It's been 14 months since I started posting on Shutterchance, pretty much a picture a day and as I look through the archive I am surprised at what a good memory jogger it all is.
Most of the time I do not put titles to the pictures, though the date of posting is there. Many weeks have a rough theme; these are interspersed with random pictures from my chaotic cataloguing.
The sample above includes trips away to Edinburgh, Somerset and the Lake district; rainy day microscopy; walks on Wharton Crags and around Lancaster; a tulip from my mother's garden; close-up practice.
The dreich and dismal weather is not conducive to getting out and about, so the consensus was that we join a gym. It has to be said that the "gym" bit did not appeal to me at all, but when I was told that there was a swimming pool the concept of a new exercise regime did become more appealing as I realised I could factor it into my jacuzzi and sauna combo scenario. So we have already been a few times and while my co aquaphile powers her way through length upon length, I dabble about with my apology to the crawl and do approximately two lengths and one jacuzzi session to every 20 lengths of hers. Younger daughter has however pointed out that this HAS to stand me in better stead should the river flood and I need to get to the other side.
Well it didn't start out as a rainy day activity (because at that point it hadn't started raining); it started out as "I must get a few more miles on the odometer so that when that nice man at the bike shop does the 6 week check up he doesn't think I am using my bike as an expensive garden ornament". I set off along the river for Woody's snack bar; an elevenses mug of tea and a spicy beanburger while enjoying the view seemed a good incentive. However, when I got to the aqueduct I noticed that a ramp had been built, so a quick change of plan and destination was made. Getting bike and self onto the canal tow path meant that I did not require the medical attention that would have been essential had I gone for the carrying of bike up the steep steps option.
As it was an overcast day (no rain yet), there were few people around which was good as it does take a little time to get into narrow canal tow path cycling mode, especially when the canal looks rather full. There were a few dog walkers around but most seemed to be of owner in charge of dog sort, rather than the rampant dog in charge of owner sort. Luckily no dogs or owners of any sort were encountered as I negotiated the many bridges. Said bridges are preceded by the tow path equivalent of a speed bump which is followed by cobblestones under the (low) bridge. Also, why is it that all bridges seem to be on a curve so that it is impossible to see ahead? Slow pedalling techniques on a slippery cobblestoned curved path seem to me to be recipe for disaster. I realised that perhaps I should be ringing the bicycle bell while doing these manoevres, but that seemed too much of a multitasking demand.
A decision had to be made once I reached the sign indicating Morecambe or Carnforth. I opted for Carnforth as it would add more miles to the clock. I continued, and cheerily acknowledged a fellow tow path user by saying it was good it was still dry, she informed me that she was walking into the wind AND rain. Unperturbed I cycled on and once in Carnforth made my way to the station and its coffee shop (cue in music from Rachmaninoff's Piano concerto No. 2).
I had been remiss in not taking my camera, though did take a picture using my phone.
Having been suitably refreshed I stepped outside into the pouring rain. It looked set for the duration, so I had no choice but to brave the elements and cycle back. The good thing was that there were very few other feckless dauntless canal path users, the down side was that within a very short time I was totally droukit. However ..... importantly, by the time I got home, another 20 miles had been added to the odometer.
