I’m travelling home to Christchurch by Intercity bus. We think of the bus as a slow and relaxing form of travel, and it is. Since you’re not driving, just sitting back in a comfy seat for hours at a time, you do get to do little more than survey the passing landscape and sights and punctuate that with the odd stretch and refreshment or station stop. However here in the bus, you are still kind of separated from nature and the environment around you to a degree that you aren’t on the bike. One proof of that: the cows don’t take any notice of the bus let alone you. As you pass them in the bus, there is no reaction at all from farm animals most of the time. Compare that with being on the bike, where every cow and other farm animal seems to notice you as you pass, often even when they are far from the road. And they don’t just notice you, they stare at you for ages. To them you are a curiosity. In fact, as you can tell, the feeling is mutual. That’s engaging with nature and one of the pleasures of riding the bike.