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Sunday 8th 43F/6C [8.00] Overcast, showers possible. Clearing after lunch with risk of sunshine. 63F/17C in the room. The stove went out early last night.
Up at 7.15 after a rather busy night.
One of many pylons taken down and replaced with new. Photo-bombed by my Moustache e-bike. Saddle lowered on 5" dropper post for easy mounting/dismounting.
I was hoping for another ride. To see how the new railway line is progressing. There is a deep cutting and a new bridge on the main road. All tied up with the existing motorway. The bridge was still under construction last time I was there.
I need shopping. So that would get me away from the car. Which makes sense if I want to stop close to the roadworks. On the bike I can just pull up wherever I like. I can shop in another village on my way back home. I'll probably have to wear the waterproof trousers. Putting them on beside the road is a bit of a pain.
The view through the new bridge to the existing motorway bridge beyond. On
what is only a tiny lane but a vital route for those who live in scattered farms and tiny villages. Note how high the bridge is to match the
required level of the adjoining embankment. Yet even here I have climbed a long and quite steep hill to reach this point. This only helps to underline the difficulty of providing a level railway bed over the undulating landscape of Fyn. The central island of Denmark's three landmasses.
9.45 44F/6.7C. 57F/14C in the greenhouse. Back from a half hour walk. Slightly chilly on my hands. The sun was visible but almost obscured by cloud. Better than dark grey! No interesting birds to speak of today. Not even a gull out on the
fields. Just Chaffinches and sparrows doing what they do. I waved to a
gorgeous, pale grey horse. It nodded back.
Here the intended track bed runs in a deep cutting beneath the main N/S road. The motorway is raised at this point behind the noise screens on the right.
I have had a bike battery on charge since getting up. It should be ready soon. I am unlikely to deplete it where I am going but like to have a reserve. It gives me the freedom to use Turbo mode when needed.
One of the few remaining, closed roads on the new railway track. It is due to open in only a week! The original road was straight and level. It looks as if there will be an incline approaching the new bridge. With the track running between the twin concrete castings.
13.25 Back from a 38km ride. The weather stayed cool but dry. With the sun struggling to pierce the clouds. I took pictures at six building sites on the new railway line. Including one of many high voltage pylons were being replaced along the route. Elsewhere two roads are still closed as major earthworks continue. To obtain a level route for the railway. Involving many deep cuttings, new bridges and raised embankments.
This image shows another new bridge still under construction.
Railway over, main road under. The road has currently been relaid. To
loop around the new bridge. It will eventually pass straight under it. Again the motorway is behind the grey, noise
screens in the background. Train and motorway will be closely parallel and level at this point. Every new bridge is cast in concrete at very odd angles! Presumably this avoids changing the original roads too much. Which would add enormously to the costs. The nearby industrial estate, beside the new railway and existing motorway, has extensive new work being carried out. This was once a very run down area but it is now being revived. With new builds and at least two drive-in-drive-by takeaways. Easy access to the motorway must have helped. A car spares business has just built an enormous building here.
15.00 53F/11.7C. Quite bright but still heavily veiled sunshine. I need
to ride into the village. The previous supermarket branch had none of
the chicken I usually buy.
15.33 Returning from another 10km ride to the local shops. It is over
50F/10C but still feels cold. The sun was trying to come out but never
succeeded. I was surprised to see yet more snow. Cowering under north
facing banks and in the shadows of woods.
Dinner was an organic pork chop, mushrooms, organic carrots and organic roast potatoes. With Bisto gravy. Baked in the oven for 25 minutes at 200C pre-warmed and with fan. I added oregano and paprika basil to the chop as an experiment.
The potatoes were just beginning to brown on the corners but were not fully cooked through. Nor were the carrots. I still prefer a plain chop. While the added seasoning was interesting it hid the flavour of the chop. The aroma is hovering in the kitchen even now.
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