Finding your Mountain

‘Go where you feel most alive’ is a quote written by an unknown, but whoever did write it please step forward, claim it and give yourself a medal because it’s spot on!  Where do you feel most alive, where is your happy place that provides mental clarity when needed, tranquility, plenty of stoke, or that adrenaline rush. 
I have two places; The Ocean and My Mountain. The ocean is somewhere that provides my spiritual rinse as I’ve probably mentioned before. As a surfer and knowing many other surfers, I’m sure they would instantly say the Ocean is their special place. But my relationship with the Ocean has become a complex personal one over the last few years, and a relationship I’m working very hard to build upon again. I do love being immersed in water, riding perfect waves, throwing in a few turns, and occasionally dangling my toes over the end of my longboard or riding some punchy waves on my single fin, thinking I’m surfing like one of my heroes from the 70’s, I really do love it.  But it’s space and maybe solitude that I crave form my special place, and surfing has become so popular that space is a very rare commodity now, and that carrying capacity is very nearly pouring over the rim at most beaches. So, in light of this,  I have to say that the place I hold very dear to my heart is where I call ‘My Mountain’.
‘My Mountain’ is where I ride my Mountain bike the most. It’s not even a mountain, barely a hill, in fact when I mention it to friends many reply ‘where? or what hill’? There is something very special about the time I spend on the First and Last Hill in Britain, (depending on which way you arrive on our fair land).  ‘My Mountain’ is what I have, it's 1.5 miles from my house, has features that allow me to progress as a rider,  and it’s damn good fun. ‘My Mountain’ is not Whistler or Morzine, it’s certainly no manmade bike park, but it's a place where I can practice for enduro racing. I can train doing laps, climbing and descending as fast and as many times as I can manage. I can measure, reflect, and make a plan to improve my riding, or I can go and just have fun. The trails have been made by horse, not human; and would like to add that the Dartmoor Ponies that frequent this area are phenomenal trail builders and have a great eye for what we’re looking for as riders.    
‘My Mountain’ allows me to really get into a ‘Flow State’ and build confidence and consistency. It’s not somewhere I find intimidating, and yet there are sections that require real focus and commitment, and allows me to be a good coach to myself and quietly praise my progress, when I have moments of absolute Speed and Flow. Local spots allow you to do this and an amazing feeling that my smile confirms when I reach the bottom of the forty second trail ( Like I said, It’s no mountain) and in these moments I give myself a pat on the back for a solid run because the feeling is quite sublime, and believe me I’m no professional, I’m just happy with how I ride, yet at 52, I still want to get better. 
‘My Mountain’ is more than a place to ride bikes. It offers me the space and the tranquility I often crave or the emptiness I can’t find as often as I’d like in the ocean when surfing.  When I sit on my favourite rock, and watch the world around me, at golden hour, I can just listen and be totally in the present moment. This is why ‘My Mountain’ is so important to me, 
Is your mountain personal to you.  What does it provide? How does it benefit, or what can you learn from this place? I’d love to read some comments.