Whizz into town and back

On Tuesday night I whizzed into town...I did think that the ride may be slightly doomed as I reached for my bike off the rack in the garage to find I had a puncture (how did that happen?).  Whilst my wheel was being changed for me...the clock was ticking towards 8pm now...I got changed into layer upon layer of clothing.  I got downstairs to pump up my new tyre only for it to "pop" again and rapidly deflate...two punctures? Was someone, somewhere trying to warn me against going out on a dark winters evening?  With third inner tube now in place and safely pumped up...off I went, once again into the dark abyss as I left the comforting orange glow of the street lights behind me.

I enjoyed the ride, there is something really great about being out there in the silence - in the distance I could see the orange glow of the city and decided to head towards it.  I cycled around the area where I was brought up, past old houses of friends and had lots of giggles to myself.  I sped towards the park in the middle of town but thought best to avoid an instead headed towards the bustling student area of cafes and bars and the smell of food...as I passed one street I was dazzled by the white lights on the exterior of the houses - obviously celebrating Diwali the "Festival of Lights".  I stood for a while and took this picture (the IPhone doesn't really do it justice!)...and wondered how quickly their electricity metre was whirring round when they flick on the switch!

I headed towards home past the old houses that have become student accommodation for Leicester University and the playing fields and astro turf of their sporting facilities, flood lit and buzzing with activity.  Leaving the playing fields behind me I reached the road towards home, not a single car passed me for about four miles...it was just me in the dark, with my trusty light (which by the way, is rechargeable and lasts for three hours on full beam and about 12 on partial beam...it has a light on the back you can see that goes from green, amber and red so you know you are reaching the end of the charge)...complete silence, just the whirr of my wheels on the road.  I was half expecting to see some wildlife - yet to see a Badger that isn't run over - but saw nothing.

I really enjoy that peace...on the last leg I stopped momentarily and looked back at the orange glow of the city and all of the lights.