20°C, turned out nice, strong W

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Riding home today on a fast A road that sweeps in curves roughly in parallel to the Trent river. About 100yds I spotted a bird running across the road, a juvenile pheasant, large & lanky but still with stubby wings. I heaved a sigh of releif as it made it to my side, then I could see just as a car cleared that another was following. This one was struck squarely but a large 4×4, with a crunch itbecame a tumbling rag or diminishing life, only the legs left with any movement after the vehicle passed at over 50mph. That bird had followed it (sibling?) with trust and it’s whole life before it.

 

That’s the bit that disturbs me, the bludgeoning of noble qualities. It’s death was quick and probably painless as it looked like concussion from the way it rebounded under the vehicle. I felt just as bad after watching The Trawlermen on TV, tragic for those fish.

 

I always get rather perturbed when animals get killed on the road, but I have to confess here, it’s not that much worse when I see people killed

 

Otherwise a rather good day.

…It doesn’t matter