Saturday Morning Bike Ride

First ride of 2013, off we go. My goal for this ride is to photograph the tree at the corner in January so that I can complete my set of photos for this view taken in every month of the year...

...Done!

Some of the earlier ones aren't of great quality so I'll try and take better ones over 2013. I have to say that I was hoping to get a nice snowy scene for January, but as you can see, unlike much of the UK, we have no snow. None at all. So no sledging sadly, but at least I get out cycling. Now where to go next...

While I ponder my route I take this photo of the sun shining through the trees near to where I stop for my tree at the corner photos. It's turning out to be a lovely morning.

I'll go this way for now. Past the post (perhaps another contender for a year of monthly photos).

A few miles further on, I like the shapes of the hedge and fence against the sky.

A view past wonky fence posts of a distant farm.

The road ahead. Lots more posts.

 I like the weathered detail of this gate post and the rusty gate alongside.

Sheep fleece on a barbed wire fence.

On to the next field and I think this is probably horse hair caught by the barbs.

 Rusty gate chain detail.

On past another favourite tree, I like how it stands on the horizon.

On again, and another tree, not quite so perfect situated on the horizon, but I like the frozen ruts in the field in front of it.

At this point I'm being pursued by a rather fast and persistent runner. It's mostly up hill on this section of road, and I'm not terribly fast at climbing, especially when there are trees to be photographed.

Ugghhh, I was passed by the jogger, the shame! However, it means I can stop and photograph these interesting looking sheep without the feeling I'm being observed (expect by the sheep, but I don't mind them!)

And while I've stopped I'll just photograph the road too, nice icy tyre tracks.

Now on again a few more miles (and after climbing up up some rather steep hills while passing through a village - one of which I walk up and still get puffed out!), I really like this shot of a rook flying from a branch as I approached, I was lucky to catch it in flight at just the right angle.

Soon I reach the bench, it's pretty much downhill from here for the few miles left till home. All the hill climbs are worth it for this. Wheeeeee!

It was so good to get back out cycling again (I think November was the last time I was out on my bike), once on the quiet back roads it's just so peaceful and scenic - bliss!