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.

Waking up to a wonderful blue skied morning with the sun blazing on "our" building was such a change after all the drear of rain and grey of recent days and weeks.The idea was to go out for a bike ride, but this was thwarted by a fun run event. The thought of having to negotiate jolly joggers while cycling did not have much appeal so we decided to go for a walk along the river and canal.

Autumn was reflected in the water and the colours of leaves were amazing, though the rather delapidated view point provided as much photographic entertainment as the views.





A slow meander up to the aqueduct and a photographic foray underneath to try and capture stalactites in the making as water dripped, but never at the right click of the camera button.

Then onwards and upwards onto the canal towpath and a leisurely walk into town, stopping off for a drink before wending our way home.