18°C, NE 10mph. CA:20
Ever woken with a deep ache in a muscle? It’s often a mystery as this one is for me today. It feels like someone kicked me up the arse in the night. I can’t recall anyone tip-toeing in hobnail boots into my room last night. the dogs didn’t rouse, so the mystery remains.
Happy birthday Neptune. In a way. It’s gone round the sun once since the day it was first discovered, so as of today, it’s ONE.
16°C, Sun light breeze
Rode in good time to work today. That malaise has lifted, I had a strong feeling that it was a bug, and this pretty much confirms it. Now I can be bothered to post; you’ll be relieved to hear.
17°C, grey but mostly dry.
I’m bothered by a deep seated can’t-be-bothered feeling. It’s as if there is some minor background illness, perhaps some virus or a cold that wants to be sneaky about it. My legs feel empty, my head sleepy and I’m exhibiting symptoms of laziness. I hate this; it’s burrowed deep inside and leaves me feeling bored. I look on those who complain of boredom with distain. Now it’s me. Last time this malaise lifted after nearly a week. hopefully…
c24°C, clear but anvil clouds building. CK: 40miles
Met office have issued warning of smog over the weekend. they say that the still air and bright sunshine cause gasses in fumes to react and produce ozone. It’s a problem for asthmatics and kids, this is quite interesting. It’s interesting for me on days like this where I have been out on the bike. Sometimes, when I get home I have a little cough, a strange one that feels achey in my lungs. Could this be a hint of the “tightness” that asthmatics complain of?
Riding on the 16t: as the ride wore on, it started to feel right. There were a few difficult hills but I could touch 30mph on the descents so it’s all about compromise. Overall, the average speed should be up on the 17t cog. I bet that winter rides will need that 17t again though, the difficulty is spinning out on fast descents. I never can keep the speed up in the cold weather anyway.
upto 21°C, still & no cloud
Just got back. It was great, but I’ve brought a cold with me. It’s been strange, it came on tentatively on the drive there. But it held back for quite a few days, drawing my strength in the background while I climbed mountains. Now I’m all bunged up and have gone to bed with a roll of tissue paper. No, Wait! that sounds terrible.
Another interesting physical process can be noticed when falling asleep. As you drift away in a campsite, sometimes you snap back. When you do, the first thing that snaps back into focus is the sound of the river (on the opposite edge of the camp). It jumps into your consciousness almost as if someone has thrown a switch. This can happen repeatedly until you finally do fall asleep.
Anyway, where have I been?
up to 20°C later, nice again tomorrow.
Hay fever starts with this holiday, along with fine clear weather. How about taking local honey for some protection from hay-fever. Honey bees collect nectar from flowers (biotic pollinations) but hay-fever is caused by grasses (Abiotic pollination). So how does it work alternative-medicine people? Incidentally, the current April flurry of sneezes is said to be caused by tree spores- maybe Beech/Birches.
Now I’m watching weather forecasts eagerly, I want a clear few days so I can make camp in Wales & trudge up some mountains. That’s what I want.
13°C, clear bits, warmer tomorrow
12 hours & 13 minutes of daylight today. Check for yourself: here, on Date and Time.
Strange feeling, have I got a cold all of a sudden? Headache, lethargic and a sore throat. Hope clings to hayfever which comes on with beech pollen at this time of year. Some hope.
+2°C, cold last night but improving this week
Physio appointment: Good- I don’t have to stop cycling; good- I don’t need drug treatment; good, exercises to heal the tendon strength. The sort of diagnosis that I have faith in. It needs 3 sets of 20 heel-raises a day. Those press-ups & crunches are neglecting my legs. I suppose with an ankle injury that there is some compensation going on that leaves the supporting muscles weaker.
+4° to –2°C, dry.
Don’t think I will make it tomorrow. I’ve had a shivery night and a vacuous, listless day. Not made any posts in a short while, but can easily blame pre-viral syndrome. Spring is coming though, there are buds out there.
Micycle 