Jailbreak!

 Despite various rehab exercises I've been doing, and also sitting like a lemon with a freeze pack wrapped round my ankle, the tendonitis isn't settling down much and I'm getting frustrated with having to rest the tendon all the time. 

It's not good for my mental health, and it isn't good for you, dear readers, as it means I haven't got anything to show you. 

So, fed up after a mix up at the chemist with my repeat prescription, I just went home, got and my bike, and headed off to first take a look at the lake, and then journeyed up the N64 cycle path to Cotham.

An unpleasant vision in a bright red waterproof - that I had to stuff in my rucksack as I got far too warm - I flushed all the redwing from the hawthorn bushes along the track. The crows were far more composed, cawing in disdain. 

It was a grey day, with flat light, but I was just relieved to be properly active outside. It wasn't a long ride, only 15km, and it is clear that my fitness is suffering, but I intened to try and keep getting on the bike for short rides when the weather allows. 

I owe it to my brain and to you.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 28.11.22

The Snake and the Dragonfly

 I've got a lot of steps in this weekend, Friday saw my bimbling out to Winthorpe Lake of which more later - there wasn't a lot to see to be honest - and today took me out to Hawton and Farndon, two nearby villages which are both very attractive.

The house at valrerian corner is a highlight for me at Hawton, although there were no hummingbird hawk moths as I've sometimes seen here, and the pastures around Farndon are painted yellow with buttercups at the moment.

But today saw a couple of really exciting firsts for me.

The first came on the road halfway between Hawton and Farndon. Whenever I cross a stream of water, I always take a look down on the off chance of seeing a fish, or perhaps a little egret on the hunt, but when I looked down into a small beck, I saw stunned to see a sinuous black shape swimming along.

For a split second I thought it might be an eel, then spotted a head with a collar of gold around the neck. It was of course a grass snake, swimming along happy as larry before slithering out when it came across a branch in the water.

I was too shocked to even reach for my phone to take a picture.

It's the first snake I've ever seen in the wild.

I know we get grass snakes in the area, I've seen photos, but never thought I'd be lucky enough to see one myself. What a find!

Slightly less dramatically but no less interesting, I encountered a 4 spotted chaser dragonfly on a tree near Fanrdon Ponds. This was my first dragonfly of the year, and the first of this species I've managed to photograph, although it took about 20 attempts to get one in focus!

All in all, 20,000 very worthwhile steps today!

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 31.05.21

More Wateriness

 Sunday saw me taking a long hike out to Hawton and then across to Farndon, looking for winter thrushes along the Hawton-Farndon road.

In the past I've seen a lot of fieldfare in the fields along this lane, but not a sausage. Not seen a single winter thrush yet, but I'm rather more urban in this flat than I used to be. 

Willow Holt was, as expected, very boggy looking, boggy in the sense of being completely underwater in places. No way through here! But hey, it was a two hour walk in the open air, and I enjoyed it.

I'm recapturing the enjoyment of trundling along listening to Radio 4. When the plays are good, and the programmes interesting, I take such joy in it!

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 27.01.21

Hawton and a Peacock

Another Boris run today, out to Hawton village to see what was kicking around in the hedgerows and roadsides.

Not a lot, yet, as it turned out! But it was still a nice old trip out really. Enjoy it while I can. Then Boris runs will become Boris banging my head against wall sessions.

Back into town proper, when I ran through the park, I came across my first decent -ish view of a peacock butterfly this Spring as it fed off sun drenched blackthorn. Again, not wanting a close up photo though. Well, I suppose butterflies get fed up of folk shoving cameras in their faces.

Will try for better photos tomorrow.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 26.03.20

A Voyage of Two Churches

First up, I've just returned from a Burn's Night supper at the family home, which was really nice, but alas the shot of whisky I had to mark the "piping in" of the haggis - actually the haggis being taken from the oven accompanied by a rendition of Burn's famous "Address to a Haggis" via a tablet - has given me a thumping headache and reminded me why I never drink the stuff.

I've had a very good walk today, taking myself out to Hawton and then to Farndon, visiting the churches, and looking out for a new bike at the second hand bike shop. It took me about 2 and a bit hours, probably covered about 7 miles, and enjoyed the radio and the sense of being outside on a rather crisper day than we've had recently.

It was grey, and I didn't really see much if interest to be honest, no winter thrushes in the fields although plenty of finches and tits around the hedgerows. There are highland cattle in the muddy lowland fields, and roach being caught in the river.

Sadly my bike hunt came to nought; the second hand bikes are nice, but no cheaper than new ones! Need to find one better for longer distance rides.

And changes gear when I ask it to from time to time.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.01.20

Out on the Bicycle at Last

Yesterday was mild, today was milder still and downright pleasant out in the sun, of which there was a little from time to time. I didn't see any butterflies once again, and the two ladybirds I found in my ivy bush were still asleep.

Having pottered around town and the park in the morning, I then decided to take advantage of the lack of wind - for a change recently - and have a gentle bike ride around Farndon and Hawton just to get my legs back into the habit of riding further than my commute distance.

It was a nice little ride out, only about 15km or so, but it felt good to be doing "real" exercise for a change. The walking is nice, but doesn't get your heart pumping like getting going at a slightly higher clip does!

Speaking of which, my foot is enjoying my time off work, and feels like it might withstand a run, but I'm not going to try, for now.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 19.03.19

Running Like a Mime Artist

The weather today and yesterday has been very very strange for any time of the year, let alone October. Temperatures have been in the  mid-twenties yet there have been hot 50 mile an hour winds blasting through the trees and ruining the composure of Ewalina's larger pot plants.

Despite Storm Callum having a good time out there, I decided it was still too nice to not go for a run so I picked a route that  would enable me to have a tailwind on the run back home.

Of course this meant I would have to run into the wind for the first half, and this resulted in some fairly comical struggles, with teenage girls openly laughing at me as I ran past making running style shapes, but actually travelling at less than walking pace.

I've no doubt I looked like Marcel Marceau doing a particularly bad "walking in the wind" mime routine, feeling like I had to almost swim strokes through the air to get anywhere.

It did get better, when I turned out of the headwind under wide open skies, but I was already totally knackered and came home very slowly indeed.

I cared not. It was 8km outside.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 13.10.18