The Martlet

Fall’s wetter, cooler days offer a unique and mystical experience for those who seek it. That is why there is no better time than fall to enjoy a bike ride in the rain.

Rain transforms nature — space, colour, sound, life and smell — and causes us to witness natural elements we might have missed while riding in the dry heat of summer.

As I ride down a trail, I experience a sensation of being secluded in a world of vegetation and rain. The distant hills are hugged by a wispy fog and the horizon draws nearer. A lake reflects the overhead grey, giving me the perception of a world sandwiched between two skies.

Grey enhances the fiery fall leaves and makes the green conifers glow. Browns become deeper in wood and decaying leaves, and shimmer in mud. My hands are rosy from the crisp fall air and I assume my cheeks are complimentary.

Rain dampens ambient noise from cars and construction. The tranquility provides an opportunity to listen to what is near. Frogs are croaking, ducks are splashing and birds are singing.

I feel closer to everything I can hear being dripped on around me. When I am still, I can hear the extent of the rain’s aural range — earthy tones, watery melodies, organic pitches — the notes of the season’s music coming to life.

Something startles the crows that are dining in the fields; hundreds fly to the sky, creating a black-on-white scene of murderous communication and chaos. Birds are abundant, but other life is inconspicuous. You must stop and listen to hear the heart beat.

Not many people exist in this lush world. The few who pass by return my smile, reflecting my appreciation for rainy days. We admire nature in its ostracized form, for only then will it share certain things.

And the smells; how aromatic nature is when it rains. The energising bouquet of pine sharpens the air. The perfume of the earth rises and morphs from robust soils to tangy compost and back again. A salty essence drifts about and feeds visions of an ocean nearby.

The gravel turns to pavement and the trees recede behind me. The lakes are gone and the world returns to its non-sandwiched state. The rain can’t be heard pattering on the leaves anymore. The stiff smell of wet pavement prevails. But the moist air, the grey skies and the encompassing fog linger to remind me of this transient world, perfect for a rainy day ride.