Nicola Ann Art
Jun 01
by Nicola in Adventure, Cycling, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Bedgebury Pinetum Forestry, EMTB, New Forest, Nicola Ann Art, Nicola Ann Beykirch, Surrey Hlls, The Devil's Punch Bowl

Electric Mountain Biking is a New Addiction

NEW FOREST, LYNDHURST  Oh, the thousands of wild ponies scattered throughout the New Forest. Seeking them out while exploring on an electric mountain bike (EMTB). A first EMTB experience. Almost fifty kilometres, and so much breath left; I could have gone on and on and on…  I had ridden mountain bikes throughout South Africa and had developed my skills when riding with Ama Angles “single track minded” – at Holla Trails in Ballito, KwaZulu-Natal – a few years ago, when I came close to living back home indefinitely.   “Wild horses Couldn’t drag me away Wild, wild horses We’ll ride them some day…”                                                                                     Lyrics by The Rolling Stones SURREY HILLS AREA OF OUTSTANDING NATURAL BEAUTY We experienced so much fun EMTB the weekend before, we had to do it again. This time through the hills of Surrey and its outstanding beauty. Five out of five for the diverse terrain and technical challenges overlooking The Devil’s Punchbowl.  We hired The CUBE REACTION HYBRID Pro 500 from Surrey Hills Cycle Hire at the village of Hambledon.   BEDGEBURY PINETUM FORESTRY, KENT & SUSSEX  Resistance was futile… EMTB for a third weekend in a row. This time whizzing along graded trails in Bedgebury Pinetum […]
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Feb 20
by Nicola in Cities, Cycling, London, The United Kingdom, Uncategorized 0 comments tags: Battersea, Camden, Electric cycling, Hampstead, Houses of Parliament, Leave the Herd Behind, Lime, London

Electric Cycling in lockdown

‘What’s different to do in Lockdown? Other than varying our walks through Hampstead and its surroundings.’ ‘I know, let’s try out electric cycling? An Uber JUMP bike, is it?’ ‘Hey, there’s two right there…’ Such exhilarating fun! We had to do it again a few weeks later.
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New Tel Aviv Port Folk dancing, Tel Aviv A woman helping a disabled man, New Port Tel Aviv Children enjoying lunch, Old Port Tel Aviv Folk dancing, Tel Aviv Folk dancing, Tel Aviv Folk dancing, Tel Aviv Old men in speedo costumes watching the Folk dancing, Tel Aviv
Dec 28
by Nicola in Beach, Cycling, People 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, cycling, Folk Dancing, Israel, Namal Yafo, New Tel Aviv Port, Old Jaffa Port, Old Tel Aviv Port, Tel Aviv

Israel, cycling from Jaffa to Tel Aviv

During the Shabbat (Sabbath) on the Saturday we spent eight hours cycling from Jaffa to Tel Aviv. Along the promenade from Old Jaffa Port (also known as Namal Yafo) – which is reputed to being the port from which Jonah set off in the famous Biblical story of Jonah and the Whale – our first port of call (note the pun) we spent strolling along the wall surrounding the Tel Aviv Marina. A couple sat on rocks reading documents together; fishermen competed for the same spot; surfers attempted riding waves just beyond the port’s entrance; another photographer poised hoping a surfer would provide the action; a woman sipping a beer while staring out to sea; a family of four laughing, enjoying each other’s company.   From there we joined the crowds encircling the locals folk dancing on the promenade alongside the beach. Apparently an instructor frolicked in the midst of all the swaying bodies but he or she wasn’t easy to spot. The atmosphere had my foot tapping away and my camera firing. Somehow I stopped myself from joining in. What fun!   Back on our bikes, we ventured to the Old Tel Aviv Port where hundreds of people enjoyed the wide […]
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Dec 24
by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Cycling, Nature, Off-Road, Safari, Wildlife 0 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Challenge, cycling, Early morning, Gwahumbe Game Reserve, Jimny, KwaZulu-Natal, Off-road, Rhino, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Suzuki, Suzuki Jimny, Wildlife

Fancy mountain biking with a rhino?

Can you even imagine mountain biking with a rhino…?   Well, unfortunately – of course I did it hoping for the ultimate experience, a beastly encounter that would make the heart drop to the foot and adrenalin force the blood to violently pump – it didn’t happen while on two wheels.   After exhausting ourselves by bicycle through the spectacular Gwahumbe (Saturday morning, 13 December) a favourite private game reserve for a day visit (because of the rugged landscape, and amazingly it’s just over an hour’s dive from Durban), we jumped in to my Jimny.   The climb down to the hippo pool brought us head-on with the rhino. We ensured we kept our distance, and that he was aware of our presence. A non existent exist strategy caused the brain to deal with many jumbled thoughts – in other words, we were trapped. He appeared to be relaxed, and while munching the grass on the edge of the track he glanced in our direction and moved closer and towards us.   I felt my body stiffen, my heart do somersaults, goose flesh ripple all over my body the moment his nose touched, albeit it a gentle touch, the Jimny’s nudge […]
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Aug 24
by Nicola in Beach, Cycling 0 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, Bike&Bean, coffee, cycling, Durban beach front, Indian Ocean, sea

Bike & Bean at Durban’s beachfront

About this time 3 years ago I last cycled along the beachfront with a friend who lent me his brother’s bike. This time I decided to do it on my own and hire a bicycle from Bike & Bean, this took place yesterday when the weather couldn’t be better; sun and stillness unlike today’s gusty wind. 
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