The most surreal ride, maybe ever : Dufus, part II

Blip Photo was lucky to be introduced to this man of adventure all of those months ago high high up in the realms of the snow clad peaks of The Alps. And it's thanks to this man that we've found ourselves working in this awe inspiring set - up. So this is a thank you photo to you, Doofs.

We set about our evening ride in the dripping sun speckled fiercely beautiful Eden Valley, pedalling over captivatingly high up ex-viaducts, stopping occasionally to peer down at the great depths that sat below us, in their pulsating green plunge pools of vegetation and wildlife. The sky surrounds us with endless pastel like smudges of pinks and purples, the kind you might scoff at in a painting; "yeah like the sky would be that colour". And then there was even a rainbow, whilst trying to figure out how, what with it being such a beautiful evening + all, we looked behind us and saw menacingly sinister folds of grey blankets that merged their way, intimidatingly towards us. Like we even cared.

Some many slurps of carbonated blackcurrant exquisiteness in a cozy little pub cost us our beautiful skies, as we set back out into the evening beneath an intoxicatingly low and explosive black sky. If only I could've caught on camera the sight of my riding pal who lead the way, with calm explorative grace. His stoic yellow heavy framed bicycle almost held a perfect symmetry on the rain drenched smooth surface we were swimming our way through, and either side of us sat darkened meadows relishing in the thrashing fluids they were undoubtedly lapping up thirstily. Within minutes we'd already reached our wettest we could get, so there was no urgency compelling us to get back to camp especially quickly. Skidding our way through the mud puddled cycle way, we passed eery collections of silently standing cows that we stopped to look at every now and then; "d'ya reckon they're bored at all?" we chuckled, slightly unfairly. Pretty often, I commented on my gratitude to riding with someone who knew where they were, as without him I would've been a lost and probably, right scared mess.

It was pitch black when we rode the final jaunt, wide awake with rain and adrenalin and wishing, as always, that there were some more miles to go.