A beautiful sunny September morning, I set off early again at just after 7am.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvqHLTQW1I/AAAAAAAAA8o/3dIrHLm6Gws/s400/DSCF3252.JPG)
I begin by following my favourite route out of the village. An early morning mist lies in the valley. I like the way the pylon wires line the sky in the photo above.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvqHyrCcSI/AAAAAAAAA84/JU4bKRtHSBo/s400/DSCF3265.JPG)
I think these are pheasant hens sunning themselves on the road and verge.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvqHkNpaOI/AAAAAAAAA8w/g3RcxnliKJY/s400/DSCF3262.JPG)
The folly rises above the mist as though it's on an island.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvqIPF-vlI/AAAAAAAAA9A/FUk7HfZlYnw/s400/DSCF3268.JPG)
First cow photo for this trip, they're ignoring me today.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvqIXji5yI/AAAAAAAAA9I/JhKaP053kgQ/s400/DSCF3278.JPG)
Cows and folly and mist
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/Sqvr9Aw335I/AAAAAAAAA9Q/nyzjXZ94nnM/s400/DSCF3281.JPG)
The big stone , I turn right.
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/Sqvr9StXW8I/AAAAAAAAA9Y/Yb9OlG_7jes/s400/DSCF3288.JPG)
This farm sign has always caught my eye. The sheep in the field behind were posing beautifully for a photograph I couldn't resist.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/Sqvr9isYP8I/AAAAAAAAA9g/o4S71Q8sfgE/s400/DSCF3291.JPG)
Dewy cobwebs in the hedgerows.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/Sqvr9wGSTaI/AAAAAAAAA9o/DQoQomgE1jM/s400/DSCF3299.JPG)
An early Autumn view.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvsPY25SAI/AAAAAAAAA94/_unw60Tm__A/s400/DSCF3310.JPG)
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/Sqvr-QhfOcI/AAAAAAAAA9w/nalu8t8zYwM/s400/DSCF3304.JPG)
The first view of Ben Lomond (the mountain on the left with the "shoulders") .
Whenever I've been this way recently the distant mountains have been hidden by cloud. It was lovely to see them again.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvsPt-B68I/AAAAAAAAA-A/e1nKo-gwpQg/s400/DSCF3313.JPG)
Ben Lomond getting a little closer!
On a normal two hour run I would usually turn off fairly soon after this point. This morning though I have the luxury of four hours cycling time and can just keep going; a good feeling!
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvsQLFheXI/AAAAAAAAA-I/4T9-dIH3lNE/s400/DSCF3317.JPG)
After here I have a long descent, too enjoyable to break for photos especially when I know I will be seeing more impressive views soon.
I pass through one of the local villages and stop to buy a mars bar for breakfast.
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvsQQ2SUYI/AAAAAAAAA-Q/oQ2gOehDKPM/s400/DSCF3321.JPG)
After another climb out of the village this is the view I am rewarded with.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvsQpXX3bI/AAAAAAAAA-Y/MdS2ERdZKeE/s400/DSCF3324.JPG)
A close-up of the houses peeping over the hill with the mountains behind.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvsgGLtwQI/AAAAAAAAA-g/Kz4Nw9gQ5DM/s400/DSCF3341.JPG)
Wheee, down again! It's quite a hilly route but I'm not as unfit as I feared I would be after failing to do any serious exercise in the last four years since having children. Climbing the hills doesn't bother me; I just drop down to the lowest gear I find comfortable. The downhills which follow are a just reward. We are very lucky to have such an excellent network of minor roads within easy cycling distance.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvsgRpEIeI/AAAAAAAAA-o/o1MtWmclMbY/s400/DSCF3346.JPG)
Looking back over the Firth of Clyde and the mountains of Argyll after making another climb.
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/Sqvsg1KSa_I/AAAAAAAAA-w/LtFl_UiTwjc/s400/DSCF3353.JPG)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvshNrSaaI/AAAAAAAAA-4/ZLGsmfwiYrI/s400/DSCF3354.JPG)
The bike shot (not a very good one)
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvshXTBFUI/AAAAAAAAA_A/RVmvJl4lahA/s400/DSCF3378.JPG)
A last look at the view.
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqwJ3BwJ29I/AAAAAAAAA_k/XUI3w8y804E/s400/DSCF3393.JPG)
Eventually I reach the entrance to the cyclepath and follow it home for the final few miles. I don't have it to myself today; it's later in the morning than normal and people have been encouraged out by the fine weather. Many "Good Mornings" are exchanged -we're all so happy that it's stopped raining (in August 2009 we had over twice our normal rainfall for the month (interesting weather summary
here!)) and the sun is shining!
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/Sqvss2_KXkI/AAAAAAAAA_Q/YS-vxZOWCg4/s400/DSCF3397.JPG)
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_YvW4blF8tzw/SqvstNhd6zI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/GCGncNRuD14/s400/DSCF3427.JPG)
At last, two cows pay me some attention on the final climb from the cycle path up to our village.
Home for just after 11am.
6 comments:
Wow! I'm impressed ... and speechless! ... the views...your stamina...
I couldn't even begin to cycle for 2 hours, let alone 4! Lovely photos - no wonder you go out on your bike, though, it's all so beautiful.
Pomona x
Such beautiful pictures and I love the third one with all the mist and folly!
Have a lovely week,
Nina x
Hi Anne, I have really enjoyed visiting beautiful places with you on your bike. The scenery around you is gorgeous and so green for this time of year. I can see that you have had a very high rainfall this summer. Your views are all so scenic. You must have amazing energy to bike ride so much. Very good for the old fitness levels though.
What a perfect day out!!! Your photos are absolutely stunning, the more I saw the more I wanted to see. The mist in the distance. It must have been a wonderful sight. Cycling through the countryside is a great way of seeing it and experiencing it. Scotland is such a beautiful country!
Isabelle x
Hi and thank you for your comments.
I just wanted to say that I am not a particularly fit cyclist by any means! I just enjoy getting out into the countryside and cycling is the best way - walking is too slow, a car too fast.
If I can encourage any one to dig their bike out the shed and just have a go again, that would be great - you might just find you like it!
Post a Comment