Cuckoo

Posted on 17th Jul 2011 by essiep

18°C, 3 sharp showers, SW. CK: 55miles

Found a cuckoo in the road today, a victim of roadkill. Quite a beautiful bird; it looks, in many ways, like a hawk except in a few details. The beak is straight & the claws not oversized like a sparrowhawk (which is about the same size). Not sure that I’ve ever seen a cuckoo before, though they are heard on every camping trip over the past few years.

Single-speed bikes are supposed to have mechanical advantages over deraillier geared bikes. The straight chainline promised long chain wear, but this turns out not to be. Perhaps the chain on mine is of poor quality, but the fact is it’s worn out after only 750 miles. Also, the headset bearing has gone notchy too which suggests that these componants are poor quality to keep the price down. I really don’t want to replace a chain after less than a year’s use again.

Four Lions

Posted on 16th Jul 2011 by essiep

17C, rain then bright.

Just a quick note this time. I know most of my posts are short, terse even.

Film: Four Lions, a comedy about some none too bright would-be suicide bombers from Sheffield. I say ‘comedy’ since that’s what it says on the label, but I didn’t notice that many funny bits. It did get better towards the end. It reminded me of Citizen Smith, the TV series from the early 80s, unfortunately it shared a similar characteristic where the parody was expressed through characters who were rather dim witted. A pretty feeble way to get laughs I’d say.

A saucer full of secrets

Posted on 15th Jul 2011 by essiep

20°C, sun, W.

The Derbyshire White Peak is dotted with these circular features. Some are stone but most seem to be made of concrete. This was one of the few that had water in.

Hobnail boot

Posted on 12th Jul 2011 by essiep

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.

Ride in the river

Posted on 8th Jul 2011 by essiep

19°C, heavy showers.

Rode home in a river. Raindrops the size of golf-balls striking and rebounding up from strong flowing ribbons of water. Traction was good though and it’s not cold.

Avian miracle II

Posted on 3rd Jul 2011 by essiep

23°C, wall to wall blue. CK:50 miles

Riding near Mawdsley Lancs., I saw a bird lying in the road. As I passed, it was obvious that it was still alive. So I turned around and went back, if left it would get driven over. It was a bull-finch, sitting in the pale sun-bleached tarmac with one leg sticking out at an awkward angle. So ( like last time) I picked it up with one hand, and suddenly it flew away towards a tree with other passerines swirling round.

Further proof that I can do miracles, as if any were needed.

I suppose it had an injured leg that prevented it jumping enough to take off. A very similar thing happened a few years ago in Leicestershire, I have blogged about it here but can’t locate it right now.

Dog guilt

Posted on 29th Jun 2011 by essiep

18C, bright.

Home, yesterday greeted me with a big splodgy mess on the kitchen floor. One or both the dogs pulled down a bag of bananas off the fruit bowl and ate the lot. Well, okay, they left the skins, but still… In a stern voice I ordered “come here”, Rosie came over while Bessie’s tail dipped between her legs and she walked outside. The body language said “guilt2 to me, which was frankly rather surprising. I can’t imagine the old dear getting up high enough to reach the bag. But still

Later, it turns out, Rosie’s face smelt of bananas, she had an upset stomach and needed to be let out twice in the night. So that confirms it- the dog who cheerfully came over the previous evening, wagging and interested was actually the villain of the day. Bessie’s performance was little more than that- an act. I’m still puzzling over her motive for that.

I have to remind myself as a pet owner, that they are at heart- scavengers and I keep two of them in my house. Seen that way, we should expect trouble every once in a while. It’s a bad mistake to expect human values even though they clearly do think. It’s the way they think that is puzzling me. But think they do.

Here is a fun link

Heavier than air

Posted on 27th Jun 2011 by essiep

27°C, humid & oppressive. Thunder later?

The air presses down making the drawing of breath an effort. You heart beats harder under the exertion and all because of an air full of menacing dark clouds. This may be one of those days were we long for a cracking thunderstorm but maybe don’t actually get one. Sleep could take a long time to achieve tonight, it takes the body to long to cool enough.

The dogs are really struggling with this one, especially old Bessie.

Index joy

Posted on 26th Jun 2011 by essiep

28°C, crisp sun. CR:80.5 miles

The efforts on Tuesday have borne fruit; the Campy gears are not indexing perfectly but they have stopped slipping unpredictably. That does mean the summer bike is a pleasure to ride once more. How long has it been?

True Grit

Posted on 25th Jun 2011 by essiep

14°C+, getting warmer.

Film: True Grit (Cohen brothers). Good to see that dreadful John Wayne western based on a Charles Portis book has been updated with one that really is based on the book. Why was John Wayne ever famous? The lead role, Mattie Ross, a strong and articulate character made her way through the story, much to my relief, unharmed. Is it conditioning that led me to fear something dreadful would happen to her?

This film was interesting for the usual Cohen reasons, but more so because of the language. Despite struggling with the clarity of the dialogue, the characters were not just articulate- more eloquent I would say. Phrasing and vocab were of the period and intriguing to me. shame the sound wasn’t really that clear on the screen I watched it on. Finally, was it just me that failed to spot Matt Damon until the credits rolled?

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes