Countryside Biking

I try to take out my bike every day to discover new paths in the hills near my hometown. 

Ideally, I want to find a way to the Cross of the Pech-de-Bère, a panorama 170 m above sea level, about 5 km by bike. It’s a great spot to have an orientation race or do some quiet forest bathing, and near enough to visit every day.

The track is full of rocks, dirt, and dry grass, so I have to alternate between road biking and walking.

I underestimated the topography the first time, so I made sure to bring some food and equipment for my bike the second time. Then I found the track to lead to someone’s house, so I preferred turning back thinking I must have lost my way. 

Turns out, I had to go through the property to reach the correct road. I’ll try again tomorrow, early in the morning as to avoid the heatwave. I found some blackberries by the side of the track at least, so I got that going for me.

I’ve lived near all those places for eight years, but I never thought of exploring them before. It’s like seeing my hometown in an entirely different light. I guess that’s what Thoreau meant when he said he “traveled a great deal in Concorde”, his birthplace. What new surprises tomorrow will bring?