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...