Saturday Morning Bike Ride

Today I bring you... sunshine and blue skies! To begin with anyway...

I set off about 9am again, as usual, I wish I'd made the effort to get up earlier and leave sooner. Never mind, at least I'm not any later than normal.  As I walk up to the shed to get my bike I can hear woodpeckers drumming from the woods across the road.

Since starting cycling again after winter I try to follow a completely different route each time. Today is no exception...

Look at that gorgeous blue sky. We've had a long run of dry, settled weather recently. It's been lovely!

A view past the gates over sunny fields to the farm in the distance which is where the road will take me.

There are lots of horses in the fields en route, the farm also having a large area of stables and other riding facilities. This little white horse was the most photogenic.

Here I'm just past the farm and am looking back to where I was earlier. 

There was a steep hill prior to this section, I was in too high a gear and ended up having to walk...

...it means I can take time to admire the silhouette against the sky of  the clipped hedge high on the right.

Two rows of pylons. Clouds are covering the little hill in the distance. A small patch of blue sky remains.

A bright blue rope secures the gate just in front of where I've stopped.

I love bare branches against the sky. I have to say though that I am now very much looking forward to the new leaves appearing, only about another month to go...

A pretty gate, further embellished by the snowdrops at the foot of the adjoining walls.

Wonderful sky colours here.

Now the fields are a rather attractive pale khaki colour. Sheep may safely graze...

...baa.

These are indeed the tree mounds I often pass - for the past few miles I've joined a road I took a couple of weeks ago, but it's only for another few hundred yards.

A "new" road again. Now the fields look brown, the light today is wonderful.

More sheep, a nice farm house sits atop the hill.

I love the colours of this barn roof. It belongs to the farm where the scary dog used to live. All is strangely quiet now...

...except for a passing helicopter, looking like a large, out of focus fly here.

A different barn on the same farm. A nice old fire surround is leaning against the wall. At this point curiosity encourages me through the gate and into the farm yard for a nosey...

But once there timidity takes over again - what if there is really someone living there? I get back on my bike. However, another mile or so down the road I get another chance to explore...

... I notice the fence surrounding this old hut now has a gap big enough for me to easily get through. There definitely no-one around, shall we take a closer look?

It looks like it used to be an old wagon of some sort with a little porch added on. The door is open...

Entering the porch, ahead and to the right is the main room...

Wow! I hadn't expected it to be all kitted out like this. There must have been a stove in the fireplace at one point. There are very nice Victorian/Edwardian fitted drawers and cupboards. None of it has been trashed too much either.

There's even a little bay window.

And clothes in the wardrobe (not Victorian!). The room beyond looks like it was once a (very small!) bedroom, there's just the bed shelf left.

On the way out I notice a lovely little leaded glass panel in the porch.

If it were mine, I'd try and restore it. It would be a fantastic studio/den to have in the garden.

Back on the road. To the right there is little a steep sided gorge. Some houses are nestled at the bottom - a very dark place to live I would think.

Past the other shed/den/studio building on this route that I covet for my garden.

I'm heading into a nearby village. I check my purse to see if I have enough money to allow a visit to the charity shop there. £5 - should be plenty, but it's not. I spot quite a nice stoneware jug for the collection but it's £10, prices these days are shocking! Oh well. On to the cycle path briefly then a detour through the woods...

...hoot hoot.

Past the 15th century church.

A last view over some fields then back on to the cycle path and home without further dawdling. I'd offered to help build a willow den at the school and have already missed the first couple of hours work.

 I'm there in time though to help with the tying and to make a few windows.

 We all can't wait to see it flourish as the year progresses.

N has the nursery bear home for the weekend. He's called Fudge.