Saturday 9 February 2013

Saturday Morning Bike Ride

A bit of effort was required to persuade myself outside and onto my bike this morning. A combination of laziness and gloomy weather discouraged me. I promised myself just a short ride and held on to the thought that the misty weather would provide different scenes to photograph.

Amongst the following photos are many (though still just a selection) of bare branched trees. I'm looking forward now to when the leaves will return though it won't be till April so we have still another two months to wait. February is my least favourite month of the year - although there is pleasure in noticing the days getting longer I find the countryside to be rather drab and colourless at this time of year, and it's still cold and often wet. Crisp, frosty, sunny and dry days are wonderful when they happen, but today is not one of those. Despite the gloom it remained dry so it wasn't really that bad, for February.

I did, however, get my first puncture since starting my regular bike rides. I was only a few miles from home and just rode home on the flat tyre. I did briefly consider replacing the inner tube (I carry a spare) but I wasn't even able to get the valve nut released so it was pointless trying to change it. A pair of pliers will be added to the toolkit in future. I have liners fitted to my tyres and it's most unusual for them to puncture. It's been so long since I changed one I'd find it rather a palaver I'm sure. Hubby has already fixed it now, so it will still be a palaver for me when/if it happens again, though that wasn't enough of a deterrent for me to fix it myself once home.

In addition to trees I saw farm signs, a great tit on a fence post, sheep, the red gate and post (and tree mound just visible in the mist), fiery orange beech leaves, road edge markers and some droplet-decorated fleece.

The virtuous feeling created by cycling a few miles this morning has been spoiled by having a fish supper for tea followed by a rather large number of chocolate truffles.

Sigh.




















P.S. Normally I make my photos "large", however today I have selected "extra large". What do you think? Is it better to see the extra detail or are they now too big? I'd be interested to know, thank you! It will also be interesting to see if anyone reads this far...

24 comments:

Jacquie said...

I simply LOVE your photos once again Anne. So glad you ventured out, the misty pictures are quite magical.
I would be usless with a puncture....don't even carry a spare....but I think my bike rides are much shorter than yours, so I could push my bike home I suppose.
Thanks for sharing.
Jacquie x

Michelle said...

Ooh, your photos are lovely!! Misty/foggy days always make me feel like curling up in the arm chair and reading a ghost story! Bit strange maybe :-) The extra large pics seemed to work really well too...

rockinloubylou said...

No wonder you didn't fancy going out in that but I'm so glad you did because I LOVE the photo of the tangled twigs and branches against the misty sky. I have never seen an image like that. And it reminds me of what my hair looked like today.

Anonymous said...

Lovely atmospheric pictures. I like em extra large! We were very misty here this morning too. Bike ride for fish supper and choc truffles sounds like a good trade to me. argh about the puncture.

Kate said...

Ooh, lovely photos of the fog and mist. I especially like the sheep pictures. I think the extra large size is good; shows the details better. Thanks for sharing :-)

June said...

Love the extra large photos! The last photo is stunning.
June

Jennifer said...

Love your extra large photos!

Annie Cholewa said...

I do like misty mornings, even in February! And truffles ;)

Lovely evocative images :)

Jennyff said...

The extra large photos are great, making me feel quite chilly. Snowing today so you did well to get out yesterday. Keep warm.

tove said...

Oh my goodness, these pictures are so breathtakingly beautiful!! I'm so glad you decided to go, so we could all enjoy these! I always find that my best pictures were taken in grey and gloomy weather, so that's always a nice reward for venturing out:-)

Gillian Roe said...

Beautiful, misty images. I would've stayed in bed but I'm glad you ventured out into the cold, wet morning as it meant we could see your lovely photos.

Gillian x

SAS said...

Spectacular photos, as usual. I do like the extra large size. Your photos always pull me in and I'm right there in the midst of it all. Thank you.

I believe I could take England in February. Actually any month would do nicely.

driftwood said...

lovely pictures, love the mistiness. I never know what picture size to choose either, but on this occasion I like big ones. x

Rosangela said...

Belas fotos.
Parabéns.
Beijo.

Grammy Braxton said...

I love the extra large photos. They give me the feeling of being right there with you. I can see why it was a chore to talk yourself into riding but the misty trees and signs are lovely.

Hugs,
Sharon

Unknown said...

great pictures, love the one where the sheep is looking directly at the camera, gorgeous part of the country you live in!

Cybèle said...

Lovely photos - some of the nicest you've done! My favourites are the ones with the red post.
I went out this morning in the rain. The weather forecast said no rain, so I was feeling rather peeved and determined to go anyway! It wasn't actually that bad in the end and after a good hour it dried up, and I was quite glad I did my 23 miles. Made for miserable photos though!

Ladybird Diaries said...

You are very motivated, I find it difficult to do any physical activities on dreary days and just want to stay indoors, but I bet you feel good afterwards? I think your photos are great and I like the detail.
M xxx

Lyn said...

I just love your photographs and having them extra large is a great bonus....more loveliness!!!
xxx

MILLY said...

The photographs are just lovely, large size does look really good. I love the trees, and the misty atmosphere. It is such lovely countryside.
The bird foot prints in the snow was just gorgeous and the red berries, everywhere looked so pretty

Helsie said...

The bigger the photos are the better. They are lovely. Keep them coming!

Away with the Fairies said...

I love your blog ... And your photos are gorgeous, I almost feel I'm there with you. As a novice blogger I am in awe!

Looking forward to next installment

Emma
Toadstool tales
Toadstooltales.WordPress.com

Louise said...

These photos are great, I do love mist and fog. I missed this post last time it seems so am catching up now.

It doesn't make a difference to me what size photos you put up as I often enlarge your photos anyway, to see the largest I can, but I think these look fine in your blog, not too big at all.

Lulu said...

oh i love these photos..you live in such a beautiful place..Love the fog on the trees, so soothing and lovely..

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