RSPB tour.

Posted on 12th Apr 2018 by essiep

8°C, NE cool breeze. Grey.

I rode kona Jake with MapMyRide+! Distance: 15.18km, time: 01:06:21, pace: 4:22min/km, speed: 13.73km/h.
http://mapmyride.com/workout/2816224618

I’ve had a filthy stinking cold. Today, day 10, sees me not fully recovered and I’m wary of ramping up the exercise to quickly. Too quick and it all comes back.

It was good to visit the RSPB ‘visitor centre. There were knowledgeable volunteers there who pointed out an Avocet and a Spoonbill. The latter is a funny looking bird, more so because they look so serious with that absurd spoon.

I came away with some plans in mind: put up some House Martin boxes and maybe remove brick from the gable end. That will make it possible for bats nest in my roof. Some people worry about House Martins because for a short time of the year, they drop guano. That is a problem easily solved by fitting a window box. The window box holds nice plants and the Martins drop regular fertiliser.

Suitcase.

Posted on 30th Jul 2015 by essiep

34°C, very hot, wind has dropped. No cloud.
Your immune system is like airport security. If they find the slightest irregularity in your baggage, then they empty out your suitcase without a second’s thought.
That’s how my night has been. Maybe it was something I ate, or more likely – drank. I did stop by a roadside hut for fruit on the bike. The peaches were lovely, blood red and all juice. But what if the guy who served me hadn’t washed his hands?
In this heat, every drink stop is vital. At Montmaggiore, there is a standpipe by the main church. But, was it clean? I had to drink, no choice.

Molwynian snow crossing.

Posted on 6th Apr 2013 by essiep

-3 to +9, clear blue.

Crossed the ridge from south to North. Walked for 8½ hours with a few breaks not counting photo stops. Most of it was on snow. A new experience for me, the technique seems to be – dig your heels in on the way down. There were few of The ice slides I had feared but I did change the route. It’s a bit like walking on soft sand, except that the support is less predictable. Sometimes the snow supports your weight, sometimes your foot plunges in deep. Deep enough to reach your bum a few times.

April showers and gear-change

Posted on 22nd Apr 2012 by essiep

8 spd record cassette (Photo credit: djneight)

9°C, heavy showers. CR:54 miles

Fizzy legs: I really could have ridden more, my legs want to but I have pressing work to do. the energy was there before dawn, or is it work thoughts that fill my head and jangle my legs at three in the morning.

The bloody gears still aren’t ideal. After all those hours working on the gear-shift, you hope that it’s going to be better. The first ten miles were, the bike whizzed along, barely a sound and gear shifts were similarly unnoticeable. The day wore on and the bike changed gears all by itself, or it would skip without warning.

Film: Melancholia, Lars Von Trier. Was it a disaster film, or a study into the mental health of the lead characters. Somehow I could relate to the lead woman’s discomfort in her own wedding reception. Not that I’ve ever been married, but I have certainly grown to detest those social obligations. I could see myself in the same sort of event, desperately longing for escape. In fact, I did just that a few years ago, when the reception seemed to be quietening down, I sneaked away in the car when no-one was looking. that was an evening of dread, I remember it well having just watched the film.

Svenska: Tjolöholms slott. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Anyway, I have work to do.

Break back in

Posted on 22nd Mar 2012 by essiep

12°C, dry & springy

To take a break from blogging and make a return is strangely difficult. Time is swallowed up by work-stress, that much is unsurprising. Coming back to make a post is not as easy as it you’d expect. I may put a few thoughts that have rattled around in my head for a week in retrospective posts here on WordPress.

Dehydrated

Posted on 21st Dec 2011 by essiep

12°C, light cloud, light NW. CA:29½ miles

Flagged a little on the ride today, especially near the end. Dehydration was probably the cause. Took until 9pm to feel back to normal and stop worrying that I have an oncoming cold. Rise Of Flight

Like old times: a screenshot from a flight sim, played on a 4 year old computer

A dog with cancer

Posted on 25th Oct 2011 by essiep

13°C, lighter winds, some sun. CK:29 miles

She’s been ill for a week or so now. A second vet can’t now find a lump, the first thought it quite large. Maybe now she is getting some treatment, her belly is fuller that lump is obscured when feeling by hand. I haven’t done any such probing. she has (sorry for the grisly details) black diarrhoea which sounds like there’s blood in it. I hope that this hasn’t been triggered by us feeding her sausages, minced-meat and such. Dog food is quite bland, but the change could be the problem.

I have to face the fact that this may be her last winter. She is 13 years 11 months at the time of writing.

vestibular syndrome

Posted on 12th Oct 2011 by essiep

17°C, sunny with building wind.

Bessie has been diagnosed with vestibular disease. It’s her inner ear that is at fault and it makes her feel vertigo, hence the nausea and poor balance. Some cure can occur after the injections that she’s had- antibiotics, anti-nausea & something else. If it’s part of a more general condition the outcome could be grim. We’ll know by tomorrow.

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.

Micycle

Mike thinks b/hikes

Tag Archives: Health