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Sunday 27th 49F/9C [8.00] A sunny day is promised. When it reaches me. Currently blocked by the absent neighbours hedges and trees. The house involved is supposed to be under renovation but has been abandoned again. As the temporary plastic covering tears to rags in the wind. Today's wind is set to blow from the east. Gusting to 11-12m/s on average. Not ideal for a ride.
A rather warm 23C/74F in the room. The heat pump has been on all night. The remote is set to 20C/68F and Heat Mode. I'll try Auto Mode to see what happens.
Up at 7.20 after another quiet night. With more weird dreams.
8.35. I think I'll go for a walk. This is a bigger deal than most realise. I completely lost my confidence after the backward somersault. Ending in an ambulance trip to hospital. I tried a walk with a recent visitor. Having to give up at halfway. When I became too breathless to continue.
9.30 Back from a loop around the neighbour's drives at the rear. In bright sunshine. No wind. No breathlessness. No tiredness. Even my posture and pace looked more normal on the security cameras. The small, hairy guard dog barked from the safety of its low fence. As did the Alsatian at the bungalow on the road. Safely secured behind two wooden fences.
The intervening, marshy ground beyond my northern boundary is rapidly growing trees. There will be a wood there within a couple of years. My view towards the far fields. Through the narrow window I made between my own trees, will soon be gone. The embankment they built for their new drive must have dried out the marsh. Though willows can easily grow in such damp conditions.
10.30 Off we go for a ride.
12.30 Back from a ride for the full length of the new cycle path. With only the stretch from Glamsbjerg to Voldtofte yet to be surfaced. That was still covered in rough sand, earth and nasty, pebble sized, loose gravel in places. Strictly for wide tires or an MTB and nerves of steel! There is no sense of direction. So I have to float over it and keep pedaling.
Lots of people were enjoying the rest of the route. Which is now paved with the fine, grey, surface gravel. They were mostly mature or elderly cyclists and a few walkers. I slowed to a crawl as I passed walkers. Greeted or thanked them all for giving me room and most responded.
Everybody was cheerful in the perfect conditions. Loose dogs were quickly gathered in once they knew somebody was approaching. Though free range walks seem pointless. When they can be so easily reeled in on extending leashes. I used my tiny new bell only once at 100m distance. They heard it instantly and pulled their dogs into the verge.
The route is a little over 18km long in all. Still work to be done on the numerous road crossings. Some thoughtful hedge trimming at these crossings would greatly increase safety. Allowing cyclists to easily check for approaching traffic.Without having to stop or dismount. Or carry on regardless. On what are mostly narrow lanes with very light traffic.
The two, main road crossings are quite another matter. The road speeds here are still the national limit of 80kph or 50 mph. Usually ignored by the vast majority of drivers. One main road has had a new island installed. Which has taken a fortnight and counting. To provide some shelter for cyclists at the midway point. The speed limit here was 60kph or 40mph. Again completely ignored by most drivers. Perhaps the only answer is a bump, pillow or ramp? The only truly democratic traffic calming measure. Which actually works.
Lots of new signposts have been erected in blue. Giving details of distances.
After lunch and a nap I have been running the robot up and down the drive. I brought out the big, push-along, battery mower and trimmed the entire length several times. Including the verges. To ensure the robot mower wasn't being hindered by taller grass or weeds. It tends to see overhanging growth as valuable shrubs to be protected.
My attempts to cut The West Lawn with the big mower failed. Due to flat batteries and molehills repeatedly stalling the blade. Now on charge.
The unshaded greenhouse is hot. So I have opened the internal doors.
Sunday Dinner was chicken, mushrooms, peas, carrots, chips and gravy. It was delicious.
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