well at least for now!

So far this week the weather has been playing ball so things are sort of going as planned. On Monday i pretty much had a down day, catching up on chores and ending with cooking tea, a wholesome cottage pie (no cottages were harmed in its production!) Its nothing fancy but sometimes simple is best, it was enjoyed by all eaters.

Yesterday was forecast dry & bright all day so, having missed last week, i headed for my 'regular' seaside lunch at Weston super Mare. Bright yes, but a cool wind kept temperatures down, the high was just 7c and it dropped to 2c before i finished the ride - i had planned ahead tho, defcon 2 gloves and thicker socks kept my extremeties quite toasty. 115km, 900+m which included a climb over the Mendip with grades up to 15% thrown in. The weather looks a bit more mixed through to the weekend but it shouldn't affect me getting out & about.

Why do i do so much riding? Well, in no particular order, fitness, mental health and it gets me out of the house. There are other elements and one of those is getting it on with nature and the last few rides have been pretty good on that score. One of several deer encounters, on Sunday a Roe buck tracked me for a bit, about 2m away, Friday another crossed the road just ahead of me.

Hedgerow birds are easier to spot with most of the hedgerows now quite free of foliage but its raptors which have been most visible. Again on Sunday several harriers were attracting the twitchers as they surfed the updraft on the Cotswold edge and then yesterday i got to within a few metres of a buzzard stood feeding at the roadside. The biggest surprise was on Friday, spotting several egrets out near Lacock although yesterdays pair of partridge runs very close - can't say as i saw a pear tree nearby tho!

It's Wednesday so of course we playing catch up with Gaby book1 and today we get introduced to some of the American exchange students complete with pictures! Check out Mr Bond, Drew Bond today!

I'll be back Sunday but for today,
Ciao,
Madeline Anafrid