~o~
Saturday 6th 39F/4C. Another dark grey day. Windier, with rain after lunch. The trees are already moving. 62F/16.7C in the room. 47F/8.3C in the lean-to greenhouse.
Up at 7.50 after a late, then fairly quiet, night. Both of my eyes feel sore. I shouldn't use filthy gloves to wipe the tears from my eyes when it is cold. Finding tissues in my pockets, while wearing thick gloves, is impractical. Besides, the gloves would contaminate the tissues. Perhaps I should dig out some of my real handkerchiefs? Which I haven't used for years. I haven't a clue where they might be now. Not in the chests of drawers where they used to be. Probably gave then away to a charity shop.
None of my cheap safety glasses make usefully windproof goggles for cycling. Perhaps I should explore what is available without dark lenses. It is ridiculous to see riders out training in a heavy overcast. While wearing their obscenely expensive "cycling" sunglasses.
It seems I have been wasting my time in the local timber merchants. A very poor selection. There are far better safety glasses available elsewhere. Better wrap around and even with side screens. To help to keep the wind out. Most aren't designed for serious wind protection though. More for dust and particles when grinding or sanding. I'll try some of the other outlets. Most of these glasses are inexpensive. Goggles with elastic just wouldn't work with a helmet and warm liner cap.
9.15 I had better get ready for my walk. I'll need to be windproof. Ventile over fleece I think.
9.40 I was comfortable despite the SE wind on the return leg. Almost too warm. My double fleece hat pulled well down. The ponies watched my progress. The goats called and the guard dog barked foolishly. At a figure who has passed its gate almost daily for years. The unnecessary noise is only recent. Perhaps the dog is bored. Or becoming senile and senses danger in the familiar. Or it has developed village mentality in old age?
11.00 I am going for a ride to the next shopping village upwind. Or SE if you prefer. I know how to dress more warmly than yesterday. I will cover only half the distance. There will be shopping in several supermarkets at intervals. To restock with essentials. Plenty of chances to warm up if need be. Now the sun has come out.
12.50 And back again. 25km. The sunshine was short lived. The headwind was quite unpleasant on the way. Much easier coming back with the tailwind. Two MTBers out training caught me up as I cruised at 28kph. I could hear their voices in conversation so they can't have been breathless.
I decided to press on instead of dawdling. Which would have meant my following them until I got bored and overtook. Which would have looked silly. I raised my cadence to average a comfortable 32-35kph in sport mode. Low 80s rpm. I had soon distanced them by several hundred meters. They turned off before the next village. Where I paused to fill two panniers to the brim with shopping. Time for lunch.
13.45 Rain. 60F/15.6C in the room. Stove lit.
~o~
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