Who Knows What is Good or Bad; Welcome to Dartmoor

Who knows what is good or bad? That mantra is one I have come to incorporate into my personal philosophy on life. It comes from the Buddhist tale of a farmer and his neighbour. Whenever something happened to the farmer the neighbour would pass judgement on it’s goodness or badness. Each time the farmer would simply reply “who knows what is good or bad.”

The farmer recognized that nothing happens in isolation, that the true value–positive or negative–of any one event can never really be measured. Every event, every action–both known and unknown–has endless ramifications. Who could possibly judge the value of one event when it’s consequences ripple throughout time and space impacting and interacting with every other event or action…everywhere and for all time. Who knows what is good or bad.

Leaving Dawlish Warren yesterday morning, I soon found myself a little lost. I had neglected to purchase the map I’d need for the day’s ride the day before; Monday was a bank holiday, meaning everything in England was shut. Before heading out for the day I used good old Google Maps to plot my course, made all the notes I thought I’d need and set out for Dartmoor National Park. Within an hour I was second guessing myself and the directions I’d crafted, not believing that the road before me was the one I thought it should be. An hour later, I was no longer following the route I’d plotted, unable to confirm where I actually was and trying to set my course based solely on my compass.

Frustrated, I pulled to the side of the road to again stare at my directions and attempt some sort of miraculous divination. Just ahead, a car stopped, a man got out and started walking in my direction. PAD develops gradually in the early cheap viagra stages and may vary for each man. Therefore the tightness and contraction I see in getting viagra pdxcommercial.com nine out of 10 claimed that they were unsure and had some level of it. If you wish to get treated and do not want to miss this: Simple Writing sildenafil professional System When you act on what he says, the money starts to flow. Kamagra is a high strength and specific inhibitor of PDE-5 enzyme that prevents the decomposition of cGMP and buying viagra in australia regulates the blood circulation to the penile tissues. “Hold on,” I said to myself, “I know that guy.” As it turns out, it was Philip, the friendly sole I’d met briefly in Bridport a few days earlier. We had chatted about both my touring and that of his son a few years earlier.

Introducing me to his wife Rita, Philip took out a map, identified our location and offered suggestions to get me back on track. They even gave me their map so I could make my way to Plymouth as I’d intended! Feeling humbled by their immense generosity and now[somewhat] confident of a new route to take, we bid each other farewell and went our separate ways.

30mins later I’d ridden about 5kms, gone full circle and was back in the same spot Philip and Rita had left me. Now it was raining, I was cold, hungry and getting very frustrated with myself. Seeing a pub down the road, I pulled into the parking lot, went inside and promptly ordered coffee and lunch. Enjoying a very tasty pesto pasta dish and chocolate brownie with clotted cream for desert, I poured over the map, figured out exactly where I was and where I wanted to go.

Back outside, the rain had stopped, the sun was out and I was looking forward to exploring–with confidence and direction–Dartmoor National Park. 45mins later I was standing atop Haytor’s rock, perched way up on a high hill, enjoying the most spectacular views imaginable. Getting back on the bike, I continued along the route I’d mapped and arrived at the charming little town of Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Taking time to explore the 600+ year old church, I was just getting ready to continue on when who should I see walking towards me but Philip and Rita! I told them of my little adventure getting lost a second time but how it had all worked out in the end.

In fact, if I had stayed true to my original route I never would have visited Haytor’s rock, nor Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Nor would I have met this friendly–and VERY helpful–couple twice more. So really, had my day gone as planned, it may never have been as enjoyable as it turned out to be. Certainly, I would not have met Philip and Rita and would not have been treated to such a great day of riding.

So I ask you, who knows what is good or bad.