Hoverflies and bike ride

The weather over the last few days has been wonderful.

The other afternoon I sat in the garden for ages watching hoverflies and bees visiting the Michaelmas daisies and Cystus (I think the pink flowers are Cystus....) I set up the camera on the tripod, focused on a flower head and waited for something to land and then fired the remote control to take images every second.

This one was taken using the rapid fire burst option on the camera

Yesterday I went on a bike ride to Glasson Dock - what with it having been dry for a while, together with the wonderful blue skies I elected to go via the canal and come back the way I usually take via the river.

The path along the canal is not a designated cycle path and at times it felt a bit precarious. A narrow way has been worn by walkers, but trying to keep the bike wheels on it felt a bit like tightrope cycling.

The sun was glorious, though blinding at times, I was glad there were few people around, otherwise a dip in the canal would have been likely.

Trying to catch the sunbeams

It was a great day for reflections.

(For the record: total distance 14.14 miles; average speed 6.2 mph (lots of photography stops and bike pushing in the really dodgy bits; maximum speed 12.8 mph)

Bike ride to Carnforth

Distance: 19.21 miles
Average speed: 7.9 mph
Maximum speed: 14.3 mph

I had intended to do this yesterday but the back tyre was flat again, a replacement inner tube was required. I managed to get that sorted out at Halfords so made the trip today.

Looking over from the aqueduct, building work on the bypass can be seen.

From the other side of the aqueduct, Lancaster castle in the background.

One of the many bridges along the route, these really slow things down as it is almost impossible to see whether anyone is coming in the opposite direction.

More work on the bypass.


Finally into Carnforth and a visit to the station for a much needed sit down, cup of tea and sandwich.

 Luckily I had no Brief Encounter with any grit in my eye!

Back home along the same route.

The Ashton memorial comes into sight.

Bike ride to Heysham via Morecambe

Distance: 12.8 miles

Average speed: 7.9 mph

Maximum speed: 21.1 mph (down the hill just before Heysham - had to push  bike up hill, so coming down was very satisfying.

A lovely blue skied day. Saw my first butterflies of the year - two bright yellow/green ones, not sure what they were.

Bike ride to Morecambe via Hest Bank

Distance: 13.01 miles
Average speed: 7.3 mph
Maximum speed: 15.1 mph

I have now managed to get an app on my phone that logs distance and route (the wonders of modern technology)

It is good to see that the two methods of calculation seem to be more or less in agreement.

My plan had been to continue along the canal tow path to Carnforth but my legs rebelled and I took the shorter option.

A starling was sunning itself on the promenade, the sun catching its wings made them look iridescent.

Further along, it was good to see that the statue of Eric Morecambe has been reinstated.

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.

Cycle ride to Glasson Dock

Distance: 14.35 miles
Overall average speed: 6.1 mph (second half was much harder going and so much slower, average speed for the out trip was 8.4 mph)
Top speed: 13.4 mph

I attached a camera to the handle bars and took time lapse -an image every 10 seconds. Quite a few of the images are blurred - this is down to the very bumpy terrain.

Outward journey - along the cycle path. Unfortunately I didn't notice that the camera wasn't doing its stuff until I was halfway there.

Arriving at Glasson I enjoyed watching the world go by as I drank tea from my newly bought flask.

Every other time I have done this bike ride I have ridden back along the same route.

Today I decided to try routes new and cycle along the canal. This is more of a footpath than a cycle path and very narrow in parts. Thankfully it was not windy so there was slightly less chance of falling into the canal. Negotiating going under the bridges is particularly arduous.

Cycle ride to Morecambe

Distance: 11.4 miles
Average speed 7.8 mph

To Morecambe for exercise, a bit of shopping and some people watching while I drank coffee.

I have never noticed this before - the sculpture looked rather odd, but on closer inspection it became obvious that it was of a swimmer. This is a dedication to a long distance swimmer who apparently loved Morecambe bay.

No icecream today, just a coffee and biscuit.

Cycle ride to Halton and Claugton

Distance 14.29 miles

Average speed 8.7 mph

Maximum speed 17.9 mph (not achieved by pedalling, but by freewheeling down a hill)