Saturday Morning Bike Ride

Off at about 8am...

A zoomed view over the fields to try and show the wispy clouds over the distant hills.

There was a lovely tortoiseshell cat just next to this barn but he scarpered when I stopped. Still, the barn on it's own is rather pretty - I like the red doors.

Hawthorn tree.

Today's route will take me past three reservoirs. This is a little peek of the first one.

Umbellifer seed head.

And another one.

Looking in the opposite direction back towards the misty hills.

A favourite tree. With cows.

Now through a rowan tree frame.

Rowan berries. Out of focus but I liked the colourful effect.

On this road pine trees line one side.

Another view over the reservoir. One reason I picked this route today is that there are lots of rowan trees along it and the berries are at their best just now. Easy to see in "real life", but they're not really showing up well on the photos...

...this zoomed in shot of the rowan tree in the previous photo makes the berries much more noticieable.

Another umbellifer, this one still in flower.

Curious cows come over to see what I'm up to while I'm pausing to take the umbellifer photo.

Reservoir number two.

Beech leaves are starting to turn.

Reservoir number three. Usually there are fishermen here but not today so I take the opportunity to leave my bike and walk round a little.

Bike shot.

Pretty pine cones. I attach them to my handlebars to take them home...

...if you look carefully at the above photo you can see them.

While I've stopped I take some shots of the rusty gate and chain.

I see the gate was once blue.

More rowan berries and the road ahead. Today I meet one car on this road, usually there are none.

Another favourite gate post. I like the different colours of barbed wire and the fact someone has stuffed a pine cone into the gap in the post.

Up here you get a grand view. Today the tops of the hills are a little obscured by the wispy clouds.

These sheep have impressive horns but by the time I get my camera out they're running away from me up the path to the top of the hill.

These cows look like belted galloways.

Lovely pastoral view.

I'm keeping my camera out now and will try some shots "on the hoof" (a la Mrs Micawber) as we are approaching the dilapidated farm...

Here's a little peek. The view is blocked by the silage bags and as usual there are people busy in the farm yard. The photo I take once a little closer is well wonky, I'll try again another time!

This is how it looks round the corner.

Now a completely new-to-me section of road. To get to it you have to cycle past a no cars allowed sign next to a row of cottages where one of the occupants shouts out a cheery good morning as he sits on a bench reading the paper with his cat.

There are lovely views from the road.

Rosehips.

Bee (anyone know what type? I've seen a few of these around)

Blue fly.

Washing line. My favourite photo from today. At this point I join back onto roads I've cycled many times before.

One last shot of interesting bits of barns then I manage to cycle the remaining miles home without stopping for further photos (though I do stop to pet a lovely black and white cat I meet when I join the cycle path).

I must admit to not feeling terribly inclined to go out cycling this morning. The weather didn't look great, though as it turned out it didn't rain. Our house is a mess and I was feeling I should really tidy up instead (plus there are lots of other things needing done), but heyho, they can wait. I did also wonder if I'd really see anything new and worth photographing as I've covered so many of the roads round here before. Well, I'm glad to say I managed to take loads of photos and there were plenty of subjects. Changes in the weather and seasons always present something new to see. Plus we are lucky here to have such a wide network of farm roads that I can have so many different options for cycling routes. Just to be out in the fresh air is such a tonic, the different scents I noticed while cycling along were wonderful. I got some excercise too, which is much needed...