26.05.2025 A double, wasted journey.

 ~o~

  Monday 26th 47F/8.3C [6.00] Bright with a sunny day possible. The chart shows sun symbols. The text paints a more miserable picture. As the only dry day in the forecast I should be seriously considering a ride. 

 Up at 5am. I was already awake. I couldn't stay awake yesterday. Dozing is for old farts. Age does not define decrepitude.

 6.00 I'll go for an early walk. No, not along "the beach." The tide is out again.

 6.40 Back again. It was quite chilly on my hands. I shared the neighbour's drives with the recycling lorry in bright sunshine. More cloudy now. 

 7.15 Brighter again. I measured the fall over the 18m to the far end of the gravel. 14cm. That's a fall of only 1%. Though the lateral incline does continue right to the end. So there is an increased incline on the diagonal. The new gravel surface suddenly looks remarkable inclined relative to the house. When I look back towards it. It never seemed like that when I made it into a parking lawn. With its rough concrete patio probably level with the house.

 I can't make up my mind where to go on my bike. I have been everywhere so many times over the years. There is nothing in particular to hook my interest today. More distant goals are more easily reached in the car. Which can be achieved regardless of the weather. Then there is the matter of the strong SW wind. Gusting to 12m/s today. With the risk of heavy showers including thunderstorms. I decided to be sensible.

 15.00 Back from a completely wasted double journey totaling 220km. I went to fetch a rather nice, vintage display cabinet I had seen in Svendborg. It proved far too big to go in the car. So I paid for it and drove back home for my trailer. Returning as promptly as I could manage. 

 In my absence two men had moved the cabinet outside. Ready for my collection. In doing so they had leaned the cabinet forwards. So that an irreplaceable, curved glass door had fallen out and smashed. I tried to remain calm and simply demanded my money back. Then drove home yet again. 

 There was torrential rain and a bright flash of lightening during my first, return journey. Followed by a loud rumble. It was windy all day. The week ahead promises a whole month's worth of rain. 45mm in total. With 22mm, almost an inch of rain, forecast for next Sunday alone. 

 How will this affect "the beach?" I have absolutely no idea. Should I cover it with cheap tarpaulins? I have several large examples. No longer waterproof but still able to withstand the impact of the heaviest downpour. Strong gusts of wind are forecast too. So I would need to weigh them down well. There is no shortage of timber and plywood.

 17.00 I have had the greenhouse door open to boost the indoor temperature. It has reached 69F from an earlier 66F. A worthwhile gain. 19-20C. It is currently 96F/35.6C out there. With all the windows closed.

 Dinner was mackerel in tomato sauce on toast with tomatoes.

  ~o~