Sunday 29 July 2012

Sunday Morning Bike Ride

It's my first bike ride round our home patch for a wee while. I'm up and away reasonably early to try and catch the best of the weather as showers are forecast for later. The summer weather seemingly experienced by other parts of the UK in the past week has neglected us :(

A profusion of boggy wildflowers and an abundance of telegraph poles.

I pause at the bridge over the river to photograph the farmhouse on the hill.

A climb with pretty views.

At the top of the climb awaits a large expanse of (mainly) flat countryside with an excellent network of little roads to explore. Swallows and house martins are darting about the sky, I manage to capture a blurry image of two of them.

I have the feeling I'm being watched - just by the one brown and white cow in the field across the road, the rest are too busy grazing.

Umbellifers.

It would be rude not to.

Interesting umbellifer double-deckered beasties.

Bumble bee and thistle.

The road ahead, approaching a bend. For Mrs Micawber who likes bends in the road.

Ragwort.


 Another bend for Mrs Micawber. The roads here are very bendy, you'd love them!

Once round the bend I look back.

But what's this just a few yards further on? Some numptie has offloaded a couple of unwanted sofas onto the side of the road...

...right beside where this tree grows out of what's left of the doorway of a ruined cottage...

...and just before you turn the corner to find these lovely views of the reservoir.

Many of the roads are lined with wild flowers, in particular there is lots of this feathery white stuff. It's not a clear photo of it, but can anyone tell me what it is (after you all did such a good job in my last wild flower query)

I like how this tree arches over the road.


The reservoir, viewed from the opposite side of where we last saw it. And a shorn sheep.

It's rosebay willowherb time of year again. How time marches on.

Now we're heading down from the uplands via a lovely little lane. The rain has finally caught me which is why the photo looks a little blurred.

The folly.

Some wild roses are still blooming brightly.

The last few miles are spent zooming along the cycle path which is looking rather attractive at this time of year.

Then home to find that hubby has made raspberry muffins for breakfast. Yum.

19 comments:

rockinloubylou said...

rosebay willowherb - ugh! I had one in the garden which seemed to spring from nothing and before I knew it it was taller than me. They certainly thrive in the Scottish rain.

Rustic Vintage Country said...

Lovely photos. It makes me so cross when people dump things like that! x

Louise said...

I love your bike rides with all the lovely scenery. I am not impressed by the sofa dumping numpty - I don't know how people can do that!

The umbellifer beastie is a red soldier beetle and I think your white feathery plants MIGHT be meadowsweet, but it's really hard to tell without a closer-up photo.

Annie Cholewa said...

Muffins, what a perfect way to end what, sofa's aside, looks like a perfect ride. You cycle through such pretty countryside :D

ellen said...

Beautiful countryside for certain..and what a lovely homecoming for you.

Gillian Roe said...

Lovely picture, what a nice start to your day. Sorry to hear the sun didn't reach you. But raspberry muffins for breakfast, yum! x

Peeriemoot said...

It's meadowsweet isn't it? The fluffy creamy stuff? Not that I'm an expert on wildflowers, I always ask my dad!

June said...

Another journey's ride with you on your cycle and me sat at the computer looking at your lovely photos. Fly tippers - don't you just want to be able to make those sofas zoom right back to those that dumped them!
June

Mrs. Micawber said...

Sometimes I think the pictures are better on cloudy days...but it would be nice for you to have some sunny weather.

What beautiful green rolling hills you have, and your wild rose and thistle are gorgeous. (Our thistles all bloomed early this year and burned right up in the heat.) I also love the tree arching over the road, and the tree growing out of the ruined doorway.

Thank you for the lovely bends in the road! :)

P.S. Raspberry muffins? He's a keeper.

* said...

Numptie is the exact word (although my iPad spell checker doesn't think so!)

I'm going for meadowsweet too....my mum always points it out.

Raspberry muffins....what am I doing wrong....does your hubby do training manuals?

I do hope you get some sun....ours s apparently disappearing this week, hope it comes to you next.

Connie said...

I am in love with your photography. I could look at your photos all day. They are breathtaking. I very much enjoyed the bike ride, it is hard to pick a favorite photo, but the tree arching over the road was delightful. I could have done without the dumped sofas . . . what is the matter with some folks? I enjoy making new blogging friends and I'm always looking for interesting bloggers to connect up with and become mutual followers. Please pay my blog a visit and see if you like that Idea. I am a retired activity director. I worked in a home of 93 residents. Planning bus tours, parties, dances, entertainment, crafts, ice cream socials and the sort. I fell in love with these older folks and now I go back and volunteer. When I'm not doing that I love to journal, sew, garden, play guitar, sing, paint . . . and just plain enjoy life. I am a wife, mother and grandmother. Keep taking this wonderful photographs, they are marvelous! Connie :)

itsjustperi said...

I couldn't agree more about the ' numptie' ( I love that word, use it all the time), whatever would possess someone to drive all the way out there to dump them... ridiculous. I'm going with Meadowsweet too. Oh , and yes this is where I am now xx

Mereknits said...

Beautiful photos as always. You live in such a beautiful area.
Hugs,
Meredith

sue said...

Another lovely ride Anne even when it's damp. Your photos show what a beautiful country we live in!

Simone said...

Well that ride certainly blew the cobwebs away! Our hot spell didn't last and we are back to damp and overcast again down here in the South East! Fancy going home to raspberry muffins. Such a delight!

Gerda said...

love it

Connie said...

Hi there, thank you so much for visiting my blog . . . I do hope that the next time you have a chance to go swimming with your family, that you just take the plunge and dive right in. Enjoy every family moment that comes your way . . . you will never regret it. I am now following your lovely blog . . . I hope that you decide to follow me back, I would love getting to know you better. I just love these bike ride photos. Have a great day. Connie :)

Sandra (Cherry Heart) said...

Thanks for popping by my blog and for your lovely comment :)

Lovely photos, what a great place to ride.

Sandra x

Susan said...

Hello Anne, I have popped over on Claire of Sweet Birdy Love's recommendation.
Your ride was lovely to follow - you live in such a beautiful area.
Lots of pretty wildflowers must certainly bring a smile to your face as you cycle past them.
You have a very enjoyable blog and I shall look forward to returning.
Cheers for now, Susan from Australia :D)

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