Rejuvenation

I have never needed a ride like I needed to go to Springbrook last night. Some of the other crap going on in my life seems to have taken a toll, I was more lethargic over the weekend than at any other time in the recent past. Once I got on the bike just after the sun went down I started to feel better. I hadn't actually planned on doing Springbrook, but there was a calling of some kind, something instinctive telling me that I should, that this was the night.

It felt like I was really struggling on the early part of the climb, then I realised I was using the wrong gear. After making the minor change, it all seemed to fall into place. Up until last night I knew of three glow worm colonies that nobody else did. I doubled that tally in the space of 30 minutes. Those little green lights shining through the forest were my inspiration later on when the gradient ramped up on Lyrebird Ridge. Yes, my ride time was crap, my average speed was crap, but I felt revitalised when I reached the summit.

The pool of cold air in the Eastern side of the escarpment on the way down made me feel like I was back in New Zealand. Then the rejuvenation was complete. The ride home was basically all down hill. There is something unmistakably special about descending a mountain at night -- the eerie sound of the rushing wind, the very slight but exquisite chill on the air, the constant negotiating of the switchbacks, it all combines to make an awesome experience.

I knew I'd find the answers at Springbrook, I always do. About the only regret is that it's almost 11 years since the first time I rode up that mountain. It's taken me this long to get around to doing it at night!