"Sometimes the things we [see and] feel on a bike [ride] can be sublime.”
—Justin Coulson
I hesitated about going out for an evening bike ride. It was cold, very windy and rain was forecasted.
But I elected to take the window of opportunity while it was still dry, an hour before sunset. I dressed warmly and as per usual I didn’t regret it. I made my way to the Los Gatos Creek Trail. Competitive
bike riders have all these strategies to be more efficient when encountering wind which can have a drag on speed.
But, I enjoy riding with or against the wind especially in a protected area where there are no cars. As a lover of nature, I often stop to take photos. In this case the abundance of cloud formations is what often interest me.
Edmund Burke’s Philosophical Enquiry (1757) connected the sublime with experiences of awe. He saw nature as the most sublime object, capable of generating the strongest sensations in its beholders which proved influential for several generations of artists. The definition of sublime is something majestic, impressive, and elevating one’s spirit.
When I ride solo in nature, I never feel alone. I never get bored. Nature is throbbing with life. Time alone in nature provides time and space to step back and reflect on my relationship to the natural world. I love taking photos of clouds, especially when they are abundant and moving as they do during a windy day.
Most of these photos were taken on the Los Gatos Creek Trail, a couple of miles from home. The one of me in front of the mural was taken on the caged pedestrian and biking bridge over Highway 85. The rest of the photos were taken on the trails and streets of Rinconada Hills, the gated-community where my wife Cecile and I live. Speaking of Cecile, when I arrived home she had a nice Italian meal waiting for me: Buitonni Sweet Italian Sausage tortelloni with marinara sauce and parmesean cheese and meatballs.
