Tomorrow morning we leave England and the United Kingdom  With that we leave many wonderful bits behind:  Lovely homes (most with their own moniker), courteous and friendly people, an array of ways of speaking English (Irish brogue, Scottish Highland English, Northumbrian, Geordie, “Posh”).I have realized that riding here has been a practice in mindfulness for many reasons:

1.   Riding on the left side of the road
2.   Remembering how to turn right from the left side of the road
3.   Riding on single lane country roads with two way traffic
4.   Learning to ride on two lane roads with parked cars taking up most of one lane
5.   Learning to ride with no shoulder (and maybe a hedgerow that grows right to the edge of the road)
6.   Learning how to make roadside “nature stops”  in a land of endless nettles (Watch where you squat!!)
7.   Minding the gap
8.   Giving way

I’m sure the list could go on…

There have also been bits to learn like

 

Old phone booths can be put to other uses

Pudding can mean any type of desert

“White” means milk in your tea or coffee

And of course, chips don’t come in a bag

We sail on a ferry from the White Cliffs of Dover tomorrow morning and will re-learn how to ride on the right and how to say “Bonjour”.  We then enter Belgium, a country we have not yet had the pleasure of visiting.  In the meantime, we will continue to try to practice mindfulness everyday.

Cheers