Today’s guest picture comes from a visit to the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park by my friend Venetia. The park has a lot of water in it.
My get up and go took some finding this morning but it eventually emerged only to be immediately discouraged by some threatening rain drops. In the end though, it laughed at a few rain drops and set out for a gentle pedal taking me with it.
It continued to rain but in such a desultory way that there was no danger of getting wet and before I had got home, it had stopped completely. I had intended to do a few leisurely miles but I was overtaken by a couple of young chaps after three miles. They were pedalling along in such a relaxed fashion while chatting away that my legs were affronted by the ease with which they had passed me and encouraged me to make an effort to keep up with them.
Three miles later they were still just in sight when they turned off my route. My legs were in fine form by this time though and kept on pedalling whether I wanted then to or not and I got to Paddockhole, my turning point at just over ten miles, in a very reasonable time.
I turned for home with a light breeze in my face and with every intention of relaxation when I was passed again, this time by a couple from Langholm. Once again my legs got the better of my good sense and I tried to keep them in sight for as long as possible. I couldn’t keep up with them but they were still in sight eight miles later.
The result of this senseless rushing about with no stopping for photos was a very respectable (for me) average speed of 15 mph, though I had to sprint along Henry Street flat out to knock the average up that vital last tenth of an mph before I stopped.
Mrs Tootlepedal was busy in the garden….
…so I helped where I could. In between times I mowed the middle lawn and looked at a flower or two. There are new ones…
…and long standing old friends.
I took a close look at some unfolding phlox….
…and some elegant dill.
The apples are looking better all the time.
Mrs Tootlepedal took a water lily out of our overcrowded pond and out neighbour Kenny planted it in the dam behind our house. It will be interesting to see if it can survive in the flowing water there.
Somehow, the afternoon slipped away between gardening and the occasional sit down to do the crossword and in the early evening, Mrs Tootlepedal suggested a short cycle ride round Potholm. I was determined to take a picture or two this time.
We followed the trail of the lonesome pine…
….and while I stopped to record one of my favourite views, Mrs Tootlepedal sped on ahead.
I stopped again at Potholm to take a view from the bridge….
…and once again, Mrs Tootlepedal sped on ahead.
I made one last stop to capture the Esk below the road to the Breckonwrae…..
…and you’ve guessed it.
It is only a five mile ride but it offers a wide variety of views as you go along. This was the third carrot of the day.
We stopped once more when we met a friend trying out her new electric bicycle. This was her first go on it and she was very pleased with the way it had floated up the first hill that she had met. I have my eye on one of these for when the time comes.
After tea, the sun came out for a while but this was a false dawn, or rather a false evening, because not long afterwards, we were subjected to thunder and lightning with heavy rain. Luckily this seems to have passed over as I write this and we are promised some sunshine tomorrow. This will be very welcome.
I have just heard another roll of thunder in the distance so I will sign off while the internet is still working with a customary flying bird.
Tootlepedal's Blog 
Glad your legs managed all that cycling. I loved all the flower close ups, so much better than what I can see with the naked eye.
Given that your legs seem to have a mind of their own, they might be talking to you tomorrow.
Other limbs intervened in the conversation as it turned out.
A bit worried by the way the fruits are weighing down the still very spindly branches of my young apple tree today, I hoped one might fall off in my hand. One did, and it turned out to be sharp and delicious. James Grieve.
We are a long way from any apple munching yet.
Scorchio here today! I did a bit of mowing to stop the grandchildren from complaining of nettle stings; they are not as tough as my generation.
That sounds like serious mowing, did you use a scythe? I don’t envy your scorchio. I can’t deal with life when it gets too hot.
That’s quite a good crop of apples on what looks like an espaliered tree.
I like the landscapes but especially the lone pine.
It is espaliered and has generally cropped very well.
Looks like a good apple crop! The flying bird reminds me of the little one we rescued yesterday. A sparrow flew into a window, and the cat cats pointed out where he fell into the garden just outside. All too curious about something on the ground! I placed him in a box on the porch in the shade to recover. Quite dazed, but seemed alright. By late afternoon he was able to fly off.
Your cats must be nicer than our feline interlopers. A stunned bird wouldn’t last long if they were about. Well done for the rescue.
Wonderful views from your cycle route and very pretty flowers from your garden. I especially like the geraniums.
They are very pretty but often overlooked as they seem to be always about.
That is a very respectable average cycling speed. I’d be very pleased with it myself. Well done. The scenes on the Trail of the Lonesome Pine look very pretty which suits the rather romantic name of it I think. Your apples are also very impressive. An excellent flying bird to finish up with. I wish you a sunny day tomorrow for your legs to have their own mind again. 🙂
I think more of Laurel and Hardy than romance when I think of the Lonesome Pine.
Heheh…I’d never seen that before! Thanks for the link. 🙂
Glad it was a three carrot day – or 3 carat?
A speedy ride indeed. How you had enough energy for all your other activities I do not know! Lovely river views.
The Potholm cycle ride packs a lot of beauty into its allotted five miles!
Just what Mrs T said when we got home.
I enjoyed your argument with your legs – they seem to be fiercely independent!
There’s no telling what they are going to say; sometimes the spirit is willing and the flesh is weak and sometimes the reverse.
Did you try the electric bike out yourself?
I haven’t tried one but Mrs Tootlepdal uses one when she helps at the driving for the disabled and thinks that they are wonderful.
Saw the title of the blog and can only reply with ‘fork handles’
Fork Handles? Fair comment.
The Two Ronnies sketch?
Absolutely. One of my favourites.
Hmm, reading backwards; now your condition on the following day seems less out of the blue!
I think it was the last and slowest pedal that might have been to blame as the track was very bumpy and might have set my joints off. I don’t have any suspension on the slow bike.
By the way, as a child camping with my parents, I often heard my dad sing a campfire song called Twilight on the Trail that ended
“When it’s twilight on the trail,
And my voice is still,
Please plant this heart of mine
Underneath the lonesome pine on the hill”
A nice song but not the one that I was thinking of.
I love the close ups of flowers particularly, and the views of the landscape are lovely.
🙂
I can’t help seeing every unsuspecting walker ahead of me as a race so I know how you feel
It is a temptation.