Sunday 30 September 2012

Saturday Morning Bike Ride and a Couple of Walks

A yucky morning weather-wise. But... I want to pick some brambles (blackberries) and the best brambling spots hereabouts are easiest reached by bike, being a little too far away for walking to and without suitable car parking as they're on single track roads.

Job done. Sooner than expected too - I decided to head out a road I have for some reason previously only ever returned by. So instead of quickly zooming down it I am slowly climbing up it and find a large bramble patch I never knew was there, and it was better than the one I was planning to visit. Result!

While I'm out I make a quick 10-12 miles of it seeing as the weather's not great.

Young bull.



Twisty roads in the rain.

Glacial erratic with farmhouse.

What's this? The sun's coming out just as I'm about to reach home.


There's even some blue sky.

And more brambles. These were the ones I was intending to pick, they'll need to wait for another day as I only brought one tub.

Cow silhouette, then home. Told you it was a short one!

To make up for the lack of decent outdoor time in the morning we all went for a woodland walk in the afternoon which was looking a much brighter and sunnier affair.

First we get to pass the geranium row...

... then we're up in the woods.Some Autumn shades just starting to appear.

Plenty of green still around though.

Funghi.

A view across the fields at the top.

Dead tree detail.

N has had enough by now and he and hubby head home. I get to spend some time with A, it's not often I get to see her without her little brother around also wanting attention. It was most pleasant.

The path home.

 
Later that evening I make bramble jelly with my haul from the morning. Five and a half jars. It always seems to take ages to reach setting point and overall it's a fairly time consuming process, but I do think it's worth it, just a nice feeling to to have a little bit of free hedgerow produce stashed away for the winter. I usually give at least one jar to my Dad, it's his favourite. I remember his mum (my granny) always having a jar of homemade bramble jelly available when we went to see her. I especially associate it served with her girdle (griddle/soda) scones which were first toasted and thickly buttered. Yummy!

On to this afternoon and we visited a nearby NTS property as today is the last opening day till next Spring. An excuse for some nice window, stone and garden photos...







The A and I get another slot of time to ourselves. I drag her along to look at some bales before teatime while the sun is shining (lucky girl!). The fields adjoin a main road close to our house. Despite the proximity I never cycle along this road - it's too busy and the cars go far too fast. Walking along the narrow pavement is not a particularly pleasant experience either, but we succeed in getting some golden field photos...




...then it's home for tea, prepared by hubby. Isn't it lovely to get tea made for you!

12 comments:

Louise said...

What a lovely walk and I always love to see bales. They're just so photogenic, dotted around the fields aren't they?! Square bales are my favourite though!

rockinloubylou said...

Golden field looks amazing. I have been making a point of having one to one time at weekends with older child and doing some Love Bombing, as Oliver James calls it. It has been very rewarding for both of us and she is blooming with it. Did it yesterday with older and today with younger. Result, two happy girls and one happy mum. We'll see how long it takes before intensive topping up required....

June said...

A lovely post. I love the window photos and the bales - I prefer the round ones!
June

Country Rabbit said...

Absolutely stunning! breath takingly lovely landscape! wow!...i felt i was there! ;0)...you did do well with your blackberries! x

Mereknits said...

Gorgeous photos, and such lovely memories you have made. I can almost taste that jelly from here, yum.
Meredith

Gillian Roe said...

Well, all in all, that sounds like a pretty perfect weekend...fresh air, bramble picking, sunshine, jelly making, walks, having tea cooked for you - all lovely!

Simone said...

It looks like you had a lovely productive weekend. How did you manage to make so many jars of jelly? I usually end up with just one and a half jars with a huge amount of berries!!! A wonderful post full of lovely walks and things to see.

Hazel said...

Goodness that's a lot of berries left at this time of year. All ours are well and truly gone now. Great walk. x

Rattling On said...

Bramble jelly. My all-time absolute favourite jam. Luvverly!

Lyn said...

a lovely post as usual, love the photos too. I always enjoy going out and about with you and that NT property looks really interesting.
xxx

Mrs. Micawber said...

It's fun to ride a road the other way round - you always see something different.

I really like that tip-tilty first golden field photo. And you caught a bird in the middle curvy road photo - a hawk maybe?

Those mushrooms, and the woodland path, look like something out of a fairy tale.

Have a good week!

Anonymous said...

Another lovely post - thank you. I do enjoy seeing where you cycle.

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails