8°C, bright after a morning of heavy rain. Cold though
Something I do actually like about the autumn is the hedgerows loaded with rubies. Okay, they’re not rubies, they’re hawthorn berries.
Autumn rubies
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Author Archives: essiep
Sticky stuff in Ainsdale.
11°C sunny but cool. Brisk S.
A fresh cool day where I rode to my house and in this ride, rode back. I headed south through Southport towards Formby. Then I heard a sellotape sound. There was a chemical spillage in the left hand side of the road. In some places, it was a few cm deep. Traffic had gone through it and spread it for a few kilometres to Ainsdale.
On narrow bike wheels, it felt unsafe. I couldn’t tell whether it was greasy, corrosive or what. It was viscose and odourless. Very strange. I tried dialling 101, the non-emergency police number I was.put onto hold for a very long time.
In the end, I gave up and rode on the pavement
A Sunday in October
9°C, belt of ran and dank after.
Refreshed on fixed gear.
12°C, sunny and calm.
Short visit to the Green Machines. It’s good to.pull the bars while staring out to sea. The wind is light today, though a breeze pushes inland near the coast. These are ideal conditions for the fixed. It’s been so long since its last outing that the tyres were only on 30psi. These run best at 90psi. We’re in the last part of October, soon is the time to fit winter wheels.
Cross in mud
14°C, bright start but rain later, becoming heavy.
This poor neglected bike needs a service. Most specifically, the gear and brake cables are a bit sticky. It’s still good fun to ride but it’s half-term now. What a dreary day too. After the photo, the rain arrived and turned quite heavy towards the end
Racelite loops
12°C, no real wind with some sun. Dry.
Rushed out after a day shopping in Ikea.
Tremendous fun but, unexpectedly, slightly slower than yesterday’s outing on the Mustang. The route was level which I suppose reduces the effect of the weight difference.
That was probably the last ride on the racelite this year.
Lancashire after the rain.
11°C, heavy rain to the to the verge of flooding. Nice later.
That was quick for the Mustang. One of my fastest rides on that heavy bike, okay it’s stiff and with excellent handling
By the way, progress is steady on the Zing. The shopping list for it is getting shorter, mainly saddle, seatpin and shifters. Progress on the windows: one done, that’s all. This water based exterior paint is easy enough to use, I hope it’s as hard wearing as spirit based paints.
Windswept on the flats
15°C, strong SW but sunny
It started as a recovery ride but was more about fixing that aoalling night’s sleep last night. I was awake for hours and hours; I still don’t know why.
Anyway, the feeling on the ride got better and better. I had energy left over so painted the back room window frame, ready for winter
DofE 23: Solihull Bronze Practice.
14°C, little sun, grey later but the rain held off.
Walk 6 Y10 girls across Warwickshire to a scout camp. We walked for 7 1/2 hours under grey sky and slightly muddy ground. I’m feeling the effects of a few late nights. Last night was only 5 hours sleep. Those days accumulate and my head felt like a dull lump inside.
Day 2: checkpointing a circular route. I worked with Paul sharing 3 groups. One was the same group as yesterday plus a group of boys and another of girls.
The gaps between groups opened quite quickly as my group went wrong early on. They took a spagetti route and couldn’t tell where they’d been. Later their journeying got better and quicker despite being overloaded with uncomfortable packs. Other things went wrong for them too. The finish was changed while they were near the camp. An error had occured in comunicating with their parents who were to pick them up. All in all, that.l meant we didn’t finish until 17.30.
DofE 22: Yorkshire Dales (Silver)
Day 1: transfer and setup. A sunny day to pick up the Gold group in the minibus and then drive to the sales, a 150 mile drive. All vehicles stopped at Charnock Richard services on the edge of Chorley. We all stayed at Broadrake bunkhouse in Chapel-en-le-Dale with a fine view of the Ribblehead Viaduct
Day 2: Acclimatisation day – Ingleborough Falls. Cold wet start with showers all day. We took 2 groups each for a circular route from Ingleborough via the falls. The aim was a refresher in navigation and of course – some dramatic waterfalls. I’m not normally impressed by waterfalls, but these were very energetic. With rivers in full spate, the water roared over every rock and even more over each cascade. So full of sediment, the fluid looked like beer. We talked about the colour and how it’s caused by tannin. One of the kids asked if it’s basically tea? You can tell when kids are bright and imaginative. These are!
Day 3: (day 1) for Silver groups). Middleton Fell.> Holme Farm. Beautiful day with a frosty start for campers. I bet those kids were cold.
Day 4: (silver 2): Holme Farm > Dent. Dull but calm weather all day. All went well but this was a late finish, I was so hungry, even before the drive back to the bunkhouse.
Day 5 (Silver 3): Dent > Widdale (finish). Heavy rain to start but it eased off by departure time at 8.
Here are my group, layering up after the climb. This is near the pass by a full gully that looked quite hazardous. I called for another ML to come and man this one while I took the crossing at the summit.
Later, another group who most were from my old tutor group arrived. They too were full of beans, and pleased to see me.
I love these places, in the hill fog more so. My spot was in a corner to hide from the chilly breeze. Here, the stone walls were covered in half a dozen types of lichen. My old tutor group team had lichens as their aim so I gave them a little tour of the varieties here. I love these bleak misty moorlands. The form of the land is laid out in layers in the fog. Perhaps caused by the contrast, the nearest ground appears the most vivid. On a clear beautiful day, your gaze is drawn into the distance. Today, you see beauty nearer to your feet.
The end of the day was the journey back to Walsall. My job was to take the Gold group back in the 9 seat minibus. I took a moment to look at myself from the outside. In the driving seat, They sat in the dark, viewing a segment of their lives through the window of their phones. The rusty sun dipped down on the right horizon and the lane lines blinked in the headlight patches. They were contented, comfortable and had passed their Gold Expedition section. I glanced across at the kids in the front seats. I looked across and smiled to myself in the dark. A moment of satisfaction for me too. Onward, the miles rolled by.
This would also be a late finish.
Micycle 