone probably hosting the last feelings of should I or should I
not. But we did it again: talk about the weather of course, but also,
we did a Mild-to-Wild again. Donald as trailmeister, Eric as his
advisor and Oupa Gert wearing the green light at the back. Counting 17
riders and no new-comers we set off round the corner through the
veldt, breathing in the fresh smells of luscious green bossies. Half
way up left, to the tar road and to a greeting face of a former rider
parked next to the road. The oldies greet him, talk about riding and
Oupa Gert tells me he's good on the down hills. We go left down
Cornwall and right up the tar road for speed. Left up past the shebeen
for some speed and status of the queen. Slippery slide to Blair Witch
and first low speed collision and fall just before the road.

A few conversations later we came round the back of Quad Busta and
easy to the top. What a great feeling. It was Eric(Gadget)'s birthday
in the week and after our hiep-hieps and whoop-whoops, the "blanc de
noir" JC Le Roux made a quick pop on top of the hill. Everyone
complimenting the evening for treating us well and the view a treat as
always. Big boeing with "Happy Birthday Eric" and "Go Bokke" flags
cross us whilst the white caramel cupcakes lace our throats for the
Busta, backwards. From Smuts the tar road down to the green light for
another speed zone along the railway. Last part heading home: a tight
single track with a thorn bush on the right, couple stops and some
explaining they're not good on single track, even not when in front.
Couple rocky sections, last portions of kakiebos, something lemony,
something tropical in Nando's water bottle, something herbish and at
the fence we count 17 again and head back. Window of opportunity well
used. We didn't clock 35kms or even 25 I think, but we did it; despite
the weather forecasts. We used the opportunity. See, they come and go
and you can feel for it, or not. But act upon it, whilst it's around.
You can get this feeling when holding your guitar, your wife, your
kid. Perhaps whilst traveling or buying a new gadget. But act upon it,
use the opportunity to tell others what you feel, write about it, so
that those who were there can live in the feeling a while longer… And
those that were not, can maybe at least smell or experience a couple
minutes of it when listening us.

Life happens now.
Shalom