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Monday 19th
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My wife, Shirley, died suddenly of cancer, in the spring of 2022. Since then I have been struggling uphill. My cycling blog became a therapeutic journal. Where I recorded my recovery from the shock of my loss. The house and garden need a lot of work. So much of the text and images are now about my "improvements." My purchase of a "Speed" e-bike transformed my cycling after I passed 75. More recently I have had heart problems. Four stents have given me a new lease of life.
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Sunday 18th 42F/5.6C [8.30] A sunny morning is promised. Peaking around 10-11C/5052F. Windy again, gusting to 10m/s from the east. Up at 7am after a quieter night. I decided to get up as I was wide awake. I put the washing up away as an exercise in self-discipline.
A comfortable 22.5C/72F in the room. With the heat pump remote now set to 20.5C/69F.
No immediate plans for today. Another ride? I should have a walk. Preferably before descending into full zombie mode on YT.
It will/would have been be my son's 59th birthday. I haven't a clue if he is even alive. No contact for over 30 years.
9.15 Back from my walk of the drive loop. Two neighbours were leaving in their cars. Presumably going to the bakers. No dogs or cats this morning.
It was really quite chilly in the wind. I went out bent over like an old man. Returned, looking slightly the less for wear. I gave the pony a handful of the special grass on this side of the fence. If I do go for a ride I will have to wear one of my winter cycling jackets. Take the warmer gloves as well. Just in case.
10.30 Back from a 10km ride to fetch some rolls. It was sunny but windy and cool. The battery dropped from 100% to only 27%. Something seriously wrong there!
Dinner was toasted cheese on toasted bread rolls with halved cherry tomatoes.
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Saturday 17th 46F/8C [04.00]A sleepless night. Attending to the fire bucket twice an hour. Got up at 03.45.
Back to bed at 5.15. Up again at 7.15.
A very cosy 23.5C/74F in the room. The remote was set at 21C overnight. I have reduced it to 20.5C/69F.
A dry, sunny morning will allow a ride. The all day rain as been pushed forwards.
12.15 Back from a 27km ride. I rode my usual Saturday morning trip to HÄrby. A shopping village to my south. Then came back via the new cycle path. Though this meant a considerable detour to join it at the halfway point. It also meant I would be heading directly into the wind.A new section of the bike path, at Voldsmose, has been surfaced with the fine grey sand. Presumably with a binder. Probably clay.
I used the fresh, smooth surface as encouragement to join the path. The background in the two images show the delightful countryside through which the path passes.
I actually came across the implement they are using to lay, level and smooth the surface material. Then later on the tractor and hopper. For feeding the material as the implement is towed along. Judging from the deep indentations of footprints and tire grooves. There seems to be no serious compaction during the actual laying process.Though there was no sign of a road roller. As, I had seen in use nearer Assens. The last sections, nearer Glamsbjerg, have still not been surfaced. In fact they seem to have a flooding problem at the Glamsbjerg Old Station. Where a huge puddle has been growing for weeks.
Dinner was a chicken fry-up, with mushrooms and tweggs.
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