A bit of extra added bonus content this week in the form of 2 blog entries in as many days. Having been away Friday night there's a few pictures from Saturdays return journey that are worth sharing, but the weathers made for some interesting running through the week too, so there's a few pictures from then that are also worth a look. So, without further ado, lets just start with Saturdays return home from my overnight and then we'll go from there. Saturday dawned, or it would have, if dawn had actually happened when I got on the road, cold and clear. Well wrapped up against the cold, a heavy frost coated the world, and the early hour left the roads deserted as I left the warmth of my hotel room and headed for home. Progressing sedately through the early morning chill, I didn't have long to wait until the first signs of day started to turn the colour of the Eastern sky from black, through pink and on to a multitude of beautiful pastel colours as day finally broke. There's no doubt that winter days can be some of the most beautiful and Saturday morning more than lived up to that! With no rush to get home, I didn't push too hard, just working hard enough to keep the cold away from my bones, whilst enjoying the freedom that pedalling your bike through the countryside brings. Through Calne, before the early shoppers were even out of bed, a brief stop for porridge and a brew from my flasks at Marlborough, where the energetic park runners were just packing up, and a few cold miles alongside the River Kennet on my way to Hungerford, where the sun broke through the clouds and added its warming rays to the day. A few icy patches on the road between Hungerford and Kingsclere woke me up from my day dreaming and made me pay attention to the road ahead, a clumsy fall at the stage wouldn't have been welcome. A short stop for a sandwich, sat quietly in the churchyard at Kingsclere and then the final few miles home along familiar roads. I'd not been far (just over 70 miles), and I was home again by 13:00, in plenty of time for a few odd jobs and tea with "The Emma", but I'd been out on a winter adventure none the less. The cold wind had stung my face, my fingers and toes had been numb with the cold, but by gosh it was worth it for some of the sights and landscapes those few short hours had provided! Up early on Sunday morning, I was a little disappointed to find another cold and clear dawn. Disappointed you'll understand because I'd cancelled my South Downs Way plans due to the forecast of rain, and at 06:00 it looked pretty dry to me! Oh, well, I'll have a bit of breakfast and a bit of a run and them make the most of the dry weather to get the shoe rack I made months ago outside for a sanding ready for painting (about time too says "The Emma"). Or maybe not, as halfway round my run the skies clouded over and within 10 minutes the hail started coming down, leaving the paths slippery and my fingers cold (again). In fact by the time I got back home the hail had turned to rain and that's how it's stayed all day. I'll grant you the temperature has gone up a bit, but it's still a bit nippy and it's not stopped raining all day. I'll concede that fact that the shoe rack's still no closer to paint that it was in September, but I'm feeling pretty smug as I sit here warm and cosy writing this and not stood on top of the South Downs, wet, cold and tired, with another 2 nights in a hammock to contend with. I mean what sort of a lunatic even considers that idea! I suppose if I'm going to be at home I might as well make good use of the time, and to that end I've ticked off a few more odd jobs. Having eaten the last of the home made marmalade for breakfast, I've made some more. Nothing special, just pre cooked tinned fruit, but it's still a million times better than the shop bought stuff. The worst thing about making marmalade is boiling the oranges for what always seems like weeks to get them softened, so if I can miss out that step then that's a plus in my book. Whilst I was busy making marmalade, "The Emma" was digging in the back of the cupboard looking for something and amongst other treasure unearthed a couple of Kilner jars filled with various spirits and allotment fruits, amongst which was this little treasure. The label says it's White Rum, a bit of Sugar and allotment Raspberries, but more interestingly says I made it in 2016. I'm guessing from the colour of the fruit that any flavour and goodness that those raspberries contained has now well and truly migrated to the Rum, so "The Emma" found a spare bottle and I've bottled it up. Sat at home by the fire with a glass of that over the Christmas period will hopefully be a right little treat. And of course there's always just a little bit too much to fit in the bottle. Cheers! Ahhh, before I go, I've remembered what I was supposed to be talking about now. Chilly running! You might have noticed, and if you haven't I've been rabbiting on about it for the last 2 weeks, but it's been a bit chilly for the last few days. As I've already said though, chilly days make for some stunning views, but how about this winter wonderland from my runs to work and back this week. I'll think you'll all agree that that's worth getting cold for! But not everyone does!
Everyone at work thinks that I'm mad to even consider going outside, and I'm either going to freeze to death whilst running, or that the frost will cause the roads to turn into slippery lava and my bikes going to melt, whilst I fall into the abyss and get eaten by a Yeti! Luckily enough, neither has happened yet. But, whilst I'll continue to sing the praises of the frost glinting back in the light of my headtorch, like a million diamonds scattered across the countryside, the owls and deer watching from the undergrowth as I pass silently past, the sky slowly lightening and silhouetting the bare trees against the coming dawn, and the sheer joy of getting to work refreshed and invigorated. They'll continue to drive, having scraped the frost from their cars for the ten minute commute, got stressed out by the queues and other motorists, and spent the first hour of each day moaning that they've had to park 100 meters from the office. Each to their own I suppose, but I'll take the Yeti's and the lava every day thankyou!
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Paul PerrattOld enough to know better, young enough to still feel invincible, stupid enough to keep on trying the same thing again and again. Cyclist, Gardener, Runner, Hiker, Cook, Woodworker, Engineer, Jack of all trades and master of none, Anti social old git and all round miserable bugger. Archives
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