Phil-ing my time

This week the esteemed Lens-Artist quartet needed to spend some time on their pastimes and therefore outsourced the challenge to Sue (Mac’s girl). Lo and behold purely by chance, her topic is pastimes! Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #97- Pastimes 

Her post was about the stamp collection she inherited. In the comments I remarked to her that it reminded my of a phase during primary school  where I would attack all envelopes in the home and cut out the stamps to start my great collection. Even at school I impressed at least myself, by doing an oral about the love of stamps: philately. And no that has nothing to do with how Dr. Phil acts lately. 

My great stamp collection never materialized. Nowadays I would rather prefer a great stamp collection in a passport – alas and alack that will certainly not happen during lockdown. 

In South Africa we are currently at lockdown level 4, of which one of the implications are that we are only allowed to exercise from 6am to 9am in the morning. In Cape Town it only becomes light at 7 am effectively limiting exercise hours even further. You are also only allowed to exercise within a 5km radius from where you stay. Fortunately I do not know where I stay. Okay maybe that is stretching it a bit. Fortunately, I do not know where the boundary of the 5km radius is as I do not cycle in a straight line…

Which brings me to the pastime I focus on in this challenge: philcyclephotography, being the original Gratin (mixture of Greek and Latin) for the love (Greek base – phil) of taking photos while cycling. It can factually be better described as:

• philcyclingtopographyphotography (rather clear and concise I’d say)

No, it is not about the love, Dr. Phil has for cycling up and down hills and taking pictures but everything to do with the love Abrie has for doing that. All these photos were taken in the last 3 weeks  with a mobile phone, while cycling. Okay, maybe I wasn’t actually cycling while pressing the button.

Top of Majik MTB trail

In order to experience a magical sunrise at the Majik trail, you need to get going in the dark. And as you like passing Door-de-Kraal dam in your pastimes, you include it on the route. You take along illumination with a strong beam as you probably cannot ride on water. You also have the option of taking along raw eggs for breakfast – the beam is strong enough to fry them!

One of my favourite blog posts was inspired at Door-de-Kraal dam: Emotive Imagery – a Love story, reflecting on the hidden secrets of the dam and the heart.

Enlightenment at Door-de-Kraal dam

Different light similar beauty

Bridge over the river trickling with cars

In the absence of lockdown all 4 lanes to the right (in the direction on Cape Town city itself,) would be bumper to bumper. The fiery red of the sun above is replicated on the branches of the trees almost creating the impression that the tree stumps and dead branches are on fire. There are three people on the path barely visible. When they came closer, I was surprised to realize I knew one of the figures and we started chatting. The sister of the person I knew asked me in which area I stay. I was tempted to ask her if she is a government agent and trying to find out if I am exercising within the 5 km radius from home, for if that is the case her sister was in bigger trouble as she stays further away than I do!

Single track mountain bike heaven

Not Zorro – original mosaic by Carina Dudley

No, I do not dabble in mosaic art. This was done by my sister during lockdown. Context allows a different interpretation to life and make you understand what inspires people or why they or you acted in a certain manner. In the context of Covid19 this is a lady with an elaborate face mask. At all other times, she is eating watermelon.

Yesterday was Ascension day celebrating Christ’s return to heaven. In the Christian context that means a lot.

“I’m telling you these things while I’m still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I’m leaving you well and whole. That’s my parting gift to you. Peace. I don’t leave you the way you’re used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft. So don’t be upset. Don’t be distraught”.  Words of Christ; John 14:25-27 Message translation