Saturday Morning Bike Ride

A sunny day as promised. Off and away just before 8am.

We have lots of daffodils still blooming here. This was one of many brightening up a nearby farm lane.

 Farm sign with daffodils. Look at how blue the sky is!

 And how green the fields are becoming, at last.

 Moo.

A favourite little view, this time with a black cow grazing in the distance and a pheasant strolling along the top right of the very green field in the foreground.

 Looking past pylon wires to the pond.

One of many favourite trees, frequently photographed.

 Another farm sign with daffodils.

Looking down the road towards the rock.

 Now past the rock and looking back up to where I took the previous photo.

 The tree mound and red gate post, this week with added bike.

 Bare branches and blue sky. The buds on most of the trees are just about ready to burst open.

 Wonky fence and barn with two crows flying in between.

 Loch in the distance, cows to the right and a patch of celandines on the verge.

Lets have a closer look at the celandines first, so pretty and somehow much more noticeable this year than in previous years, perhaps because Spring is being a little teasing in it's arrival.

 Now the cows, posing beautifully.

 Leaf buds ready to pop.

 A lovely line of trees sweeping up the hill.

 Speaking of hills... I have to say it felt steeper than it looks.

 I pause near the top to catch my breath, and to take a photo of the trees perfectly positioned at the bend.

 More trees, hedges and celandines. Sheep and lambs dot the adjoining fields.

 These sheep were being particularly noisy, what a racket they were making.

A view over a nearby hill.

 A face in the road.

Soon after this point I reach the cycle path. If heading vaguely west at the beginning of a ride, I often like to cycle out along the roads, taking my time to admire the views and following various and numerous different routes along the vast network of country lanes we are lucky to have. However, when it's time to turn home I like to "zoom" along the cycle path, enjoying the feeling of exercising at a steady pace. I don't usually stop for many photos once homeward bound along the cycle path, though today I did, four times...

 The first time was to admire the clouds over the loch.

The second time was to photograph this gate and tracks.

The third time was to look at the castle. I took lots of photos of the castle but this was my favourite. I like the balance of the castle on the left and the large tree on the right and the backdrop of white clouds and blue sky.

The fourth and last time was to photograph one of the many pussy willows brightening up the branches along the cycle path.

So, a slightly longer ride then most recent ones have been. I did just over 20 miles, up till now this year I've been doing about 15. It's still not especially far, and I don't go fast (I was overtaken several times on the cycle path) but it feels good to be out enjoying the fresh air and taking some exercise. I get such a lot of pleasure from seeing the beautiful landscapes and nature that surrounds us, even here in a part of the country not famed for it's beauty and ignored by visitors keen to reach the more dramatic Scottish landscapes and prettier towns elsewhere. For some reason capturing it all "on film" gives me the most satisfaction, even with my slightly defective little compact camera. I like that I have this personal record of the world around me as it changes over the years. Very satisfying.