Early Morning Ride

There is something magical in the stillness of the small hours of the morning, quietly sipping a steaming cup of black coffee and allowing the warmth to spread through my core before slipping outside into the chilly morning air. The world is still asleep, with a faint tease of light just touching the horizon. The day is still so new, another beautiful gift from God with so many possibilities and opportunities. It is this time, before the responsibilities of the day set in and I can just be still and enjoy the beauty of the dawn as the world slowly wakes up, that I truely treasure. But it's when I swing my leg over the saddle of my bike, clip in my cleats and feel the surge of earth falling away behind me as I push off into the darkness that the real magic begins. And as the sky lightens and pinks and yellows dance across the road before me, the birds singing with joy at God's magnificent light show, I urge my muscles to drag the peddles faster through the gravity working against me. It's almost as if I join those first birds welcoming the day in their flight. It's the anticipation of the destination that propels me forward.
Nerimbera is absolutely perfect in the first morning light. For me, it's a hidden treasure of farmland just outside the business of Rockhampton City. Where the roads are silent, and horses and cows watch in the fields as I fly by. It holds the memories of countless rides with my dear friends, sharing, laughing and just enjoying each other's company. It's where I come to re-set, to process, or to just escape for a little while. This piece depicts the first touches of warm morning light on the iconic Mount Archer and its surrounding hills, with the road that acts as the gateway for me to this beautiful place rolling out in front, inviting the viewer in.