Saturday Morning Bike Ride

On Saturday monring I decided to make a visit to the avenue to see how the trees were looking...

Off up the long hill. I'm heading south-east so the rising sun is hidden behind the hill which creates lovely silhouettes such as these trees and, if you look closely, a flock of birds flying between them.

The moon is still up, pylon lines cut across the blue sky.

Looking back from underneath the wires.

A couple of cows watch me make my way slowly up the road.

I like the contrast of bare branches against wintry blue skies.

Made it to the top. Unfortunately the sun has since hidden itself behind a large bank of clouds. Never mind, some cows come over to say hello.

Autumnal trees lie ahead. When I reach the trees I disturb lots of little birds who have been feasting on the beech nuts. Among them are...

... great tits (similar markings to a blue tit but with a solid black cap),...

...and bramblings. I find the RSPB website a big help in indentifying birds, particularly the "similar birds" section as I had at first thought the brambling might have been a chaffinch.

The avenue and the reason why I came this route. I'm a little disappointed as the sun is still proving elusive and the sky is rather grey, so not such a good photo as I'd hoped for.

Looking up.

Also on this route a few miles further on is the little ruined cottage, I stop to take a photo through the window.

And then the sun comes out, hooray!

Now heading downhill towards Barcraigs reservoir.

The whole time I've been out cycling the hills on the other side of the strath have been bathed in constant sunshine. I definitely picked the wrong direction weather-wise today.

The gorgeous colours of the trees around this little section of road cheers me up though. The previous day we had quite a lot of rain as you can see.

At the junction coming up I'm going to turn right in the direction of the sunshine...

...found it! What a difference, it makes the leaf and berry colours dazzling bright.

Barr Loch.

Bridge over the river Calder.

A swan on Castle Semple Loch. The big bank of clouds is still lying over the area I've just spent the last couple of hours cycling around.

The notices warn of issues with the water quality, nobody's told the ducks.

The swan on the left with a yellow beak is a whooper swan. He has a damaged wing and stays at the loch year-round along with the mute swans.

I then zoomed home along the cycle path.

That afternoon we all went for a little walk on the braes...

... someone tell this guy he needs a bigger bike.