~o~
Sunday 2nd 15C/60F. Bright and breezy. The promised rain has been demoted to possible showers. Westerly gusts to 19m/s are still forecast for later. A short ride might be worth a try. I like to expand my range of riding skills in all conditions. There shouldn't be much traffic on a Sunday.
An emergency car rescue business is expanding its force of e-bike riding mechanics to further cities. These are able to cut through dense traffic and likely to be much quicker in reaching their customers in cities. Better than using their traditional vans. Which also require somewhere to stop near the stranded vehicle. Their maintenance costs must be massively reduced too.
Shell is still transporting Russian liquid gas, by ship, to the tune of billions in profits. It handles quite a large percentage of Russian gas exports. Shell claims it is contractually obliged to continue and is not breaking sanctions or international law. Let's just call the huge profits "blood money." Would Shell have carried gas for the Nazis if it wasn't against international law?
https://www.bbc.com/news/business-66021325
Meanwhile, the iDictator of Twatter is running a denial of service attack on his brain dead [non registered] customers.
Which all suggests I need a walk. 🙄
The southwesterly wind made it quite chilly until I reached the solid shelter of the roadside hedge. Traffic was very light. Though a fit young jogger went past. A very unusual sight. I stopped to take a few more pictures of progress on the earthworks. Huge fields on my rides were also being raised. A large bulldozer having scraped the valuable top soil aside into a surrounding, raised bank. To be replaced later.
The lowered areas will be filled without countless lorry loads of subsoil. Most of which will come from the gas pipeline excavations. Again I assume. Having seen tipper lorries leaving the site. Which I come across at frequent intervals as I pedal around the landscape. The huge, steel pipe is laid in vast quantities of sand in its trench. Leaving an equal excess of subsoil to be rid of. The scale of this project is mind boggling. As it snakes across the countryside uphill and down. A fleet of heavy earth moving machines at every lane crossing.
There seems to be a great deal happening at the moment. New housing estates are going up on greenfield sites. Then there is the seemingly endless expansion of drainage. Plus the district heating extensions to nearby villages. The "Russian gas supply problem" has caused a major rethink on energy. As Denmark fails to meet CO2 targets.
The drainage is being seriously upgraded to cope with increased rainfall and to avoid flash floods. Many new ponds have been constructed to accept rapid run-off. Which all helps to increase the diversity of habitats for wildlife and birds. As the banks are quickly taken over by native plants.
Many ponds have native trees and shrubs added to their perimeters. To protect wildlife from frequent disturbance by passers by. Village verges and roundabouts are being decorated with more natural flowers. Perhaps to suggest wildlife meadows. Rather than [often] tasteless bedding plants. Fields near the local town have been planted and gravel paths provided. To give a pleasant wildlife site to wander. Eventually without too much traffic disturbance. There is a noisy, major road nearby.
The countless native trees they have planted will soon assume forest-like conditions. With sound deadening properties. No conifers! There is an excellent cycle path climbing up to the edge of town. Which is sheltered by trees and shrubs from the nearby traffic. Unfortunately the path ends at the town outskirts. Leaving the cyclist exposed to racing traffic and only a white line for protection.
I rode along that road a couple of days ago and quickly took detours into the meandering lanes. It felt so unsafe on the main road. The distance by lane is much greater than via the main road. Because there is no obvious route north. The lanes merely connect once busy, farming villages. Now more likely to be housing commuters. All the village schools having been closed over the years. As have all the shops and trades available locally.
The lanes were almost empty of any traffic on my recent rides. I often felt like a sole survivor of some unknown catastrophe! Then a lone car would come along and reset the scene. No doubt these lanes enjoy a "rush hour" at specific times. As office workers leave or return to their expensive dormitories. You hardly ever see or hear a child in the empty villages. At weekends and presumably overnight, there will be many business vans and cars parked.
9.50 63F. The sky has darkened and a first shower is passing. I have the towels out to dry but will leave them to be rinsed. Or at least diluted. Now it is raining hard. So much for a short ride in the sunshine! Though the DMI rainfall radar looks quite promising once this lot has gone elsewhere.
12.15 The sky has darkened again and the wind is picking up. The recent rain has removed the drought as an excuse not to garden. So I have used the big rechargeable strimmer to knock down the tall grass and weeds.
I started with the extended parking space. Then onto the drive. With a final tour around the rear "lawn." I used up a 4Ah and then a 5Ah battery. Inserted the largest battery I have and that was slowing too. The grass was "steaming" with pollen. Heavy showers and warm sunshine punctuated the proceedings but I carried on. I shall have to rake as much up as possible. Before the lawnmower will touch it.
12.30 and the heavy rain has arrived again. Right on cue with the DMI radar.
18.30 I have managed to strim, rake and mow the drive and parking space. The lawn is still unmown. Both lawnmower batteries are flat and on charge. The strimmer batteries have all been on charge. iManjana!
I am making a Sunday dinner. Fried chicken and mushrooms. With peas, carrots and boiled, new potatoes. All washed down with a Bisto chaser.
~o~
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