Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Cycling through the British Countryside on a Summer’s Day

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Starting point is 00:01:15 Welcome to Get Sleepy. Where we listen, we relax, and we get sleepy. My name's Tom and I'm your host. Thanks so much for tuning in. We'll soon be going on a gentle summertime adventure through the British countryside on an old fashioned bicycle. It's an activity I personally adore, it can feel so freeing and inspiring to get out on a bike into some open countryside, especially if

Starting point is 00:01:55 there's amazing views all around. I hope tonight's story fills you with that sense of freedom while you settle into bed and drift off to sleep. It was written by Lottie and will be read by Nadine. First though, get sleepy premium is the very best way to listen to the show and we'd love for you to try it. The first seven days are free of charge so you can be sure you're happy. In addition to the 500 plus episodes we've released on the public feed, there are hundreds more to be found on Get Sleepy Premium, including lots of extra long episodes like the one you might have heard last night and nothing will disrupt your rest as there are no ads whatsoever. Every

Starting point is 00:02:52 Thursday night we release a brand new bonus episode just for our premium supporters like tomorrow when we'll return to one of our most popular premium only series, spending another day in the coastal town of Scarborough with Kate and her cat Whiskers, who live in a converted windmill. Trust me, you will love this series. So give Get Sleepy Premium a try with a 7 day free trial to begin. Visit GetSleepy.com slash support or follow the link in the show notes to learn more. Thank you all

Starting point is 00:03:33 so much. Now my friends it's time for us to unwind and prepare for sleep. So make yourself comfortable, put aside any physical distractions and allow yourself to sink into the cozy support of your bed. There are thousands of people all over the world listening to this episode just as you are. We're blessed to have all of you here listening and though it may point to the fact that a lot of people need some extra help in falling asleep, there's nothing wrong with that. I myself find it easier to drop off to sleep if I have a bit of background noise that allows my focus to just drift in and out. to just drift in and out. Now I don't tend to listen to podcasts similar to this one as it's a bit too close to the day job but it's about finding whatever

Starting point is 00:04:54 works for you and at the end of the day we all have our own preferences, our own likes and dislikes in every area of our lives and the way we settle down and fall asleep is just the same. So thank you for being here and for choosing get sleepy to be a part of your bedtime routine. As you listen along tonight, remember that you are free and welcome to fall asleep at any time. Our stories are designed to carry your mind away from the thoughts of the day and into a dreamy, carefree world.

Starting point is 00:05:53 And if you fall asleep before the end, you can always come back and listen another time. Now continue to relax and rest in this comfy spot as you bring your mind to a bright warm summer's day in England. This is where our story begins. You are sitting on the saddle of an old vintage-style bicycle. You can feel the padding of the saddle pressing against your sitting bones. Your fingertips are wrapped around the handlebars. The smooth plastic is molded to fit your grip perfectly. You can see a shiny steel bell, just centimeters from your right hand. The morning sun is glinting off its surface. You look down. Your bike is a deep burgundy color, like red wine, glossy and sleek from years of somebody looking after it. The handlebars and pedals are made of cream-colored plastic. You can see the orange reflectors on each wheel

Starting point is 00:08:01 and the front light that sits below the handlebars. It's the kind of headlight that is powered by your pedaling. You inhale a deep, grateful breath in and taste the subtle hint of apple blossom and warm hay that floats on the breeze. It is unmistakably summer in England, and you can sense that a wonderful day is about to unfold ahead of you. You and your bike are sitting at the bottom of the garden path that leads up to a tiny, white cottage, fringed with lilac trees.

Starting point is 00:08:53 This is where you are staying on holiday. The small square windows are perfectly fitted into the stone walls of the cottage, giving it a friendly look. The cat is slinking around the pale purple front door. The garden gate, which is standing open, has been painted in the same pale purple. You reach out and touch it with your hand, feeling the smooth paintwork. You pull it towards you and hear the satisfying click as it hits the latch and closes fully. For a moment you pause and take in your surroundings. Your cottage is one of

Starting point is 00:09:50 only three or four nearby. Everything else around you is rolling countryside. Wide, graceful hills stretch out into the distance. They arc magnificently against the clear blue sky. Everywhere is green. The plants are bright and lush from this year's spring rain, but today the sky is clear and the sun is warm. You close your eyes for a moment, just drinking in the feeling of this summer morning. In the distance, songbirds are chirping. Opening your eyes, you see them joyfully circling and diving in the sky.

Starting point is 00:10:56 You take another deep and satisfying breath in. Then you turn your gaze to the road. It is smooth, unmarked, and narrow. It rolls out in front of you like a red carpet. You are carrying a light backpack. Inside is a bottle of water, which you know you'll appreciate after a long day of cycling. But now, you feel the irresistible pull of adventure and lift your right foot to the pedal. As you push down on the pedal, bringing your left foot to rest on the left pedal, you hear the mechanical sound of the bike chain, clicking in its satisfying way.

Starting point is 00:11:55 The wheels seem to whir, and you are off, gently cruising along the smooth concrete road. passing along the smooth concrete road. Each leisurely push of the pedals propels you forward smoothly and gracefully. It almost feels like you are gliding and not riding. You continue in this buttery, smooth way, following the road as it slopes slightly downwards and bends to the right. At the bottom of the bend, you come out onto a wider road that is lined with oak trees on both sides. Their gnarled, knobby trunks twist out of the ground and burst through the old stone walls that have been built alongside the road.

Starting point is 00:12:55 Peering up, you can see the canopies of these ancient trees meeting each other to form a perfect, arched tunnel of green leaves. As you ride into the tunnel of oaks, you can't help but feel you are in a magical land. The oak trees are fully flourishing. Their leaves are bright and vibrant. The sun that filters through them becomes soft and golden. Here and there, you see gaps in the canopy, and beams of sunlight burst through.

Starting point is 00:13:43 Like swords of gold, they cut through the soft air and hit the road. The click, click, clicking of your bicycle chain and the rustle of the oak leaves are the only sounds present as you ride through. Then the road turns to the left and the oak trees stop. You feel the shift from filtered light to full sunlight on your face as you leave the charm of the oaks. As you cycle, you begin to notice your mind calming and quietening. It's as if all the thoughts that usually occupy your mind are simply draining away and disappearing with every movement of the bike. Peace and well-being envelop you,

Starting point is 00:14:53 and you cannot help but breathe a little more freely. Next, you come across a valley of green patchwork fields. Each one is different. Some are carpeted with thick, scrubby grass. Others are lush meadows that cows graze on. Some are the creamy gold color of wheat, ready to be harvested. But one field is lined with rows upon rows of small green plants that look like tiny bushes or shrubs. As you cycle closer, you notice a hand-painted sign that sits at the entrance to the farm. It reads, Pick your own strawberries.

Starting point is 00:15:54 Feeling a rush of childlike joy, you steer your bike into the entrance. The change from tarmac to dirt road is bumpy for your tyres, so you slow down and gently bring the bike to a stop. You push out the kickstand and dismount, letting the bike lean against its stand perfectly supported. There is a small stack of woven wicker baskets. You select one carefully and begin to wander amongst the strawberry plants. It's a glorious feeling to pad down the rows and rows of strawberry plants. You can feel the warm sun on your skin, tickling your face

Starting point is 00:16:48 gently. The air carries the sweet smell of ripe strawberries. You peer down at the bushes, scanning them eagerly. Suddenly your eyes catch catch the deep blood red of a perfectly ripe strawberry. You bend down and take it in your fingers. Its skin feels smooth and cool, dotted with hundreds of tiny hard seeds. As you pick the fruit, you can feel its flesh yielding slightly to your touch. It is firm but with a juicy softness, and you just know that it will taste delicious. Taking your time, you meander amongst the strawberry plants, selecting the brightest, biggest berries you can find. When you have enough, you carefully carry them back to where you found the baskets.

Starting point is 00:18:03 Next to the baskets is a money box with paper punnets stacked on top. You place your strawberries carefully into a punnet before fishing in your pocket for change. Your fingers find the cool, smooth metal of a two pound coin. You bring it out and place it in the slit of the honesty box. It hits the bottom, and the sound of it clinking and jangling against all the other coins inside is satisfying. satisfying. Finally, you return to your bike, balance on the seat, and begin to eat your strawberries. They are the perfect balance of sweet and tangy, bursting with juice. Eating each one feels like a tiny ritual of love.

Starting point is 00:19:06 When you have finished eating, you kick back your stand and turn your bicycle around. You cycle out of the strawberry fields and onto the road. It is late morning now, and the sun is beginning to feel warmer. But you are quite comfortable. The breeze created by riding the bicycle keeps you cool and calm. You allow yourself to meander along the road, letting your senses guide you. The bike simply carries you. You are now in an even steady rhythm.

Starting point is 00:19:56 The British countryside slips by. You see rolling hills fringed with ancient trees, paddocks of grass dotted with white woolly sheep, and babbling streams that gurgle and tinkle under old stone bridges and along lush meadows. Here and there, wild rabbits scurry out of their burrows to chew on clover. Then, you catch the taste of salt in the air. You are peddling up a gentle incline. And when you reach the crown of the hill, you stop. Sprawling out along the horizon is the sea. It is a deep blue-green color, and it glitters

Starting point is 00:20:59 in the sunlight. Its beauty takes your breath away. You freewheel down the other side of the hill, savouring the feeling of no longer needing to pedal. The air rushes past you, brisk and welcoming. The road you are following snakes and curves gracefully. You use your body weight to maneuver the bike so that you follow the bends in the road. Your balance is perfect and your focus is totally on the present moment. And your focus is totally on the present moment. Then the hill tapers out and you're on level ground again.

Starting point is 00:21:52 Here, the countryside has changed. Sand dunes crowned with long reedy grasses are appearing. This silvery green grass looks so calming and inviting as it waves and dances in the breeze, like seaweed that is being moved by the tide. The sand from the dunes is the color of well-baked pastry, creamy orange-brown and dotted with small pebbles and stones. Beyond the dunes, the sparkling sea invites you. You keep pedaling towards it, feeling a rush of happiness and excitement.

Starting point is 00:22:48 The tarmac blends seamlessly into a sandy road that leads to a car park. You notice a bicycle parking bay and glide towards it. When you dismount, you swing your backpack around to find your chain. Taking hold of it from the bottom of the bag, it feels heavy and satisfying. You pull it out and loop it around the bicycle before locking it with a gratifying click. Next, you find your water bottle. You open the lid and bring it to your lips to drink. The water quenches your thirst and feels so refreshing after your morning of cycling.

Starting point is 00:23:46 When you are finished drinking, you slip out of your shoes. Then you pad out onto the beach and towards the sea. The delightful feeling of walking on damp sand travels through your feet and up into your body. It's a change from the weightlessness of pedaling, so you savour every footstep. The cold sea has chilled the sand, and it feels so revitalizing and it's the soles of your feet and in between your toes. You walk until you reach the water. The frothy lip of a wave gushes over your toes and up to your ankles. It is so cold that it leaves you breathless for a moment.

Starting point is 00:24:47 Standing still, you let the sea lap back and forth over your feet. Soon, you've grown accustomed to the cold temperature. You can't help but notice your breathing is deepening and slowing in response to the sea, one of nature's greatest healers. After some time, you realize that you're ready for lunch. It seems natural to turn and scan the landscape behind you. It seems natural to turn and scan the landscape behind you. You notice an old-fashioned pub perched on the top of a small cliff nearby. Without a moment's hesitation, you know this is where you'd like to go, so you waste no time leaving the sea, pulling on your shoes and returning to the bicycle.

Starting point is 00:25:50 The ride to the pub is extremely beautiful. To reach it, you must wind through a tiny cobblestone village. Each small cottage has a little front garden that its residents have planted with flowers of every color. There is a small town church and a handful of stores that sell vegetables, milk, and daily newspapers. Here and there, people wave and smile at you from the gardens or as they walk their dogs. Finally, the road leads you to the pub, and it is even more wonderful than you could have imagined. The pub itself is a low, old-style building that reminds you of a barn. It has a thatched roof and a magnificent beer garden that pools out around it.

Starting point is 00:26:59 Benches and tables have been laid out thoughtfully in this garden, and you can see the one that is meant for you. It is half shaded by an apple tree, and someone has placed a single wild daisy in a jar as the centerpiece. So, locking your bicycle away, you take a seat. The menu has been written on a small blackboard in white chalk. There are only seven or eight options, but you know exactly what you want. A bright young waitress appears, and you order your lunch and something crisp and refreshing

Starting point is 00:27:46 to drink. She brings you the drink, and you sip it slowly, feeling grateful for this serene place and the wonderful things you have seen already. It feels so magical to sit under the apple tree without a care in the world. You notice the people next to you tucking into their lunch of traditional fish and chips and it is perfect. You can see the crisp golden batter crunching and snapping delightfully to reveal perfectly soft and tender fish in the middle. The chips are chunky and fluffy, and the side of bright green buttery peas looks delicious.

Starting point is 00:28:41 Then the waitress brings you your meal. You inhale its delicious smell and begin to eat. You take your time to enjoy your food, understanding that each bite is fueling your body for the next part of your day. When you have eaten enough and sat for as long as you need, you decide it is time to rejoin your bicycle. This time, when you sit back on your saddle, you are filled with a sense of quiet purpose. It's time to complete your loop and return to your cottage for an evening of relaxation.

Starting point is 00:29:28 You confidently push forward on the pedals and listen once more to the rhythmic clicking of the bicycle chain. The road from the pub runs alongside the small cliffs to the sea. runs alongside the small cliffs to the sea. You follow them for a while, enjoying the view of the wide open sea to your right. The breeze has picked up. It whips against your face and arms, cooling them in the afternoon heat.

Starting point is 00:30:09 Then the path forks, and you choose the left fork, the one that leads you away from the sea and back to the fields. Once again, the countryside begins to slip by. You enjoy watching the dunes melt back into the fields. The salt air begins to fade and is replaced by the scent of wheat and the faint aroma of outdoor barbecues. You breathe it all in gratefully and happily. Slowly, the road begins to wind again. Old stone walls come back into view.

Starting point is 00:30:58 As you cycle by a field of toffee-colored cows, they stop munching on the grass to watch you pass. This route takes you through more tiny villages. Some only have three or four houses, whilst others are larger, with market squares and churches. But everywhere, people are enjoying the summer, sitting in their gardens or buying a treat from the ice cream van. This time you feel compelled to keep moving, so you pass through each village swiftly, aware that you are almost home. After some time cycling down a long, straight road that cuts between several large wheat fields,

Starting point is 00:31:50 you spot a ramshackle farmhouse. Something tells you to investigate, so you pull up to its wooden front gate. Next to the gate is a small wooden shelf holding boxes of fresh eggs and homemade bread. You gladly select a box of eggs and the most enticing loaf of bread that you can find. Just like you did with the strawberries, you drop money into a small tin honesty box before placing the eggs and bread in your bag and cycling on. The road from the farmhouse continues past the wheat fields before eventually bending into a woodland of old trees that reach up

Starting point is 00:32:47 to the sky. The shade is welcome and refreshing after so long out in the open. There is a certain stillness here that feels calming and special. You feel your pace slowing, and as you follow the road, your mind wanders back to the memories of the day. Before you know it, the road has carried you out of the woodland and to the backside of your cottage.

Starting point is 00:33:28 When you see it, you feel a sense of happy accomplishment. You dismount the bike and begin to push it instead, making your way around to the front. Carefully you guide your bicycle through the light purple gate and up the garden path. You rest it against the painted white wall of the cottage and reach inside your pocket for the key. Then, unlocking the cottage door with a dull click, you turn the handle and let yourself inside. The cottage is cool and inviting. The fresh smell of meadow flowers seems to fill it.

Starting point is 00:34:22 You place your bag onto the wooden kitchen table, thinking about the eggs on toast that you will eat later. Then you walk to the sitting room, where the extra soft and squidgy cushions molding into your body. You let out a great sigh of contentment. The feeling of having done hard but satisfying exercise engulfs your body. You can feel a heaviness in your arms and legs, but at the same time, a lightness in your heart. Lying on the sofa, knowing the work that you have done with your body, you can't help but

Starting point is 00:35:30 feel relaxed and sleepy. Somewhere in the distance, and your eyelids are starting to become too heavy to keep open. Slowly, you let your eyes close. You feel so comfortable and so happy here on this sofa. Your breathing begins to slow and you can feel sleep calling you irresistibly. So, without needing any effort, you simply let go and allow yourself to be carried into the most delicious, restful sleep, where you dream of warm summer days, fresh strawberries, and the feeling of cold seawater between your toes. You You You You You You You You You You You. You You You You You You You You You You you

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - Cycling through the British Countryside on a Summer’s Day

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