Un-Lockdowned my Bicycle

Today I felt fed up of walking, fed up of running and generally fed up seeing the same things when I go outside.

To try and sort out this de-motivation I thought I'd unlock my bicycle, pump up its tires - in the course of which I found what I thought might be a mason bee feeding on ivy leaved toadflax by the back wheel - and took it out for a spin before the weather closed in.

Oh gosh, did my legs feel it. An exercise bike is no substitute; after barely a kilometre my thighs were aching! But I got used to it, and headed out through Hawton and Cotham, before swinging across to Shelton and Sibthorpe where I took a break by the church and the peculiar round storehouse next to the River Smite.

A flock of guinea fowl, of all things, surprised me at Farndon!

Didn't want to loiter too much anywhere, I know cyclists have got a fair bit of stick from villagers thinking we are disease vectors in some places.

I ended up doing 28km in the end, although none of that was too far from home. It took so much out of me I ended up sleeping for three hours when I got back in, when I woke I thought it was Monday already.

Such are the timelss times in which we live.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.04.20

Two Hours on the Bicycle

I really need more outside exercise, and with my plantaric irritation still ongoing, cycling seems to be the only way to  do it. Unless I suddenly make the Cambridge 8 or something equally unlikely.

So I have resolved to get out on the bike the next few days I have off. Today was the first of these, and in good conditions apart from a wind that seemed to be head on for my entire ride, I headed south along the N64, wondering if I'd surprise a long eared owl that roost by day in the hedgerows alongside.

Of course I didn't, and suppose I only would have done so if I'd ridden my bike directly into the hedge. There weren't any winter thrushes either, but constant flashes of white wing edges and tail bars indicated that a lot of chaffinch were about today.

Off the cycle track, I rode through Shelton village (posh), Sibthorpe village (posh), Elston (posh), East Stoke (site of famous Roses War battle, also posh) and Farndon (not posh). In East Stoke I had fantastic close views of a pair of kestrels, so close I could see every marking on their chestnut backs as they flew away from the lumpy two wheeled threat.

Rumbles was open too, so got to have a really nice cup of tea afterwards, listen to 6 music and  just feel good about the 30km ride I'd had, despite the lead legs.

More tomorrow.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 29.12.18

Sibthorpe by Bicycle

I haven't had a run out on the bicycle for a fair old while, and I didn't want to waste a lovely day JUST gardening, although I sheared down the dead cow parsley at the back of the driveway and took out some of the more lethal looking clusters of nettles.

I needed a bit more freedom and fresh air than that, so off I went on my bicycle to see the strange storehouse at Sibthorpe, the round building like a Mycenean Tholos tomb above ground. It sits next to the small, shallow River Smite, whose banks were well populated with glittering banded demoiselles.

Various butterflies flitted about; large whites, small torts, the odd comma. No-one was stopping to chat.

I carried on the road round to Elston, to the windmill house, and saw a beautifully floral wall in Thorpe. All the time realising that I'd forgotten to bring a drink and that my mouth made a desert seem wet.

Fool. But a nice 30km anyway.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 03.07.18

No Cricket but Biking Instead

I  could have played cricket today, for the local side Upton in a friendly match, but frankly after the long season my back and left leg were very sore after yesterday's match. , I tried to have a bit of a run about but it was very very sore, so I had to cancel.

Skip won't be pleased about that. Neither was I, as it was a great day for cricket, and Upton is a nice ground.

So had to make the best of it, and decided to take a rare opportunity to cycle for pleasure on a nice day for it, for a bloody change.

I took myself out into the country lanes, listening to the cricket on Test Match Special, and enjoying the sun on my arms and legs. I visited the Sibthorpe Dovecote, a scheduled  ancient monument that had over 1000 nest holes inside it, and the Flintham Community shop where a can of San Pellegrino orange and pomengranate went down incredibly well.

Their drinks can rightly take their place alongside Barrs, and if they are reading this they can feel free to send me some free products!

When I got back, I wanted to have a serious read in the garden, but ended up falling asleep in my sun chair. Almost like the middle aged man I am.

Si

All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 27.08.17

An Adventure to Shelton and Sibthorpe

Swapped running shoes for tires today, as I decided to give my sore legs a day off and head off out into the sticks on my noble Rockrider steed - £45 from a roadside bikeman - to find places as yet unvisited.

I headed up the cycle track where a fair few common darters were flying up in front of me, but instead of following my usual long route to Thorpe on the Elston road, I went the other way to Shelton, a small village with a fine manor and Norman church, and a smattering of very affluent houses. Typically, there were no amenities other than a red telephone box with an actual working phone in it! A rarity these days.

I was hoping it was also being used as a phone box library, but sadly, no. An old house at the end of the village had obviously supported a colony of house martins during the summer, they were still circling today.

I could have turned round here, but decided to keep on going through a world of country lanes marked with old style signposts for villages I'd never heard of despite living less than 10 miles away from them.

Eventually, I took the road for Sibthorpe, which turned out to be a slightly larger village dominated with a medieval dovecote by what I think is the River Smite. It was seemingly an important settlement in the days of Edward I. It is another chocolate boxey affluent village now, and again, no pubs, no shops and not even a phone box this time.

Good luck being elderly out in these places. Assuming you can still afford to live there.

Si

Pylons into the distance

My noble steed

The other sort of steeds

Big money house

The red telephone box

Ivy cottage

Shelton church

Shelton Manor

Quo vadis, my lord?

Sibthorpe cottage

Medieval dovecote

Sibthorpe church

Across the fields

Tatty large white

Love the shading on the forewing