Remembering our first two day cycle ride with our boys.

John the Baptist was preaching. Three different groups asked the same question ” What must we do?”

John gave different answers:

To the people: ” If you have two coats give to one who has none. If you have food give to those who have none.”

To the politicians I mean tax collectors: ” Don’t take more than you are appointed too.”

To the soldiers: ” Don’t be violent, don’t accuse anyone falsely and be content with your wages.”

Then the people in their heads asked if this was the Christ. Later some saw Christ baptised with the Holy Spirit coming down on Him as a white dove.

John, however, was later beheaded he had been jailed for telling Herod not to mess around with his brother’s wife.

Luke 3 Sandy’s brief summary as there is a lot of life covered in this chapter. The last words of the chapter are …which was the son of Adam, which was the son of God. (How precious is that!)

Roy looked carefully at ‘paper’ maps spread out on our wooden table, no smart phone then . He was looking for cycle paths linking with bridleways to get from Oxford to Henley then back to the cottage the next day. Two days of cycling for our young boys. A 5 year old and an 8 year old. An energetic pair.

It was spring and somewhere is a photograph of our youngest sitting on his dad’s legs. Both look tired . Roy has just been carrying the small bike over a muddy area while pushing his. The chain so low down just didn’t cope. There is a satisfaction about resting in both their faces with blue bells surrounding them and the log.

We made good progress that day but just as light was vanishing, the sky may have been indigo, if I wasn’t watching our youngest cycling in front of me. We were coming into Henley on a cycle path a few feet from the main road. The lights of the cars dassled and each twig that cracked and wobble my son’s bike increased the tension in my back and up to my head. We knew the boys were tired. We slowed. We stayed quiet and calm. They did it. We got to our family room and slept.

Needless to say the boys were up early ready for their second day from Henley to home.

I was surprised to see how easy it was to cycle. Notice how well the trees are standing. They are young and clearly well rooted. It was good to be outside after being inside so much yesterday.

We have always loved being outside. I guess we will always find a way to be in nature.

Take care.

Sandy 😊

Truly the bicycle is (one of) the most influential piece of product design ever.

The best rides are the ones where you bite off more than you can chew, and live through it.

Hugh Pearman , British author. Doug pioneer