The golden light of sunset drapes the fields that the ribbon of rough tarmac I'm confined to winds. As the golden sunset fades to the gloaming, my light makes it's presence felt at first on the reflective road signs before marking its presence on the road.
Slowly it becomes more important while my eyesight is starved of the world.
Eventually, I'm riding in a bubble of light, no longer can I see where the road goes through the fields and trees, just a few meters ahead are their fences, and branches jutting over the road to the side.
An owl flutters out from the unseen and swoops onto the road and returns skywards with a mouse in its beak.
Picking up speed through the obstacles of the descending road, my tyres skizz as I pick up speed.
A rough patch here and a pothole there, these obstacles enter my bubble of light but briefly, I have little time to respond.
Sometimes I don't react in time, a sudden shudder or clatter is my reward for inattention.
My machine whirrs below me, I feel resistance in my legs and I look into the dark nothingness where my cassette lives.
I've only the feel of the bike to live by.
Between the trees White Eyes glow, White eyes, White whose eyes are they? Deer!
A stag steps into the road, I slow to a halt, he's taking all the time in his world, thankfully I can still see him in my stand light so I can count.
12 points, he's a Monarch, in the middle of the road the king stops.
He looks to his left where I stand, nods slightly and carries on, launching over the fence effortlessly.
In this momentary pause I look skywards, in the clear moonless sky the milky way looks upon me as I stare in awe.
I'm rudely woken from wonder by a sound, I look back and see another light some distance behind.
I carry on at my pace up this hill, occasionally I look back and see the other light is catching me, at some point over the whirr of my invisible gears I hear a missed gear change and associated swearing.
Despite the mistake he's getting closer.
The other rider's light joins mine with the scrubbing of brakes and a hello,
I know him and we start talking.
We agree to ride together, he may be a better climber but I'd dropped him on the last descent, it's evened out. Through the night we continue together, looking for the oasis of light that is the motorway service area of the next control.
When we get there riders are draped over the seats of the 24hr McDonalds, some sleeping, others just dozing. More riders are tucking into the burgers and ice creams that will fuel them through the night.
I contemplate joining the sleepers as I tuck into mine.
Back out into the darkness, alone again as my companion has opted to sleep when I have not.
I navigate the carpark while a slight bluing arrives on the horizon.
Back out into the countryside the sounds of the motorway fade and are replaced by birdsong.
Slowly my bubble of light retreats, the blue of the sky lightens, the fences turn to fields, branches to trees, and then the golden hue of sunlight arrives.
And on I ride with a smile of satisfaction that I've made it through the night.
