Don’t despise the day of small things
How’s it going with you?
Yesterday I was out in baking hot sunshine looking to ride the 37 odd miles to Worthing. Then come back and do it all over again!
You see I love to challenge myself, always looking for that next achievement.
Incidentally at work my figures have gone from class leading to mediocre and that’s made me question if I should jack it all in.
At least I’ve got my bikes!
Last week’s Worthing route (mostly along the Downs Link was somewhat banana shaped. This time I tried a more direct approach.
Somehow my legs seemed to be struggling, I started reflecting on how life is like a long bike ride.
For every flat road, or gentle downward slope there’s what Bunyan might call a Hill of Difficulty.
Even worse, you might enter the slough of despond.
So there I was making faster progress than I realised when I came to a junction.
I pulled over grabbed my map to check the right route and a “hissssssss” came from my back tyre.
How’s that even possible? I wasn’t on the gravel tracks this time round.
Looking down I spotted a tear in the tyre. Like a good Boy Scout I’d come prepared, so it would surely be a small inconvenience?
In a moment I had the back wheel off and then I heard a pleading voice, “Sir, could you lend me a pump, I’m prepared to wait”.
No problem- a flat front was soon inflated.
Then a guy stopped to check if I needed help.
Indeed I did!
I’d packed a 29” tube, and needed 26”!
Moments later a chap on a gravel bike pulled up to see if he could help.
He was about to give me his spare tube, but could see all I needed was a small patch which he then applied.
He wouldn’t take anything in return, but had saved my bacon – Miles from the nearest bike shop.
Once in Worthing I bought a new tyre, new tube, and spare valves. The chap running the shop originally sold me the bike and spotted a slack headset- fixing it free. Nice of him.
Coming home in the evening I took a brief break on a bench at Handcross. I think my front light may have shone into someone’s front room.
I’d hardly sat down (probably looking weary) when a chapped bobbed out into the street “Would you like a drink?”
Although my drink bottle was full I was filled with a sense of well being.
Those random acts of kindness outweigh any of my biggest goals!
”Don’t despise the day of small things”
Zechariah 4:10
Snowgood's Blog 
Great post 😊
Thank you
I’m glad you stayed out of the slough of despond.
Soooo did you accept the drink?…a cuppa tea?!
Sent from my iPhone
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Sorry but no -I had a full water bottle!