Category Archives: Cycling

74.4 miles

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17-22°C, + clouds light SW winds.

Breedon on the hill

Cycled to Breedon on the hill, vast views from there of Peak District in the North, Castle Donnington nearby etc..
the Graveyard was interesting, lots of stones from the 1830s, a few young women died in 1855 whilst still intheir teens. Most stones were slate, dated from teh 19th Century, and were in unweathered- almost new condition.
 
Cycling was good, 74 miles with none of the strength loss of last week. Could have done the century but for work tomorrow. Missed some bits with the sunblock- so am mildly burnt on arms. Oops!
 
The pavement painting is proving to be a problem, I keep getting it down to look at and thinking it through – while cycling as well. At work, I look at this blog just to puzzle over the picture- "what todo next?" echos around my head. Doing li’l sketches too to think on paper.
 
I’ve got a new idea for a picture, an unwrapping. Imagine skin unrolled, and painted in oils, a study of each vein, freckle, hair and suntan. Hard to see thisworking on any medium apart from paint. The challenge is to make sure it doesn’t look gruesome.

Conditions perfect

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23°C;wind=nil;clouds=nil(or as near as damnit).

67.0 miles – first to Staunton Harold, the place with the right-handed house martins. Then onto Bosworth Water Trust, specifically Cafe Kouts.

I was clever enough not to get burnt. Though didn’t feel very strong all day, plenty of stamina, but average speed was low (@15.7mph). As low as a winter ride on my (heavier) winter bike.

Two weeks ago- a Miracle!

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As ever,Sunday- out cycling – something happened that day though that had a real effect on me.

Cycling in Leicestershire from Staunton Harold heading south, Normanton Le Heath I think it was. It was a beautiful day, witha light wind from the North West. Suddenly, right in front of me a bird flew low over the road, which they often do – probably to use ground effect but this one crashes in to a tumbling heap and fluttered violently into the gutter. I hate seing birds dying.

I rode on a little way, thinking what can I do and as soon as it was safe, turned round. When I got back to the spot, it was lying motionless on it’s back, a sparrow. I decided to move it to the grass verge just to er.. let nature take care of it. So I took my gloves off and cupped my hands around it to pick it up.

Suddenly it jerked itself upright, and was standing on it’s feet. I carefully put my hands around it’s lil’ fragile body ready to lift it without damaging any feathers. It wriggled free and with aflutter flew from between my thumbs towards a tree across the road, ( in the direction it came from first). this time it seemed to have no trouble flying straight, no trouble at all.

So as you can see, it’s a Miracle. One of my cycling friends suggested that it was woken from it’s state of shock/concussion by the warmth of my hands. But of course they are wrong, I do miracles!