Pigeonswick Loop.

I had planned a little ride for today, my day off. However, the weather had other ideas.
So I rode up to Cartwright Road, locked my bicycle to a lamp-post and walked my local loop, past the Pigeonswick sawmill.

It was extremely muddy, aided by a posse of Landrovers that, as part of a shooting party, had passed through earlier.

I saw very few birds as it was quite late in the day. I did manage to see goldcrest, treecreeper and three marsh tits in larger, mixed groups of tits.
I also managed some nice photos:

Cambridge and Around.

Yesterday I took a train to Cambridge and had a little ride around the villages south of the city.
I then rode into the centre to change my library books.

Library books?  Cambridge?

Yes, I am a member of Cambridgeshire library service because it has a much larger stock list than Hertfordshire (at least the books in which I am interested).

Anyway I had a pleasant ride except for one encounter with a mad bitch in a Peugeot who, as well as being completely psychotic,  honestly believed that, because she was signalling, had a perfect right to turn left over me.

Motorists are ignorant, arrogant scum.

Actually, that's (probably) just a minority. But I am not going to waste my time trying to classify each one I meet. Nor am I going to put my health or life at risk by giving any of them the benefit of the doubt.

'DNA Path'

Wandlebury

Wandlebury

Coe Fen - What other city has such an attractive site right in the centre?

Enterprising busker; and talented

Are these bicycles abandoned? Can I take one?

Later on Friday.

It was a thorn. It projected c 5mm inside the tyre. I did not bother cleaning my cycle as I decided to go for a ride at lunchtime.

I made a sandwich and some squash and set off to Weston. I rode to the church, then walked along the footpath back to the (ex) Red Lion. I then rode along Hitchin Road/Lannock Hill to the North Road.
A bridleway took me under the motorway and to a picnic site south of Willian, where I ate my lunch. 
I then returned to town along NCN route 12.

After a cup of tea I gave Hardy a good scrub. At least it was just good honest mud. Two days ago I was scrubbing off aluminium and brake block dust, salt and all kinds of other road crap.

Back to work tomorrow; night shift.

Puncture.

I've just returned from the shops and I have a puncture to fix. This is my second in two weeks; both in the rear.
I had to walk the last 700-800m back to my house. As I walked I thought about other punctures I have had and realised that the vast majority have occurred on Stevenage cycleways.

I can only think of three that I have had to fix outside Stevenage. One in 2010 just outside Luton, One in 1983 at Shingay cum Wendy and one in 2009 somewhere between Reedham and St Olaves. The last two were both on a heavily laden bike including camping gear.

The punctures are mostly caused by broken glass. Teenagers so know how to have a good time!
Occasionally the culprit is a thorn or a small piece of flint.

Poor Hardy. Also, this time yesterday he was spotless!

I'l just finish my tea, then fix that hole.

Ardley, Cottered.

Went for a short, 30km, bimble this afternoon. I rode to Halls green, Luffenhall and then on to Cottered, where I sat in the churchyard to eat my lunch.

I then explored some very muddy bridleways which took me to Ardley, where I sat on the green for my afternoon snack. I decided to leave Benington for another day, so I rode past St Johns Wood (honest!) and across the front of Walkern Hall, before heading back down into the Beane Valley to Aston End and home.

I can not be bothered to write more so here are a few photos:

Corbel at Cottered church. Who is he?

Expecting wet conditions at The Place.

Peaceful bridleway.

Autumn colours.

Ardley is always photogenic.

Two views of Fairlands lakes, Stevenage.

Saturday 3rd November 2012.

On Saturday (it seems a long time ago now) I went for a short ride south of my home town.

I rode up the hill to Knebworth then passed the golf club, crossing the east coast main line and the A1(M).

I rode along a public footpath past Park and New Woods. I do not usually ride on footpaths, but I make an exception here. The first half of the footpath is a surfaced road and the second half is used by horses, if not with the landowner's consent, then certainly with his knowledge. Therefore any damage I do while committing  this civil trespass is much less than that caused by other users.

I pottered around Potters Heath and Rabley Heath then crossed the A1 again to reach my destination, Mardley Heath. Here I parked my cycle and sat to enjoy the atmosphere of this woodland. I do love rivers, mountains and the sea, but I am most passionate about woodlands.

In the first two photographs Hardy (my cycle) is parked under a sweet chestnut. In about twenty minutes I managed to forage approximately 1kg of chestnuts.

One handful of shiny chestnuts on the carrier.

At Woolmer Green I found the spot where a car was driven off the road and either into a lamp-post or into the churchyard. I don't see how both can have happened, but the damage is there for all to see. The site is not even quite on the bend, but just beyond it. One occupant died at the time and another has died since. As a cyclist at daily risk from those in nominal, theoretical control of motor vehicles I am afraid I have no sympathy at all for these people.

I then crossed the old A1 and rode home via the village of Datchworth. 

The road through Mardley Heath

Erosion at the edge of an old gravel pit, Mardley Heath.

On Saturday I roasted some of the chestnuts for nibbling. Yesterday (Wednesday) I baked the rest in my first attempt at a nut loaf - delicious.

First fieldfare of the winter.

Yesterday, while at work, I saw my first migrant thrush of the winter. 
I was sitting in the window-ledge which overlooks a brick-paved courtyard some 6m wide and backed by a steep slope with hawthorns and planted birches. It is a popular spot with small passerines owing to the thick cover and abundant haw and ivy berries.

My attention was drawn by an urgent, high-pitched squeal. I looked out of the window and saw, on the ground, this season's first fieldfare. Unfortunately it was lying upon its back and in the death grasp of a female sparrowhawk.

The hawk continued squeezing, while keeping a close eye upon myself and my work colleague, until the thrush went quiet and stopped struggling. She then took off vertically and flew into the trees.

An exciting way to start a morning's work.

ps

This is my most important news and I forgot to mention it.

The upcoming badger cull has pushed me to where I was too apathetic to go alone.
I am going to become a vegetarian.

Possibly, once I become acclimatised, I shall turn vegan. We shall see.

I blog therefore I am.

I have read the following so many times while browsing the internet ; I apologise for the sparsity of posts etc...

Well, I do. Things will change very soon. I will be blogging much more. I am not promising to be the most gripping read on the web, but I will be accurate, and my futile ranting may provide some entertainment value.

I can provide lessons in razor-sharp sarcasm (my PhD subject) and there will be lots of pretty pictures.

I will also provide an explanation for my little avatar showing the main entrance to Pettitts Animal adventure park at Reedham, Norfolk. (I have no connection to the place, and anyway, its probably closed for the winter).

Just socked it to a worthless piece of motoring scum in a transit van.

I was cyling on an urban road, uphill, on the left. it was narrowed to the width of one motor vehicle by parked cars. I was there first. I took the centre of the lane. Mr dickhead came straight down the road, therefore straight at me. He blinked first. Scumbag.

The van was very distinctive. I believe that I will soon be publishing the registration number.

Cyclists 1   :    Motons 0. 

Its the small things in life that bring pleasure.

A Post.

I've not really done any cycling lately. I want some new challenges and some new scenery. Basically I have visited everywhere local. 
I plan lots of rides in my head and I have now bought a little notebook in which to record these thoughts before I forget them. My problem is a lack of time and a lack of money.

Two weeks ago my wife and I went to North Wales on a five-day Sheerings coach holiday. It was a bit dull being stuck in a coach with a bunch of old people, and I really wanted to be out walking and cycling in the hills, rather then just observing them through a coach window. However, I can not fault the service we were given, and we avoided the hassles of, for instance, looking after our luggage and worrying about train connections. We received excellent value for money.

I must go back; it is easily the most inspiring place I have ever been (Snowdonia, not Llandudno). I am already looking at options involving trains, Youth Hostels and campsites.
Next September Sheerings are running an eight-day trip, also staying in Llandudno, taking in four steam railways. It sounds very enticing.

Some photographs.

Rusty ravens in Betws-y-coed.

Llandudno Bay from Happy Valley.

Pass of Llanberis.

Pass of Llanberis.

Climbing the Great Orme by tram.

Conwy and Deganwy from the Great Orme.

Conwy estuary from the castle.