9.06.2025 46km for these?

 ~o~

   Monday 9th 47F/8.3C [6.30] A sunny day [apparently] once the sun clears the present cloud. Rather spoilt by a gusty westerly wind. A modest 15C/59F is on offer. 

 A bit of a ride? All the shops are shut for another bank holiday. Netto supermarkets are open. No real need for a target though. I could head north and pretend it's not a headwind. Even though it will be. Visit a garden centre? Renew the battle with nature?

 Up at 6am after a busy night tending the fire bucket. I was dreaming about making foundations for the carport. There are twenty four, concrete, carport foundation anchors waiting to be reused. Though they need adapting to the square feet of the carport legs. Would it be too much to hope for some galvanized steel plate in the scrap yard? Square with a central round hole. Is that too much to ask for?

The rear camera picked up a gorgeous magpie at dusk last night and two cats overnight. A tabby arrived from the still heavily littered, west lawn. Deposited its prey exactly centre stage on the gravel. Then tucked into its tasty snack. Why the cats keep coming back to my gravel patch is a mystery. Habit? The granite chippings are obviously uncomfortable. Judging from the way they walk as if on hot coals. 

 An interesting aside is that my hearing aids are wirelessly picking up the sounds on the security cameras. Warblers, a wren, a chaffinch and a blackbird are currently performing. It's not the sound from the monitor. I tried muting the speaker. The cameras are connected directly with network cables. So there should be no wireless transmission. Strangely detached sound quality but it soon ceased.

 It's creeping towards 7.00. There was no real news this morning. Except for a rather sweet portrait of St. Greta. Captured on a boat off the coast of Israel. I should be thinking about a walk. No rural view is complete without its token tramp. Even one with a carefully trimmed beard.

 7.40 Down the road to the junction. Return via the neighbours' loop. The wind was surprisingly strong and cold already. 

 From across the back field I saw a deer grazing. It was just outside my extended back yard. It was not moving about. So may well have been lying down. The tall, marshy grass concealed much of the detail. Simultaneously hiding me from its own alarm system. I should have had my DSLR and a telephoto lens with me. Though I haven't taken it out. Not since I no longer had anyone to share my pictures over morning coffee.

 Meanwhile the wanderer himself looked in better shape this morning. No back pain, upright, shoulders back. Arms swinging like a string puppet. My wife used to remark on my floppy arms. When she saw me walking down the drive from the front dormer. I was never aware of this severe handicap. Except when she reminded me.

 "Fluffy" the long haired, Alsatian guard dog barked at me. I scolded it gently. It was probably just bored. The chickens were in their usual tight huddle. I always tease them about holding so many committee meetings. They just give me the cold stare. Still no horses. I was promised horses. The last time I spoke to the nice neighbour. I shall just have to be more patient.

 It's not even 8.30 yet. Though it is trying to brighten up. Is it still far too early for coffee and a marmalade roll? Or should I prepare my bike first? That would kill some time. At the speed I work at. 

 09.35-12.20. A 46 km ride. A long way to go for some bread rolls. There were other stops too of course. Lots of cyclists out training. Singly, in pairs or in groups. Traffic very light. I traveled for miles without seeing another soul. The wind was roaring or whistling in my hearing aids. It gave a heightened sense of adventure. I could have been riding fast but wasn't very. A few descents at 40-45kph with a tail wind. An enjoyable ride. I chose my hilly route carefully. Lots of birds of prey. 

 I chatted to an elderly gentleman at the garden centre. He was interested in my bike. Made some interesting points and asked intelligent questions. I saw a number of e-bike riders too. Mostly elderly. 

 During the afternoon I experimented with parking the car beside the carport roof. Just to get a feel for the size when it is in the carport. I then raked the granite gravel to even it out. I have a wooden asphalt rake without teeth. It has a long and narrow, reinforced blade of beech wood. With a 2m long handle. Ideal for leveling because it doesn't dig into softer surfaces.

 Dinner was fish fingers, peas and mashed potato. 

 

 ~o~