28th August 2019 Warm!

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Wednesday 28th 70F, rather overcast but brightening steadily. Almost no wind. Walked to the village. Saw the second pedestrian in two days! This is becoming a habit and probably only due to the fine, warm weather. Over one hundred swallows were milling around a small stand of birches in the village.

Drove to the traffic jams in the city to buy some bulky stuff. It was awful! I could easily have walked across town faster than I drove. Queues everywhere and massive building and roadworks. Lots of electric scooters around. Only one idiot showing off [badly] to the traffic queues.

Thursday 29th 67-78F, overcast and showers. Some heavy. A dreadful night with the temperature indoors over 80F and writhing in a sweat bath even without bedclothes. I got up at 3.0am and put on an office fan to blow gently into the bedroom. One window was left open and the temperature had dropped by 2F overnight. It was far more comfortable after that and I slept well until 7.0am.

It remained dry for my walk to the lanes and then back over the highest humps in the field. New viewpoints are rarely available.

Friday 30th 65-73?F, bright but rather cloudy. Walked to the lanes and back along the edge of the stubble field to avoid the traffic. My new, Overboard "saddlebag" has vanished into the ether. No tracking updates for two whole days. No weekend delivery service. Shall we say September?

Saturday 31st 61-78F, bright but milky sky. My new Overboard bag has passed into/through the hands of a transport company with a 75% score of negative online reviews on its way from the UK. A walk around the block did not cure my bad back. It is warm, bright, misty and very muggy at 67F at 10am. Saw several birds of prey including a Red kite on my walk. Hundreds of sparrows are congregating.

Late morning ride to more distant shops. Headwind going. Chased by a mutt resembling a terrier. When it couldn't catch me it walked off into the illegally fast moving traffic and caused general mayhem. Fortunately the owner didn't miss working on her tan and continued undeterred despite the vicious barking right outside the garden.

Breezy coming back. Saw several more birds of prey in the air. A Goshawk, a Buzzard and something in beige in between. 15 miles, going remarkably well considering my recent, self-imposed  back pain. Lots of people and cyclists enjoying the fine weather. The cloud has relinquished its hold to provide clear, blue skies.
 

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