Saturday 8 October 2011

Saturday Morning Bike Ride

We've had a couple of chilly nights recently and I was hoping for a nice frosty morning for today's ride, but it was not to be. The rain, however, wasn't heavy and I didn't get soaked (unlike last week), and altogether it was actually quite pleasant, I saw lots of nice things...

Many sheep are dotted under the pylon today.

The tree at the corner.

On the bend - bird on a post silhouette #1. I like photographing birds on posts and there are more to come. There would indeed have been many more but sometimes I try to creep just a wee bit too close and end up scaring them away.

Fence post and rounded field.

Straw bales getting wet.

The road ahead.

Horses with fancy jackets.

A face!

Bird on a post #2.

Lone tree and telegraph pole silhoutte.

Found some & couldn't resist.

Glossy wet bramble leaves. The berries themselves now definitely look like the devil has spat on them, not at all tempting to pick, so that's it for this year's bramble jelly effort.

Bird on a post #3.

Oh look, another one! I like the effect of the silhouetted leaves and branches far above.

A little view across a field to cows on a hill.

And yet another one.

Breakfast for two.

More sheep, I like the row of trees in the middle distance.

View from a bridge. I'm afraid these are the most colourful Autumn trees I found today.

A dilapidated farm. There is a walk signposted through the farmyard and up to the hill. I must try it one day.
Highland cows.

A little flock of sheep. Lovely colours on the land and some nice tree silhouettes topping the ridge too.

Someone didn't notice the corner - skid marks lead through the fence to the crashed car in the field.

If you look very closely you will find bird on a wire silhouette #1 just past the first telegraph pole. The road bends round to the right and you can see it disappearing up the hill below the ridge of trees.

The little isolated black dot on the ridge is a bull, we'll see him a bit closer soon.

Drippy berries. There seem to be far fewer berries in the hedgerows this year than last.

I like the tree shapes and the bend in the road. Looking further to the left here...

...we see the bull from the other side. He doesn't appear to have moved at all. There is a field of cows nearby and they're making quite a racket bellowing away, which reminds me that we were kep awake much of the night by one of the cows in the field opposite our house mooing through the night.

A final view, heading towards the trees and past more noisy cows on the left.

Altogether I did 17 miles, at a rather slow average of 8 mph - too many stops for umbellifer photos and too many attempts to creep up on birds. I did take lots of silhouette photos, I was going to apologise, but, hey I like them, so won't! There will be plenty more I'm sure. As Autumn then Winter take hold the silhouettes often become the most striking feature in the landscape. Despite the gloomy weather I did enjoy today's ride.

11 comments:

Lyn said...

another set of wonderful photos, love the berries and plant ones best
xxx

Mrs. Micawber said...

I always envy your bird shots. If I manage to get one that looks like more than a speck on the lens, it's a minor miracle.

Bird on a post #3 is beautiful and somehow haunting. I love the bull photos too, and the drippy berries with the tangle of barbed wire in the background.

So glad I'm not the only one who's drawn to snapping trees. They have such an indefinable charm, whether single or in little groups.

Are you able ride all winter?

rockinloubylou said...

I love the umbellifer photos. Keep em coming. Also the birds on posts. I think the 3 horses in their colourful jackets would make a lovely card, or a blog header for a country blog. You have such a great eye.

Anonymous said...

Lovely, lovely post with marvellous pictures. Thank you.

Louise said...

No need to apologise, I have enjoyed this journey and all the photos!

The hedgerows down here all seem to be very laden, but then we've had very different weather in England over the summer!

Mereknits said...

Beautiful, peaceful and lovely. Thank you for taking us along.
Meredith

VintageVicki said...

Gorgeous. Your bike ride pics are really great to me at the moment - showing me the outside when I'm stuck indoors so much.

I can't wait to get out on my bike again - I am missing it so much.

Simone said...

Great photos and some great captions too!

Pomona said...

Amazing to see straw bales in the fields at this time of year! I couldn't believe that they were still combining in Devon a couple of weeks ago - you don't expect such differences in climate in such a small island. And we are in desperate need of rain here - all the trees and hedge we planted last winter are suffering from the lack.

Pomona x

Suzy's Vintage Attic said...

I always enjoy you bike rides, so many beautiful views and so little traffic.
Did you get my last email?
I emailed you 4 days ago but it does not appear that you had that email so I forwarded it again to you yesterday.
If you still have not got it then please email me at isabelle.woollard@gmail.com
Thank you
Take care
Isabelle x

nimble fingers and steady eyebrows said...

gorgeous, I miss gently rolling hills so much. The photo with the hay bales is my absolute favourite. looking forward to seeing more - Annie

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