Saturday 17 November 2012

Saturday Morning Bike Ride

A later than normal start this morning, off at about 9:30am. I'm keen to keep to quiet roads, one of the reasons I like to set off early is to avoid what little traffic there is. I follow a favourite route out the village and soon join the country lanes.

I always forget how lovely the countryside looks at this time of year, till it comes round again. I (almost) never tire of admiring the patterns bare branches make against the sky - by April I'm very keen to see leaves again!

Most of the leaves are now gone from the trees.

Favourite views take on a new look with the trees now bare.

A crow on a branch. I like the little sihouetted dots of berries.

Another view across more fields. Rain is falling on the hilltops.

Hmmm, now which way to go. I decide to follow a "private" farm road which will take me to the woods.

Past the remains of the 500 year old chapel.

Oak leaves  stick to my tyres.

Scarlet berries glow in the hedges..

The lane twists beautifully.

Another striking tree, at the end of the lane I reach the woods.

And discover a new sculpture. I like it! Toadstools, a badger, mice, birds, squirrels and...

...to top it all an owl. I'm glad I came this way today, I notice a sign on the gate as I leave to say the woodland will now be closed till the New Year to allow for path construction and maintenance.

Now along past the loch.

Oak trees are the last trees here to hold on to their leaves.

The morning is turning out most pleasant, I decide to keep going a little further despite only originally intending to go a short ride.

I'm glad I do keep going as when I reach the castle the clouds are looking very dramatic and I get my favourite photo of the ride.

Tyre tracks in the grass. I like the bright copper hedges in the distance and how they match the colour of the gate.

Sheep with enormous red spots.

Bike shot.

Now I've left the cycle path and am on a new-to-me road. I'm heading north, away from the sunshine. More flaming beech hedges, very neatly clipped.

Great hedge and tree shapes on the horizon.

Shortly after this I get stuck behind some very slow horses and then take a wrong turning which results in me joining an A road, though it's for a very short distance and is not busy at all. I don't stop for any more photos...

...except this one of the teasel back down at the loch. It's quite a big clump of teasel, two seed heads find their way into my rack bag to come home with me and are now in a little vase.

So, it's been a little while - I didn't make it out for a bike ride the previous two weekends. There's no ominous reason, I have just been busy and haven't managed to get the housework done during the week and considered a couple of weekend catch-up sessions necessary. I will share more on what I've been up to soon....

Enjoy what's left of the weekend, I'm hoping to get some bulbs planted tomorrow. Gardening! It's been a while...

18 comments:

Lyn said...

Gorgeous photos as usual. I have no favourite, I love them all. Such ab equity up area you live in. Cleaning or a bike ride, glad you had a bike ride this weekend! X

Lyn said...

So sorry should of read that before I posted it....that should say...what a beautiful area you live in!

Peeriemoot said...

Beautiful pictures :-). I keep seeing coppery hedges too but none of my photos have done justice to them. It's been a great year for autumn colour though!

Neighborhood Watch said...

So many fabulous photos! What lovely rides you have. Truly they must be good for the soul. (I know that just the pictures are good for mine.)

Mrs. Micawber said...

I'm with you on the bare trees - right now I go around thinking "But this is lovely! Why do I dread autumn so much?" But by spring I'll be craving the sight of leaves. :)

That oak leaf shot is wonderful - I love all the small blurry ones looking like puzzle pieces in the background. Also the lovely twisty lane (of course) and the hedges and tree on the horizon. Great ride!

We're having another mild weekend so I'm hoping to take a decent ride myself tomorrow.

rockinloubylou said...

that little church looks so mysterious. Did you explore?

SAS said...

Thank you for the bike ride through the countryside. Your photos comfort my soul and give it a real lift.

You are such a visual person and notice all the amazing details; a true nature lover.

More, please.

Simone said...

A great outdoorsy post! How lovely to find sculptures out in the wood.

Jacquie said...

Wonderful pictures Anne. Feels like a lung full of fresh air looking at them :0)
Jacquie x

Rustic Vintage Country said...

Such lovely photos, thank you for the trip. x

Country Rabbit said...

absolutely lovely photography! i do enjoy your images of your bike rides x

* said...

Lovely, lovely! Your pictures, as ever, are lovely. The ewes do have big spots, I wonder if they've been scanned, our scanners use different coloured spots depending on singles, twins and trips, although I should think that you may well lamb a bit later up there with the colder weather, our neighbour lambs indoors and normally starts a couple of weeks after Christmas to catch the spring lamb Market.

Love the castle shot, it's an unusual building isn't it?

Annie Cholewa said...

As ever you leave me longing for a bike and the opportunity to trace the same routes. Beautiful country you have up there :)

Anonymous said...

As usual, you find the most beautiful things to photograph. Thanks for posting them here for us all to enjoy.

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Gerda said...

Haven't visit your corner of the world for a while, but it looks so beautiful again. Nice to find such a lovely sculptures. Groetjes, Gerda

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