A Good Find by Gary L Beer (chrysanthemum read aloud .TXT) 📕

waits for her at the end of the path; “Bit of a daft one your bloke.” he says with a laugh.
“He has got so much pent up energy he feels he has to go mad all the time.” Nicola replies in disapproval.
“Well you are only young once I suppose.” Simon says in defence of Stef.
“He is going to kill himself one day.” Nicola says with conviction.
“Let’s hope it’s not today as be a long way to carry him home.” answers Simon drily.
Nicola stares coldly into Simon’s eyes and pushing past him takes the lead going up the path, Simon looks back at Stef who is now only a few yards away; “You upset her today Dude?” he asks.
Stef looks at Nicola as she rides away; “I dunno man, this always seems to happen when we go on bike rides together, I always end up riding on my own.”
“Maybe you should try and go a bit slower and let her ride up front for once.”
“I tried that but she goes so slowly.” laughs Stef in frustration.
Simon looks at Stef and feeling as if it is none of his business cycles up the path behind Nicola.

Nicola is waiting at the entrance to The Glen; seeing Simon and Stef as they enter the car park she rides slowly into the trees following the narrow path. As she approaches the bridge, made of scaffold poles and planks of wood, Stef squeezes past and overtakes her; making her wobble and weave on the narrow path.
Nicola feels the blood draining out of her face as she tries to gain control of the handlebars;
“What do you think you are doing?” she screams.
Stef laughs as he passes her and not looking behind crosses the wooden bridge and pedals faster; only to have to screech to a halt, as a golden retriever pulling its master along appears from around the corner.
The man, wearing a flat cap and long black coat, scowls at Stef. The way Stef is riding is too fast for this winding path; and he had nearly rode into him!
Stef looks down at his front wheel ignoring the man and dog as they walk past. Nicola and Simon stop as they reach the bridge and let the man and his dog walk across first.
The man stares at Nicola as he walks past; the leering look on his face shows what he would like to do to her. Simon, seeing the way the man is looking at his friend walks forward with his bike; narrowing the path and forcing the perverted man to the far side of the path.
As soon as there is room Nicola pedals hard and crosses the bridge with Simon close behind, Stef has already gone on ahead and they cycle a little faster to catch him up.
The path leads along the side of the gorge; the steep cliffs above and a horrendous drop below makes Nicola slow to a walking pace; Simon narrowly avoids crashing into the back of her as she gives no warning!
They cycle slowly along the path which leads them up and out of the gorge and onto a large area that is heavily overgrown with gorse, brambles and small trees and bushes. The path weaves its way amongst the bushes and undulations in the ground until it reaches the top of the high cliffs that lead to The Towers.
Stef sits out of the wind behind a large old building that looks out across the North Sea. The building was used as a Customs and Excise Headquarters many years ago, but is now empty and deteriorating in the wind and cold winters, and is a useful place to sit and rest.
“You took your time.” laughs Stef as Nicola and Simon reach him.
“We are in no hurry Dude.” answers Simon a little breathless as he lays his bike down on the grass and sits beside it.
Nicola leans her bike against the brick of the building and sits down next to Stef; leaning back gratefully against the cold brickwork she closes her eyes and gives a little sigh.
“You alright?” asks Stef.
“Yes, fine, that last bit is all uphill.”
Stef for all his apparent unconcerned attitude feels a deep love for Nicola and watches her with concern, Nicola had been ill over the winter months with constant colds and influenza and never seeming to recover before another virus would attack.
“Well it’s all downhill to The Towers now, bumpy is all.” he smiles.
Nicola smiles back; “Apart from the bit that goes uphill.”
“That’s not much; anyway we will rest again at The Towers.”
“What do you mean rest again, how far are we going?”
“Only to the river, if you feel up to it, that is?”
“Yeah, I’m Ok it feels good to be out.” Nicola replies looking up at the sky and at the surrounding fields.
“Anyone want a drink?” asks Simon, offering a green water bottle.
“Yes please.” answers Nicola holding out her hand.
Simon hands it to her and gives a big sigh of happiness; “My legs feel better now after being all cramped up on planes and trains.”
“Hark at the jetsetter; wish I could go to the states for sixty quid!” Nicola laughs.
Simon’s face falls; “Don’t forget the extra eighty quid and the ulcer getting to the airport.”
“Yeah, I wouldn’t have liked the stress, but that’s still not a lot for a return to America!”
“S’pose ya right,” laughs Simon; “We gonna sit here all day then?”
Nicola, after taking a small drink from Simon’s water bottle, hands it back to him and stands up; “I’m ready.”
Stef also stands and sits on his bicycle and waits for Nicola and Simon before he follows the path into a large open field of grass that borders the cliffs.
They cycle slowly as the field is bumpy and now they are away from the building the view from the cliff top of the North Sea is awesome! A distant island appears to glow and move in the sunlight. A shingle beach forms a fantastic border between the grey of the sea and green of the land. Far beyond the island is the city, the grey of the buildings and skyscrapers look dirty from this distance and to the east, the hint of the French coastline shows as a dark line bordering the horizon.
They all cycle steadily across the field avoiding the many dogs and dog walkers and soon arrive at the large car park and ‘The Towers’ visitor centre. Without a glance at the attractions Stef cycles across the car park to the public house. Getting off his bike he is already walking towards the entrance when Nicola and Simon arrive.
“You wanna beer?” he asks.
“No, I don’t want one.” replies Nicola with disapproval.
“Yeah I’ll have a lager please mate.” Simon smiles.
“You sure you don’t want a drink; coke, orange?”
“No, I’m fine.” smiles Nicola as she gets off her bike, she leans it against the wall near Stef’s bike and sits down at a bench and table as Stef enters the public house. Simon lays his bike carefully on the ground and sits beside her and they wait quietly not speaking until Stef returns with the beers.
“This is what I need.” he says putting Simon’s lager in front of him and Stef takes a long drink of his brown ale; “That’s better.” he says removing the now half empty glass from his mouth as he wipes the froth from his lips and belches contentedly.
Simon raises his glass; “Cheers.” as he also drinks half the glass in one swallow. With the same contended smile and soft belch he raises his glass again and finishes the lager in one go.
Stef quickly follows and reaching his hand out for Simon’s empty glass he goes back into the public house.
“I hope he isn’t getting me another one, I won’t be able to ride me bike.” Simon laughs.
“I noticed that you did not say no.” says Nicola with a smile.
“I thought he was just taking the empty glasses back.” Simon laughs as a blush of red shows on his cheeks.
Nicola smiles, tempted to criticise Simon’s addiction further but decides against it, instead she looks back across the car park and distant cliffs. There are not many cars in the car park this early in the season and she has an uninterrupted view of the magnificent sandy cliffs; that are topped with an amazing field of green.
Stef comes out of the public house empty handed; retrieving his bicycle from the public house wall he jumps astride and looks at Nicola and Simon with impatience.
Simon stands appearing relieved that Stef has not bought any more beer and picks his bicycle up. With a happy smile he puts a foot on the pedal and sits on the saddle as the bike is propelled along the path.
Nicola takes her time; adjusting her rucksack she takes her bike from Stef who has been patiently holding it and pedals after Simon.

The steep hill up to The Towers is too steep for Nicola to cycle up and she gets off and walks as Stef labours past her on his bicycle.
Simon and Stef’s bicycles lay beside the path when she reaches the top and she looks about anxiously; they are by the wall of the old church looking out across the water, they appear excited as they both shout and point far out to sea.
Nicola lays her bike down on the grass next to the others and runs across the old graveyard to see what all the excitement is about.
About half a kilometre away a sleek speedboat with two large black engines on the back is being chased by a police launch. The speedboat weaves one way and then the other trying to escape the slightly slower launch. The speedboat slowly increases the gap and heads out to sea; Stef and Simon shout excitedly encouraging the speedboat in its escape.
“Hope he makes it, whatever he’s been doing.” shouts Stef in excitement.
“Probably speeding and scaring the locals in a boat like that.” laughs Simon.
“Wrong time of day to be doing any smuggling.” confirms Stef, seeing Nicola behind them he asks; “Did you see that Nic?”
“Don’t see what all the excitement is about; apart from a boat escaping the police.”
“Well that’s worth seeing once in a while.” smiles Stef.
Nicola turns and starts to walk back to the bicycles, with a last backward look at the speeding boats Simon and Stef run after her.

Beyond The Towers the sea defences stretch all the way to the next town which can just be seen in the distance. The sea defences are made up of a high concrete thick wall topped by a flat single track road; and makes an ideal cycle path. The views of the distant seaside town and across the marshland keep them occupied as