The Search For Enlightenment

Sometimes I find the effects of the causes I make rather surprising. I was examining the possibility of making a temporary fix to the rear suspension on my mountain bike, just enough to get me to and from Steve’s BBQ this afternoon. The problem had occurred earlier in the week, but having ordered a replacement part, nothing had arrived.

So there I was, wiring some foam rubber to the frame of the bike, hoping that it would prevent any damage to the frame, from where the shock absorber was touching it. I had almost finished, when the clatter from the letterbox announced the timely arrival of the new link, perfect.

The new part is clearly a re-engineered item, the original had failed at the weakest point, and the new one is considerably more substantial. No wonder the guy in the spares department was surprised that I had managed to break the original. The new design made fitting it to the bike a little tricky, but soon it was sorted.

The eleven mile trip over to Steve’s was fun, but I was riding into the wind the whole way, which made an already warm day feel even warmer. A short pit stop for a glass of water and a chat with Ken and Jayne in Sandbanks was very welcome. We haven’t seen each other for way too long, but we will put that right from now on.

Although the promenade from Sandbanks to Bournemouth pier is as flat as a pancake, progress was a bit slow, simply down to the number of people out enjoying the sunshine. I remarked to another cyclist that it was a bit like a video game, with the aim being to find the next gap in the oncoming stream of bodies, most of whom seemed totally oblivious of anything going on around them. None were harmed during the making of this journey.

It may be me, but I find Charminster a most confusing place, and get lost there all the time. Today however, my unplanned route lead me directly past the Sakya Thubten Ling Tibetan Buddhist Centre in Shelbourne Road. The group were having a fund raising market, so I stopped and had a guided tour of the shrine as well as a nice chat with Sue, one of the members. It’s interesting how we all have faith in Shakyamuni’s teachings, but interpret them in slightly, or not so slightly different ways.

The BBQ was great, Steve doing a sterling job of cooking the burgers on the grill and Carly doing an equally fine effort with the chicken and ribs in the oven. The whole event was accompanied by a most entertaining performance of Riley and his amazing paddling pool. You would not imagine that a two year old could invent so many ways of playing with cheese puffs, bread rolls, plastic balls and slightly murky water. He had a lot of fun.

Time flies when you are enjoying yourself, doesn’t it? One minute it was just after six, the next it was getting on for half past eight, and having no cycle lights with me, I said my thankyous and goodbyes and set off back to Poole. Having been given directions and now having the wind at my back, I was home a tad after nine, none the worse for the trip.

So another wonderful sunny day, plenty of exercise melded with some great social interaction as well as an impromptu visit to the Buddhist centre, wonderful.