Bike ride to Morecambe

Distance: 9.68 miles
Average speed: 8.1 mph
Maximum speed: 13.8 mph

The wind has dropped and the temperature was bearable, so an outing to Morecambe via Lidls for some tulips.

Then along the promenade and coffee stop at Morrisons, a slight mistake with the caffeine  FREE coffee (oops).

Loads of birdlife around, I saw nuthatches for the first time on this route; there were blackbird and magpies aplenty, though none stayed still enough to get pictures.

Catkins are out as well as the ubiquitous gorse.

Back along the quay.

Building work is yet to start at this end of the quay.

Second bike ride of the week - Crook o' Lune and towards Claughton

Total distance: 13.45 miles
Average speed: 7.8 mph
Maximum speed: 13.7 mph

Another blue skied and calm day, so I decided to get out trusty steed for another foray.

Today's route was along the River Lune and as far as the cycle path went and then a reward of cup of tea and spicy bean burger at Woodie's enjoyed while admiring the view.

There was lots of bird life around, four magpies before I'd even got to the millennium bridge.

The reflections of trees, buildings and aqueduct were lovely.

I had expected to see egrets on Tuesday but there were none; today I spotted a lone one.

As I sat enjoying my snackette a couple of robins were in evidence, hopeful for some crumbs I think though they weren't brave enough to come too close to the picnic table.

All puffed up against the cold.

One of the advantages of cycle riding is being able to see over fences and hedges. On the way back I spotted a large bird of prey in one of the fields. It flew into a nearby tree where I could hear it but not see it. It came back down into the field and I attempted to take a picture. 

I only just caught it, not enough to identify it, but I think it may have been a peregrine as the noise it made sounded similar to peregrines we have seen at the castle.

Bike ride to Glasson Dock

Distance: 11.7 miles
Average speed: 7.7 mph
Maximum speed: 14.2 miles

It's strange - same destination as last time, same route and yet I seem to have ridden 1.5 miles further today. Perhaps I need new glasses or a new bike distance measurer.

It was a lovely blue skied day, frosty but clear and calm.

I saw my first lambs of the year.

Being on the bike gives extra height for looking over hedges, but once at ground level and wielding a camera, getting a clear view through the hedge is more difficult.

On the way back there was some magic. A blue iridescent gleam shone from the hedge.

A kingfisher! and not only that, I was able to get off my bike, get out my camera and take some pictures. It flitted along the hedge flashed that wonderful blue and the bronze orange of its underside.

Getting to grips with new computer and software

First bike ride of 2015

Distance: 10.19 miles

Average speed: 7.8 mph

Maximum speed: 14 mph

It's been a while since trusty steed left the shed. Yesterday I braved the elements (cold but not windy) and set off for the first bike ride of the year. The cycle path was relatively free of walkers and dogs, so a good start.

The river was quite high and as I passed along I noticed a pheasant. Pheasants have a reputation of not being the brightest of birds and this one seemed to confirm that reputation: unless it had aspirations to be a duck.

There was lots of debris around, not sure whether the wind or human hand had placed it there.

I stopped off for a warming cup of tea to find the cafe full of "real" cyclists, all lycra clinging clad (in contrast, my multi layered look was more of the Nanook of the north sartorial elegance). I had a really interesting conversation with one of the guys I shared a table with. He told me he had cycled 38 miles averaging 18mph before stopping for a coffee break. I kept quiet about my need for a rest after a mere 6 miles, or the fact that I could only achieve speeds just entering two figures if I pushed the pedals rather than my usual freewheeling down any slight incline.

I rode onto Glasson Dock and watched seagulls skittering on the ice, but couldn't get a picture of any of them in action.

Primograf

I recently bought this amazing piece of craftsmanship.

Stop motion rainy day activity