Thursday 6 June 2013

Saturday & Sunday Morning Bike Rides

Saturday Morning...

Cows and cow parsley

Fields of buttercups line the road.

Cow parsley detail, from above...

...and below.

Tree, cows and fields (and more cow parsley)

Onwards.

Fern and busy beasties.

The cow parsley seems very plentiful this year - either I've just picked the right roads to find it, or the council are just behind in cutting the road verges. I have to say I much prefer the verges like this, full of wild flowers, than when they are neatly trimmed.

Umm, I don't know what this flower is, there was quite a lot of it. Help? 

Another lovely June view across the countryside.

Red campion.

Forget-me-not.

Lambs, just before they run away over the hill.



Looking up, very few bare branches now. At last!

Tree mound.

Now down to the loch, where the annual rowing regatta was taking place. I search out my old club and manage to find some people I used to know - it was nice to catch up. Sadly I definitely don't have any time for rowing these days, and am far too unfit as well!

After leaving the loch I head into the woods because it's bluebell time...




Bike shot.

Then down past the old church...

...and on to the cycle path (folly on the right).

Past the bike bike.

When I get back to the village I head to the park as preparations are being made for the local gala day. I do some early browsing of the stalls, and in addition to a dahlia and some livingstone daisies I buy...


Gingerbread (not bad though a little dry), lemon curd (delicious - most of it doesn't reach any toast/bread as I scoff it straight from the jar!), a portmeirion jam pot (50p, I'll probably give it to my Mum as she collects portmeirion pottery), and a nice pair of salt and pepper pots (though I've since found the pepper mill doesn't work so I'm not too happy with them)

Unfortunately I then miss the gala day proper (and don't get to see the completed float from the previous post) as I've a concert that evening and a very long rehearsal during the afternoon. Lots of counting is required in the Berlioz and Wagner but the notes are easy. Lots of notes to play in the Mozart and Mendelssohn but no risk of getting lost. Had I been listening rather than playing I would have enjoyed the Berlioz "Les nuits d'ete" best, though my stand partner kept grumbling about it, I think he thought it too airy fairy but I thought parts were beautiful. Here's a recording from YouTube...


Now to Sunday. As it's another lovely day we have a little family bike ride to the loch...

N is on the follow-me which is a way of attaching his own bike to a grown-up's bike and is much more stable than a tag-along. He likes to sing the Star Wars theme as he's "cycling".

There were quite a few of these lovely flowers down by the loch, again, one I don't know the name of. We're down at the peaceful end of the loch, away from the visitor centre...




After a picnic lunch we head to the busy end to meet up with friends who have brought along their inflatable kayaks. We had fun having a little shot, so much so that we've now ordered our own inflatable canoe.


New adventures await!



10 comments:

Cybèle said...

Amazing how the colours have changed. They must have done in my photographs as well but it takes someone else's photographs for me to notice! Love the little church, is it possible to go inside? I'm always so disappointed when they're locked.
And my 14yo bought a jar of Nutella for making cupcakes the other day, I've had her hide it as I would just eat it with a spoon till it was all gone...

Joy said...

Beautiful pics again Anne - love the cow, and the bluebells are stunning! I agree, it's so nice to see the lovely road verges all blossomed up.
Very lovely music too while I browsed and by the way, what musical instrument do you play?
A huge thank you! Joy x

forgetmenotsblue said...

Lovely photos two of my favourite things cows and cow parsley in one photo brilliant x

Anonymous said...

You still have Bluebells! I was in Argyll about two weeks ago and I was astounded by the extent of the Bluebells, thery were everywhere and I was in heaven.

* said...

Love the cow parsley close-ups, they are so delicate up close, they are everywhere here too, as is everything actually, everything flowering at once, leads to plenty of sneezing.

Do you get the chance/need to see other orchestras play? Would you find it hard to enjoy without really listening, if you know what I mean? I am not much cop at the instruments I play, but I did love being part of an orchestra.

Neighborhood Watch said...

So many gorgeous things here I can't even list them all--the water on stones and the lambs on the hill--all those blue bells! On and on. What a treat for the eye. And what an interesting life you lead! The part about the Star Wars theme made me laugh.

Gillian Roe said...

Wow, where do you find the time for all you do? You put me to shame. How nice that you bike ride together as a family, I imagine it's fun as well as a good way to be active. x

Simone said...

The photos are absolutely beautiful and I really love the first pastoral picture at the top of the post.

Lyn said...

Two for the price of one bike rides today!
Lovely photos, it must be a good year for cow parsley...it is everywhere isn't it?
Xxx

Beth of The Linen Cat said...

You always take such wonderful photos, it looks green and lush as always up with you, we are actually quite green here as there has been a fair bit of rain recently, I do prefer it to the brown dry look that arrives normally with a Kent summer. I thought of you a few weeks back, as we sold our rowing machine...I felt quite sad to see it go but we're mostly cycling these days and it took up too much space if not being used. Beth/thelinencat x

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