A Bit of a Bird Theme

I think someone must have been feeling energetic in 2017 when they produced these pages.  She started off with a basic drawing and then stitched these variations ….

Purple Patches

Whilst up in Yorkshire I took the opportunity to catch up with some of the 'Yorkshire Travelling Journals' from previous years. I had tried to photograph the pages as I went along but of course once they have passed on you do not see them again before they return to their owners. Hopefully I have now captured some more of the pages. These were from August 2014.

The Good Weather Continues

A little bit of madness on Sunday. Encouraged by some of the riders on Friday I signed up for the 'Introduction to Intermediate Ride' from Jinney Ring on Sunday morning.  It was almost 25 miles which is just about on the limit of what I can manage at a reasonable speed with hills thrown in. I usually choose 'Steady Rides' which are slightly shorter but a similar speed.

I was busy chewing an energy bar in this photograph to get me the last few miles back to the car park and café for coffee and cake.  You meet some wonderful people cycling with Women on Wheels and lots of chatting goes on whilst we are cycling.  We inevitably change places in the group as we all have different levels of fitness for climbing hills and speeding along nice flat pieces of road which gives you chance to catchup with people you have not seen for a while and also to get to know new riders.

Fabulous Weather

Just had a few days away in Yorkshire and come home to find a lovely clump of crocus have burst into bloom under the Corkscrew Hazel in the garden.  Brings a smile to your face.

Also been catching up on cycling since I returned and done a 16 mile ride on my own from Croome Park against a brisk wind and then a 20 mile ride with WOW ladies from Jinney Ring near Droitwich. The weather was fabulous for the latter ride.  A joy to be out and about.

Church close to Croome Park

Otley still has lots of evidence of cycling around ….

Even more Snowdrops

I absolutely adore snowdrops and there are lots about at the moment.  These were captured in the garden on one of the frosty mornings we have had recently.

Short Walk at Croome Park

Too cold for cycling earlier in the week so had a walk at Croome Park with DH. It was very frosty underfoot and the ducks were skating about on the frozen water. It was lovely to get out in the fresh air and, of course, had to eat the inevitable scone at the end of our stroll.

Oh bliss .... Got out on my bike again

It is surprising what you find when you are out and about.  I spotted this cheeky chappy a few weeks ago in the pond at Hanley Swan.  I suspected it was advice to all those nice people who throw bread to the resident ducks, and I was right. The weather was lovely and mild at around 9 degrees so I did almost 22 miles this morning. I have really missed being able to get out cycling over the past couple of weeks.  Also missed the company of the other Women on Wheels riders, not forgetting the cake, of course!!

Still lots of snowdrops about