Sunday 28 April 2013

Saturday Morning Bike Ride

A sunny day as promised. Off and away just before 8am.

We have lots of daffodils still blooming here. This was one of many brightening up a nearby farm lane.

 Farm sign with daffodils. Look at how blue the sky is!

 And how green the fields are becoming, at last.

 Moo.

A favourite little view, this time with a black cow grazing in the distance and a pheasant strolling along the top right of the very green field in the foreground.

 Looking past pylon wires to the pond.

One of many favourite trees, frequently photographed.

 Another farm sign with daffodils.

Looking down the road towards the rock.

 Now past the rock and looking back up to where I took the previous photo.

 The tree mound and red gate post, this week with added bike.

 Bare branches and blue sky. The buds on most of the trees are just about ready to burst open.

 Wonky fence and barn with two crows flying in between.

 Loch in the distance, cows to the right and a patch of celandines on the verge.

Lets have a closer look at the celandines first, so pretty and somehow much more noticeable this year than in previous years, perhaps because Spring is being a little teasing in it's arrival.

 Now the cows, posing beautifully.

 Leaf buds ready to pop.

 A lovely line of trees sweeping up the hill.

 Speaking of hills... I have to say it felt steeper than it looks.

 I pause near the top to catch my breath, and to take a photo of the trees perfectly positioned at the bend.

 More trees, hedges and celandines. Sheep and lambs dot the adjoining fields.

 These sheep were being particularly noisy, what a racket they were making.

A view over a nearby hill.

 A face in the road.

Soon after this point I reach the cycle path. If heading vaguely west at the beginning of a ride, I often like to cycle out along the roads, taking my time to admire the views and following various and numerous different routes along the vast network of country lanes we are lucky to have. However, when it's time to turn home I like to "zoom" along the cycle path, enjoying the feeling of exercising at a steady pace. I don't usually stop for many photos once homeward bound along the cycle path, though today I did, four times...

 The first time was to admire the clouds over the loch.

The second time was to photograph this gate and tracks.

The third time was to look at the castle. I took lots of photos of the castle but this was my favourite. I like the balance of the castle on the left and the large tree on the right and the backdrop of white clouds and blue sky.

The fourth and last time was to photograph one of the many pussy willows brightening up the branches along the cycle path.

So, a slightly longer ride then most recent ones have been. I did just over 20 miles, up till now this year I've been doing about 15. It's still not especially far, and I don't go fast (I was overtaken several times on the cycle path) but it feels good to be out enjoying the fresh air and taking some exercise. I get such a lot of pleasure from seeing the beautiful landscapes and nature that surrounds us, even here in a part of the country not famed for it's beauty and ignored by visitors keen to reach the more dramatic Scottish landscapes and prettier towns elsewhere. For some reason capturing it all "on film" gives me the most satisfaction, even with my slightly defective little compact camera. I like that I have this personal record of the world around me as it changes over the years. Very satisfying.

17 comments:

Claire said...

Hey Anne, so nice to see the blue sky on your ride.....
While it might not be on the tourist trail that's probably a bonus.....not much traffic. It's still very beautiful and no doubt there are lots more photos you haven't shown us.....
Love the Daffodil.

Claire :}

Lyn said...

oh my what wonderful photos...as usual. Such BLUE and GREEN! I like the wonky fence one with the splash of red!
xxx

Louise said...

I love your bike rides, you and your slightly defective little camera produce beautiful photographs every time and I totally understand about capturing it all 'on film' - I'm not happy just to see things, I like to record them too!

Gerda said...

I enjoyed to accompany you on your ride again. Beautiful as always. Groetjes, Gerda

forgetmenotsblue said...

Looks like a beautiful part of the world. Lovely sunny photos cheered me up a treat :)

Cybèle said...

You will be the one person to understand how lost I'll be feeling this week without my camera - have left it behind at B's house tonight and probably won't see him (and the camera) till Friday night... had some bike ride photos on there too :-(
My favourite is the one with the gate and tracks, but then I do like lines in my photos. And I don't go very fast either - it's all about exploring as far as I can.

June said...

Stunning photos - my favourites are the wonky fence and the castle. You have a good eye - no point in expensive equipment if you can't get the composition right . This is what our tutor in Photography Class told us, which is right. Have a good week.
June

June said...

Stunning photos - my favourites are the wonky fence and the castle. You have a good eye - no point in expensive equipment if you can't get the composition right . This is what our tutor in Photography Class told us, which is right. Have a good week.
June

Dawn said...

Stunning colours in your photos - those blues, greens and yellows really zing!

Unknown said...

I know this is nuts...but I look forward to your Saturday morning bike rides. Since the country girl became a city dweller, I just don't get out on my bike like I used to. Your posts give me a little nudge :) Anne

Neighborhood Watch said...

Aw, look at the little lambs. So sweet. It's always nice to see your part of the planet.

Lulu said...

what a beautiful place...It looks so quiet, away from the crowds of the city...

Gillian Roe said...

Well your camera might be defective but your photos are not, they are as glorious as ever. What a blue, blue sky. No wonder you enjoyed being out in it. x

Mrs. Micawber said...

Great post, Anne. So much of what you say about cycling and photography really hits home. I am struggling right now with finding a balance between packing on the miles (to get ready for the long Colorado ride) and just enjoying my rides. Even on Sunday rides, which I am trying to keep casual and fun, I feel like I need to go farther and not stop for so many photos. A 15-20 mile ride is perfect for pleasure, I think (also healthy exercise) while leaving time for photography too. Believe me that when my big June ride is done I will probably stop posting mileage stats! (Somehow posting the mileage helps keep me accountable.)

I like your favoured tree, and especially like that tree mound with gate in foreground. Also the cows and the "steeper than it looks" photo - so often hills ARE steeper than they look. Also the castle, and catkin, and the gate and tracks - tracks fascinate me.

We don't have daffodils yet, but our leaves, like yours, are getting ready to burst out.

:)

Mrs. Micawber said...

P.S. I was wrong about the daffodils - saw some lovely ones on my ride today.

AND the first baby leaves on some smaller trees.

:)

Linda said...

You had a much nicer Sunday weather-wise than we did up in Moray - periodic rain and hail were the order of the day!
Love the photo of the fields with artistically placed cow. Very considerate of it to position itself just right for your shot!
It's so true about the joys of capturing the same views through the seasons. Something I really miss about living in the city. I joined a meme a couple of years ago of taking a photo in the same spot every month throughout the year, and it was interesting enough, but I didn't get the same satisfaction from my cityscapes as I would have done with a tree in a field. http://occasionalscotland.blogspot.co.uk/search/label/12%20kuvaa%2Fphotos

Annie Cholewa said...

Must be mad people who hurry by, missing such beautiful country because it's not 'on the tourist route'!

I've just seen your comment over at knitsofacto Anne ... I did email you my email address, to the hotmail address you gave me ... have just tried again.

Are you on Ravelry, Facebook or Twitter? Maybe you could private message me your address on one of those platforms if the email somehow fails again. I'm knitsofacto everywhere so am easy to find. Your parcel is ready to go :)

LinkWithin

Related Posts with Thumbnails